[Federal Register: September 11, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 176)]
[Notices]               
[Page 57622]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr11se02-71]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service
 
Notice of Inventory Completion for Native American Human Remains 
in the Possession of the U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of 
Investigation (FBI), Louisville, KY

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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    Notice is hereby given in accordance with the provisions of the 
Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), 43 CFR 
10.9, of the completion of an inventory of Native American human 
remains in the possession of the U.S. Department of Justice, Federal 
Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Louisville, KY.
    This notice is published as part of the National Park Service's 
administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA, 43 CFR 10.2 (c). The 
determinations within this notice are the sole responsibility of the 
museum, institution, or Federal agency that has control of these Native 
American human remains. The National Park Service is not responsible 
for the determinations within this notice.
    A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by University 
of Louisville Staff Archaeologist Philip J. DiBlasi in consultation 
with representatives of the Absentee-Shawnee Tribe of Indians of 
Oklahoma; Delaware Nation, Oklahama; Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma; 
Miami Tribe of Oklahoma; Peoria Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma; and 
Shawnee Tribe, Oklahoma.
    On January 27, 1999, a human cranium was recovered by FBI agents 
from Sean Adam Long. These human remains were purchased from Mr. Long 
by FBI agents acting in an undercover capacity. On February 18, 1999, a 
search warrant was executed at Mr. Long's home near Madisonville, KY. 
Additional human remains were recovered by FBI agents during the 
search. The human remains consist of two human crania and two human 
teeth. One associated funerary object was also recovered during the 
search. Osteological assessment of the human remains recovered on 
January 27 and February 18, 1999, indicate that they represent five 
individuals of Native American ancestry. No known individuals were 
identified.
    In an interview with agents on February 18, 1999, Mr. Long stated 
that he purchased one cranium in Grayville, IL. Though Mr. Long later 
recanted this statement, the FBI believes Mr. Long's original statement 
to be true. Grayville is located in Edwards County, IL, and is 
surrounded by numerous well-known Mississippian period (AD 1250-1700) 
archeological sites. Archeological and historical evidence indicates 
that the Mississippian period population living in the area of 
Grayville, IL is ancestral to the present-day Peoria Tribe of Indians 
of Oklahoma.
    A label on the interior of the box in which a second cranium was 
recovered reads ``Crib Mound.'' Crib Mound is a well-known Hopewell 
period (200 B.C.-A.D. 500) site located in Spencer County, IN. Crib 
Mound has been the target of looters for decades and is now nearly 
destroyed. Archeological and historical evidence indicates that the 
Hopewell period population that lived at Crib Mound is ancestral to the 
present-day Peoria Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma.
    The determination of cultural affiliation for the remains of the 
three other individuals and one associated funerary object is included 
in a separate Federal Register notice.
    On March 7, 2001, Sean Adam Long pleaded guilty in U.S. District 
Court in Owensboro, KY to three counts of illegal trafficking in Native 
American human remains [18 U.S.C. 1170 (a)] and one count of knowingly 
making a materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or 
representation [18 U.S.C. 1001]. A single count of trafficking in 
interstate or foreign commerce in archaeological resources the 
excavation, removal, sale, purchase, exchange, transportation or 
receipt of which was wrongful under State or local law [16 U.S.C. 470ee 
(c)] was dismissed in return for Mr. Long's plea to making a false 
statement to FBI agents.
    Based on the above-mentioned information, FBI officials determined 
that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 (d)(1), the human remains listed above 
represent the physical remains of two individuals of Native American 
ancestry. FBI officials determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 (e), 
there is a relationship of shared group identity that can be reasonably 
traced between these Native American human remains and the Peoria Tribe 
of Indians of Oklahoma.
    This notice has been sent to officials of the Absentee-Shawnee 
Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma; Delaware Nation, Oklahoma; Delaware Tribe 
of Indians, Oklahoma; Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma; Miami Tribe of 
Oklahoma; Peoria Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma; and Shawnee Tribe, 
Oklahoma. Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes 
itself to be culturally affiliated with these human remains and 
associated funerary object should contact Randy Ream, Assistant United 
States Attorney, 510 West Broadway, 10th Floor, Louisville, KY 40202, 
phone (502) 582-5911, before October 11, 2002. Repatriation of the 
human remains and associated funerary object to the Peoria Tribe of 
Indians of Oklahoma may begin after that date if no additional 
claimants come forward.

    Dated: August 1, 2002.
Robert Stearns,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 02-23025 Filed 9-10-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-S