Notice of Intended Repatriation: American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

This notice is published as part of the National Park Service's administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA. The determinations in this notice are the sole responsibility of the American Museum of Natural History and additional information on the determinations in this notice, including the results of consultation, can be found in the summary or related records. The National Park Service is not responsible for the determinations in this notice.

Abstract of Information Available

A total of 17 cultural items have been requested for repatriation. The 17 unassociated funerary objects are one lot of faunal material; one lot of turtle cup fragments; one bone awl; one likely bone awl; one lot of oyster shells; one lot of quahog shell; one lot of scallop shells; one lot of mussel shells; one lot of clam shells; one lot of helix shell; one lot of sea snail shell; one lot of barnacle shell; one lot of fish vertebrae; one lot of pot sherds; one lot of decorated rim sherds; one pot base; and one lot of stone implements. J.B. James, Jr., removed these unassociated funerary objects from Van Cortlandt Park, Bronx County, NY, in 1890 during a road grading project. James gifted these unassociated funerary objects to the Museum in 1895 which accessioned them that year.

Determinations

The American Museum of Natural History has determined that:

• The 17 unassociated funerary objects described in this notice are reasonably believed to have been placed intentionally with or near human remains, and are connected, either at the time of death or later as part of the death rite or ceremony of a Native American culture according to the Native American traditional knowledge of a lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization. The unassociated funerary objects have been identified by a preponderance of the evidence as related to human remains, specific individuals, or families, or removed from a specific burial site or burial area of an individual or individuals with cultural affiliation to an Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization.
• There is a reasonable connection between the cultural items described in this notice and the Delaware Nation, Oklahoma; Delaware Tribe of Indians; and the Stockbridge Munsee Community, Wisconsin.

Requests for Repatriation

Additional, written requests for repatriation of the cultural items in this notice must be sent to the authorized representative identified in this notice under ADDRESSES . Requests for repatriation may be submitted by any lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice who shows, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the requestor is a lineal descendant or a culturally affiliated Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization.

Repatriation of the cultural items in this notice to a requestor may occur on or after November 14, 2024. If competing requests for repatriation are received, the American Museum of Natural History must determine the most appropriate requestor prior to repatriation. Requests for joint repatriation of the cultural items are considered a single request and not competing requests. The American Museum of Natural History is responsible for sending a copy of this notice to the Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations identified in this notice and to any other consulting parties.

Authority: Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, 25 U.S.C. 3004 and the implementing regulations, 43 CFR 10.9.

[FR Doc. 2024-23723 Filed 10-11-24; 8:45 am]

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