[Federal Register: March 25, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 57)]
[Notices]               
[Page 13651-13652]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr25mr02-96]                         

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

Notice of Inventory Completion for Native American Human Remains 
and Associated Funerary Objects in the Possession of the Louisiana 
Department of Culture, Recreation, and Tourism, Division of 
Archaeology, Baton Rouge, LA

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

    Notice is hereby given under the Native American Graves Protection 
and Repatriation Act, 43 CFR 10.10 (a)(3), of the intent to repatriate 
cultural items in the possession of the Louisiana State Division of 
Archaeology, Baton Rouge, LA, that meet the definition of 
``unassociated funerary object'' under Section 2 of the Act.
    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 
cultural items. The National Park Service is not responsible for the 
determinations within this notice.
    The 49 cultural items are complete pottery vessels.
    At an unknown date prior to 1985, Roy Pohler purchased these 
vessels from unknown sources. Museum records indicate that 36 pots were 
removed from locations in Clark County, AR; 5 pots were removed from 
the Bowman site, on the Little River, Clark County, AR; 2 pots were 
removed from Murfreesboro, Pike County, AR; 2 pots were removed from 
Pike County, AR; 1 pot was removed from Broken Bow, McCurtain County, 
OK; and 3 pots have no provenience. In 1985, Mr. Pohler donated the 
pottery vessels to the Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation, and 
Tourism, Division of Archaeology.
    Consultations with representatives of the Caddo Indian Tribe of 
Oklahoma and professional staff at the Louisiana Division of 
Archaeology and Louisiana State University indicate that, based on 
stylistic attributes, the ceramic vessels are culturally affiliated 
with the archaeological Caddo culture. The vessels date to the 16th 
century. The present day descendants of the Caddo people in Arkansas 
are the Caddo Indian Tribe of Oklahoma.
    Because the Caddo are known to have buried their dead along with 
whole vessels, these pots are considered to be unassociated funerary 
objects. Based on the above-mentioned information, officials of 
Louisiana Division of Archaeology have determined that, pursuant to 43 
CFR 10.2 (d)(2)(ii), these cultural items are reasonably believed to 
have been placed with or near individual human remains at the time of 
death or later as part of the death rite or ceremony and are believed, 
by a preponderance of the evidence, to have been removed from a 
specific burial site of a Native American individual. Officials of the 
Louisiana Division of Archaeology also have determined that, pursuant 
to 43 CFR 10.2 (e), there is a relationship of shared group identity 
that can be reasonably traced between these unassociated funerary 
objects and the Caddo Indian Tribe of Oklahoma.

[[Page 13652]]

    This notice has been sent to officials of the Caddo Indian Tribe of 
Oklahoma. Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes 
itself to be culturally affiliated with these unassociated funerary 
objects should contact Dr. Thomas Eubanks, State Archaeologist, 
Louisiana State Division of Archaeology, 1051 North 3rd Street Room 
405, Baton Rouge, LA, telephone (225) 342-8170, before April 24, 2002. 
Repatriation of these unassociated funerary objects to the Caddo Indian 
Tribe of Oklahoma may begin after that date if no additional claimants 
come forward.

    Dated: February 6, 2002.
Robert Stearns,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 02-7009 Filed 3-22-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-S