Federal Register / Vol. 60 No. 31 / February 15, 1995 / Notices                                                                 Page 8733

        DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

        National Park Service

        Notice of  Inventory Completion for Native  American Human Remains
        and  Associated   Funerary  Objects  from  the   Titicut  Site  in
        Bridgewater,  MA in the Possession of the Robert S. Peabody Museum
        of Archaeology, Andover, MA

        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, presently  in the possession  of the
        Robert  S.  Peabody  Museum  of  Archaeology,   Phillips  Academy,
        Andover, MA, from the Titicut Site in Bridgewater, MA.

        A detailed  inventory and  assessment of these  human remains  has
        been  made by the Robert S. Peabody  Museum of Archaeology.  Human
        remains of one  individual, a ten to twelve year  old female, were
        recovered in 1947 from the Titicut site.  This site is believed to
        have been occupied  for several thousand  years prior to  European
        Contact.   The human remains  were recovered with  glass and shell
        beads, a  felsite biface,  an iron axe,  awl, and knife  handel, a
        large ceramic vessel, several antler spoons and hafts, and several
        whelk shells.   The burial  can be  dated between  1600 and  1620,
        based on the  European trade items recovered with  the individual.
        This site  is  located  within the  aboriginal  territory  of  the
        Wampanoag Tribe at the time of European contact.

        Based   on  the   available  archaeological   and  ethnohistorical
        evidence,  as well as the  geographical and oral  tradition of the
        Wampanoag people, officials  of the Robert S.  Peabody Museum 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
        from the Titicut Site and the Wampanoag people.  The nearest group
        of  identifiable Wampanoag people are located in Mashpee, MA.  The
        Federally recognized Gay Head Wampanoag concur that Mashpee is the
        closest community of  Wampanoag people to  be identified with  the
        Titicut Site.  However,  the Mashpee Wampanoag are not  recognized
        as  eligible for the special programs and services provided by the
        United States to Indians because of their status as Indians.

        Since  the Mashpee  Wampanoag  are not  Federally-recognized,  the
        Robert  S. Peabody  Museum included  these remains  and associated
        funerary  objects on  an inventory of  "culturally unidentifiable"
        human remains and requested  the Native American Graves Protection





        and Repatriation Act Review Committee's recommendation as to their
        disposition.

        On  December 21, 1994, officials  of the Robert  S. Peabody Museum
        were  formally  notified of  the  recommendation  from the  Review
        Committee  stating  that,  "(A)fter careful  consideration  of the
        evidence  provided in your letter  and in testimony  at their most
        recent meeting, the Review Committee recommends that the Robert S.
        Peabody  Museum of  Archaeology  proceed to  repatriate the  above
        mentioned  human remains  and associated  funerary objects  to the
        Mashpee Wampanoag."

        This  notice has been sent  to officials of  the Mashpee Wampanoag
        Tribe.   Representatives of any other  Indian tribe which believes
        itself  to be culturally  affiliated with these  human remains and
        associated  funerary  objects  should  contact  James  W. Bradley,
        Director of the Robert S.  Peabody Museum of Archaeology, Phillips
        Academy,  Andover,  MA 01810;  telephone:  (508) 749-4490,  before
        March  17,  1995.    Repatriation  of  these  human  remains   and
        associated  funerary objects  to the  Mashpee Wampanoag  Tribe may
        begin after that date if no additional claimants come forward.

        Dated: February 9, 1995




        Francis P. McManamon
        Departmental Consulting Archeologist,
        Chief, Archeological Assistance Division
        [FR Doc. 95-3687 Filed 02/14/95; 8:45 am]
        BILLING CODE 4310-70-F

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