Federal Register / Vol. 59, No. 225 / Wednesday November 23, 1994
          / Notices                                              Page 60372

          DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

          National Park Service

          Notice  of Intent to Repatriate a Cultural Item in the Possession
          of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

          AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior

          ACTION: Notice

          _________________________________________________________________

          Notice  is   hereby  given  under  the   Native  American  Graves
          Protection  and  Repatriation  Act  of  1990  of  the  intent  to
          repatriate a cultural item in the  possession of the Metropolitan
          Museum of Art that  meets the definitions of "sacred  object" and
          "object of cultural patrimony" under section 2 of the act.

          The  carved wooden figure measures 29 3/4 inches high. The figure
          was donated  by Mr.  Raymond Weilgus  in  1964 to  the Museum  of
          Primitive  Art. The  figure was  transferred to  the Metropolitan
          Museum of Art in  1978.  Museum  records do not indicate where or
          when the object was originally collected.

          Information regarding  the carved  wooden figure was  included in
          the  summary sent  to the  Pueblo of  Zuni  in November,  1993. A
          representative of  the  Pueblo  of  Zuni  subsequently  requested
          additional documentation of the figure,  including museum records
          and a  photograph.  Representatives of  the Pueblo  of Zuni  have
          inspected  the  museum  records   and  the  photograph  and  have
          identified  the carved wooden figure  as being a  Ahayu:da or War
          God.   The Pueblo of Zuni affirms that this Ahayu:da is needed by
          traditional   Zuni  religious   leaders  for   the  practice   of
          traditional Zuni religion by present-day adherents. The Pueblo of
          Zuni  also affirms that this Ahayu:da is of ongoing importance to
          the  pueblo as  a  whole  and  could  not  have  been  alienated,
          appropriated, or conveyed by any  individual member of the Pueblo
          of Zuni.

          Based  on  the  above  mentioned information,  officials  of  the
          Metropolitan Museum of Art 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  the figure
          and the Pueblo of Zuni.   Officials of the Metropolitan Museum of
          Art have also determined that the figure meets the definitions of
          sacred object  and object  of cultural  patrimony pursuant  to 25
          U.S.C. 3001 (3)(C).

          Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to
          be culturally  affiliated with  this object should  contact Julie
          Jones,  Curator  in Charge,  Department  of the  Arts  of Africa,
          Oceania,  and the American, Metropolitan Museum  of Art, 1000 5th
          Avenue,  NY, NY  10028-1098,  telephone: (212)  570- 3705  before
          December 23, 1994.  Repatriation of  the object to the Pueblo  of
          Zuni  can begin after that  date if no  additional claimants come
          forward.

          Dated: November 15, 1994


          Francis P. McManamon
          Departmental Consulting Archeologist          Chief, Archeological Assistance Division
          [FR Doc. 94-28901 Filed 11-22-94; 8:45 am]
          BILLING CODE 4310-70-F

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