Notice of Inventory Completion for Native American Human Remains and Associated Funerary Objects from Ness City and Rawlins County, KS in the Possession of the Kansas State Historical Society, Topeka, KS

[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 50 (Tuesday, March 16, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13033-13034]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-6308]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Inventory Completion for Native American Human Remains 
and Associated Funerary Objects from Ness City and Rawlins County, KS 
in the Possession of the Kansas State Historical Society, Topeka, KS

AGENCY: National Park Service

ACTION: Notice

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    Notice is hereby given in accordance with provisions of the Native 
American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), 43 CFR 10.9, 
of the completion of an inventory of human remains and associated 
funerary objects in the possession of the Kansas State Historical 
Society, Topeka, KS.
    A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by Kansas State 
Historical Society (KSHS) professional staff in consultation with 
representatives of the Cheyenne-Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma, and the 
Northern Cheyenne Tribe of the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation, 
Montana.
    During the 1890s, human remains representing two individuals from 
site 14NS320 along Walnut Creek southeast of Ness City, KS were placed 
as part of an indefinite loan to the Fort Hays State University (FHSU) 
by the Maranville family, owners of the site. In 1990, these 
individuals were transferred to KSHS by Fort Hays University as 
required by the Kansas Unmarked Burials Sites Preservation Act. Efforts 
to contact the Maranville family regarding this loan have been 
unsuccessful. No known individuals were identified. The 401 associated 
funerary objects include a mirror, two knives, two files, a bell, a 
comb, 44 glass and metal buttons, eleven brass circlets, three metal 
cone clusters, three metal buckles, on length of brass wire, one silver 
plaque, 39 silver conchos, five metal arrowheads, and 287 glass beads.
    According to the FHSU museum exhibit label, the grave of these 
individuals was lined with cedar poles. In a written 1973 statement, a 
member of the Maranville family described the burial as an ``Indian 
grave'' consisting of two seated skeletons. Based on the associated 
funerary objects and reported manner of interment, these individuals 
have been identified as Native American. The FHSU museum exhibit label 
also states that local legend indicates these were Cheyenne individuals 
killed in the Sand Creek Massacre in 1864 and brought to Walnut Creek 
for burial.
    In 1912, human remains representing one individual were donated to 
KSHS by R. K. Farrar. No known individual was identified. No associated 
funerary objects are present.
    Donor information indicates this individual was removed from the 
1875 Cheyenne Massacre site derived from the Cheyenne Hole or Sappa 
Creek Battle on the Middle Fork of Sappa Creek, Rawlins County, KS and 
identified by the donor as Cheyenne. In 1980, archeological 
investigations identified not only the 1875 component, but also a 
precontact habitation site dating to the Great Bend Aspect (1400--1600 
A.D.). Based upon condition of the human remains and donor information, 
this individual has been identified as Cheyenne.
    Based on the above mentioned information, officials of the Kansas 
State Historical Society have determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 
(d)(1), the human remains listed above represent the physical remains 
of three individuals of Native American ancestry. Officials of the 
Kansas State Historical Society have also determined that, pursuant to 
43 CFR 10.2 (d)(2), the 401 objects listed above are reasonably 
believed to have been placed with or near individual human remains at 
the time of death or later as part of the death rite or ceremony. 
Lastly, officials of the Kansas State Historical Society have 
determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 (e), there is a relationship 
of shared group identity which can be reasonably traced between these 
Native American human remains and associated funerary objects and the 
Cheyenne-Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma.
    This notice has been sent to officials of the Cheyenne-Arapaho 
Tribes of Oklahoma, and the Northern Cheyenne Tribe of the Northern 
Cheyenne Indian Reservation, Montana. Representatives of any other 
Indian tribe that believes itself to be culturally affiliated with 
these human remains and associated funerary objects should contact 
Randall Thies, Archeologist, Kansas State Historical Society, 6425 SW 
Sixth Avenue, Topeka, KS 66606-1099; telephone: (913) 272-8681, ext. 
267, before April 15, 1999. Repatriation of the human remains and 
associated funerary objects to the Cheyenne-Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma 
may begin

[[Page 13034]]

after that date if no additional claimants come forward.
Dated: March 9, 1999.
Veletta Canouts,
Acting Departmental Consulting Archeologist,
Deputy Manager, Archeology and Ethnography Program.
[FR Doc. 99-6308 Filed 3-15-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-F