Notice of Inventory Completion for Native American Human Remains and
Associated Funerary Objects from Hancock County, ME, in the Control of
the National Park Service.
AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior
ACTION: Notice.
_________________________________________________________________
Notice is hereby given in accordance with provisions of the Native
American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, 25 U.S.C. 3003(d), of
completion of the inventory of human remains and associated funerary
objects from a site in Hancock County, ME, that are presently in the
control of the National Park Service.
A detailed inventory and assessment of these human remains has been
made by National Park Service curatorial staff, contracted specialists
in physical anthropology and prehistoric archeology, and
representatives of the Penobscot Nation, Aroostook Band of Micmac,
Houlton Band of Maliseet, and the Passamaquoddy Nation, identified
collectively hereafter as the Wabanaki Tribes of Maine.
The partial remains of at least seven individuals (including five
adults, one subadult, and one child) were recovered in 1977 from a
single grave at the Fernald Point Site (ME Site 43-24), a prehistoric
shell midden on Mount Desert Island, within the boundary of Acadia
National Park. A bone harpoon head, a modified beaver tooth, and
several animal and fish bone fragments were found associated with the
eight individuals. Radiocarbon assays indicate the burial site dates
between 1035-1155 AD. The human remains and associated funerary
objects have been catalogued as ACAD-5747, 5749, 5750, 5751, 5752,
5783, 5784. The partial remains of an eighth individual (an elderly
male) was also recovered in 1977 from a second grave at the Fernald
Point Site. No associated funerary objects were recovered with this
individual. Radiocarbon assays indicate the second burial site dates
between 480-680 AD. The human remains have been catalogued as ACAD-
5748. The human remains and associated funerary objects of all nine
individuals are currently in the possession of the University of Maine,
Orono, ME.
Inventory of the human remains and associated funerary objects and
review of the accompanying documentation indicates that no known
individuals were identifiable. A representative of the Wabanaki Tribes
of Maine has identified the Acadia National Park area as a historic
gathering place for his people and stated his belief that there exists
a relationship of shared group identity between these individuals and
the Wabanaki Tribes of Maine. The Prehistoric Subcommittee of the
Maine State Historic Preservation Office's Archaeological Advisory
Committee has found it reasonable to trace a shared group identity from
the Late Prehistoric Period (1000-1500 AD) inhabitants of Maine as an
undivided whole to the four modern Indian tribes known collectively as
the Wabanaki Tribes of Maine on the basis of geographic proximity;
survivals of stone, ceramic and perishable material culture skills; and
probable linguistic continuity across the Late Prehistoric/Contact
Period boundary. In a 1979 article, Dr. David Sanger, the archeologist
who conducted the 1977 excavations at the Fernald Point Site and
uncovered the abovementioned burials, recognizes a relationship between
Maine sites dating to the Ceramic Period (2,000 B.P. - 1600 A.D.) and
present-day Algonkian speakers generally known as Abenakis, including
the Micmac, Maleseet, Passamaquoddy, Penboscot, Kennebec, and Pennacook
groups.
Based on the above mentioned information, officials of the National
Park Service have determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (2),
there is a relationship of shared group identity which can be
reasonably traced between these human remains and associated funerary
objects and the Wabanaki Tribes of Maine.
This notice has been sent to officials of the Wabanaki Tribes of Maine.
Representatives of any other Indian tribe which believes itself to be
culturally affiliated with these human remains and associated funerary
objects should contact Len Bobinchock, Acting Superintendent, Acadia
National Park, P.O. Box 177, Bar Harbor, ME 04609, telephone: (207)
288-0374, before August 31, 1994. Repatriation of these human remains
and associated funerary objects to the Wabanaki Tribes of Maine may
begin after that date if no additional claimants come forward.
Dated: July 21, 1994
Francis P. McManamon, Ph.D.
Departmental Consulting Archeologist,
Chief, Archeological Assistance Division
[FR Doc. 94-18388 Filed 7-29-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-F
Federal Register/Vol.59, No.146/Monday, August 1, 1994/Notices 38987
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