Native American human remains and associated funerary objects: Tulsa District, U.S. Engineers Corps, OK; inventory,

[Federal Register: November 24, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 226)]

[Notices]

[Page 64970-64971]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr24no98-104]

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

Notice of Inventory Completion for Native American Human Remains and Associated Funerary Objects in the Control and Possession of the Tulsa District, United States Army Corps of Engineers, Tulsa, OK

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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 Tulsa District, United States Army Corps of Engineers, Tulsa, OK.

A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by Tulsa District Corps professional staff in consultation with representatives of the Caddo Indian Tribe of Oklahoma.

In 1967, human remains representing one individual were excavated at site 41LR12, Pat Mayse Reservoir, Lamar County, TX during legally authorized excavations conducted by Southern Methodist University personel. These human remains are curated at Southern Methodist University. No known individual was identified. The 67 associated funerary objects include clay pipestem fragments, one pipe bowl, projectile points, stone tools, whetstones, hammer stones, ceramics, and ocher.

Based on cultural material present at site 41LR12, this individual has been determined to be Native American. Based on the associated funerary objects and other cultural material, site 41LR12 has been identified as a Late Prehistoric period occupation dating between 800-- 1500 A.D. Based on the cultural material, geographic location, dates of occupation, 18th and 19th century accounts of the aboriginal occupants of the area, and consultation with representative of the Caddo Indian Tribe, site 41LR12 has been affiliated with the Caddo Indian Tribe of Oklahoma.

In 1962, human remains representing a minimum of seven individuals were excavated at site 34CH40, Hugo Lake, Choctaw County, OK during legally authorized excavations conducted by University of Oklahoma personnel. No known individuals were identified. The 716 associated funerary objects include projectile points, other stone tools, ceramics, polished bone, pieces of baked clay, stone flakes, and hematite.

Based on the cultural material of site 34CH40 and manner of interments as described in site reports, these individuals have been determined to be Native American. The cultural material also indicates that site 34CH40 dates to 1500 B.C. to 800 A.D. Based on the cultural material, associated funerary objects, geographic location, dates of occupation, 18th and 19th century accounts of the aboriginal occupants of the area, and consultation with representative of the Caddo Indian Tribe, site 34CH40 has been affiliated with the Caddo Indian Tribe of Oklahoma.

In 1970, human remains representing a minimum of two individuals were excavated at site 34CH43, Hugo Lake, Choctaw County, OK during legally authorized excavations conducted by University of Oklahoma personnel. No known individuals were identified. The 251 associated funerary objects include projectile points, stone tools, ceramics, and ground stone.

Based on the cultural material of site 34CH43, these individuals have been determined to be Native American. The cultural material also indicates that site 34CH43 dates to between 1500 B.C. and 800 A.D. Based on ceramics, stone tools, bone tools, archeological site type, geographic location, dates of occupation, 18th and 19th century accounts of the aboriginal occupants of the area, and consultation with representative of the Caddo Indian Tribe, site 34CH43 has been affiliated with the Caddo Indian Tribe of Oklahoma.

In 1971, human remains representing a minimum of seven individuals were excavated at site 34CH53, Hugo Lake, Choctaw County, OK during legal excavations performed by University of Oklahoma personnel. No known individuals were identified. The 1,988 associated funerary objects include projectile points, stone tools, stone flakes, animal bone, shell, pottery sherds, baded clay, molded clay, clay beads, and clay pipe fragments.

Based on the cultural material of site 34CH53, these individuals have been identified as Native American. The cultural material also indicates that site 34CH53 dates to between 800 and 1000 A.D. Based on the associated funerary objects, type of archeological site, geographic location, dates of occupation, 18th and 19th century accounts of the aboriginal occupants of the area, and consultation with representative of the Caddo Indian Tribe, site 34CH53 has been affiliated with the Caddo Indian Tribe of Oklahoma.

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In 1971, human remains representing a minimum of one individual were excavated at site 34CH89, Hugo Lake, Choctaw County, OK during legally authorized excavations conducted by University of Oklahoma personnel. No known individuals were identified. The 972 associated funerary objects include projectile points, stone tools, ground stone, and pottery sherds.

Based on the cultural material of site 34CH89, this individual has been determined to be Native American. The cultural material of site 34CH89 dates the site to between 1500 B.C. and 300 A.D. Based on the ceramics, stone tools, type of archeological site, geographic location, dates of occupation, 18th and 19th century accounts of the aboriginal occupants of the area, and consultation with representative of the Caddo Indian Tribe, site 34CH53 has been affiliated with the Caddo Indian Tribe of Oklahoma.

In 1969, human remains representing a minimum of 14 individuals were excavated at site 34CH112, Hugo Lake, Choctaw County, OK during excavations conducted by University of Oklahoma personnel. No known individuals were identified. The 357 associated funerary objects include whole ceramic vessels, sherds, projectile points, stone tools, stone flakes, stone cores, and celts.

Based on the cultural material of site 34CH112, these individuals have been determined to be Native American. The cultural material of site 34CH112 dates the site to between 1000 A.D. and 1300 A.D. Based on the ceramics, stone tools, type of archeological site, geographic location, dates of occupation, 18th and 19th century accounts of the aboriginal occupants of the area, and consultation with representative of the Caddo Indian Tribe, site 34CH112 has been affiliated with the Caddo Indian Tribe of Oklahoma.

In 1971, human remains representing a minimum of one individual were excavated at site 34CH113, Hugo Lake, Choctaw County, OK during legally authorized excavations conducted by University of Oklahoma personnel. No known individuals were identified. The 174 associated funerary objects include whole ceramic vessels, sherds, baked clay, stone tools, stone flakes, animal bone, and a piece of ground stone.

Based on the cultural material of site 34CH113, this individual has been determined to be Native American. The cultural material of site 34CH113 dates the site to between 1000 A.D. to 1300 A.D. Based on the ceramics, stone tools, type of archeological site, geographic location, dates of occupation, 18th and 19th century accounts of the aboriginal occupants of the area, and consultation with representative of the Caddo Indian Tribe, site 34CH113 has been affiliated with the Caddo Indian Tribe of Oklahoma.

Based on the above mentioned information, officials of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Tulsa District have determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 (d)(1), the human remains listed above represent the physical remains of at least 33 individuals of Native American ancestry. Officials of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Tulsa District have also determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 (d)(2), the 4,795 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 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Tulsa District 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 Caddo Indian Tribe of Oklahoma.

This notice has been sent to officials of the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes, the Tonkawa Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma, the Apache Tribe of Oklahoma, the Comanche Indian Tribe, the Kiowa Indian Tribe of Oklahoama, the Quapaw Tribe of Oklahoma, the Osage Nation of Oklahoma, and the Caddo Indian Tribe of Oklahoma. Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to be culturally affiliated with these human remains and associated funerary objects should contact Mr. Robert W. Jobson, NAGPRA Coordinator, Planning Division, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Tulsa District, P.O. Box 61, Tulsa, OK 74121-0061, telephone (918) 669-7193, before December 24, 1998. Repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects to the Caddo Indian Tribe of Oklahoma may begin after that date if no additional claimants come forward. Dated: November 17, 1998. Veletta Canouts, Acting Departmental Consulting Archeologist, Deputy Manager, Archeology and Ethnography Program.

[FR Doc. 98-31350Filed11-23-98; 8:45 am]

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