FR Doc E6-14473
[Federal Register: August 30, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 168)]
[Notices]               
[Page 51633]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr30au06-133]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

Notice of Inventory Completion: American Museum of Natural 
History, New York, NY

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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    Notice is here given in accordance with the Native American Graves 
Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), 25 U.S.C. 3003, of the 
completion of an inventory of human remains in the possession of the 
American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY. The human remains 
were collected from Grays Harbor County, WA.
    This notice is published as part of the National Park Service's 
administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA, 25 U.S.C. 3003 (d)(3). 
The determinations in this notice are the sole responsibility of the 
museum, institution, or Federal agency that has control of the Native 
American human remains. The National Park Service is not responsible 
for the determinations in this notice.
    A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by the American 
Museum of Natural History professional staff in consultation with 
representatives of the Quinault Tribe of the Quinault Reservation, 
Washington.
    In 1899, human remains representing a minimum of one individual 
were collected by Harlan I. Smith from the surface, one-half mile 
beyond the Copalis River, Grays Harbor County, WA, and were acquired by 
the American Museum of Natural History the same year. No known 
individual was identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    The individual has been identified as Native American based on the 
presence of cranial deformation. Museum documentation identifies the 
human remains as "probably recent." Geographic location is consistent 
with the postcontact territory of the Copalis band of the Quinault 
Tribe of the Quinault Reservation, Washington.
    In 1899, human remains representing a minimum of one individual 
were collected by Harlan I. Smith from north of the mouth of the 
Copalis River in Grays Harbor County, WA, and were acquired by the 
American Museum of Natural History the same year. No known individual 
was identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    The individual has been identified as Native American based on the 
type of burial and the presence of cranial deformation. The human 
remains were found on the surface, under cedar boards that presumably 
formed a grave house. Based on the presence of preserved wood, the 
human remains appear to be postcontact in age. Burial in a grave house 
is consistent with postcontact Quinault burial practices. Geographic 
location is consistent with the postcontact territory of the Copalis 
band of the Quinault Tribe of the Quinault Reservation, Washington.
    Officials of the American Museum of Natural History have determined 
that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (9-10), the human remains described 
above represent the physical remains of a minimum of two individuals of 
Native American ancestry. Officials of the American Museum of Natural 
History also have determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (2), 
there is a relationship of shared group identity that can be reasonably 
traced between the Native American human remains and the Quinault Tribe 
of the Quinault Reservation, Washington.
    Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to 
be culturally affiliated with the human remains should contact Nell 
Murphy, Director of Cultural Resources, American Museum of Natural 
History, Central Park West at 79th Street, New York, NY 10024-5192, 
telephone (212) 769-5837, before September 29, 2006. Repatriation of 
the human remains to the Quinault Tribe of the Quinault Reservation, 
Washington may proceed after that date if no additional claimants come 
forward.
    The American Museum of Natural History is responsible for notifying 
the Quinault Tribe of the Quinault Reservation, Washington that this 
notice has been published.

    Dated: August 16, 2006.
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program
[FR Doc. E6-14473 Filed 8-29-06; 8:45 am]

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