Notice of Inventory Completion: Western Washington University, Department of Anthropology, Bellingham, WA

AGENCY:

National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Western Washington University (WWU) has completed an inventory of associated funerary objects and has determined that there is a cultural affiliation between the associated funerary objects and Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice. The associated funerary objects were removed from 45-WH-67 in Whatcom County, WA.

DATES:

Repatriation of the associated funerary objects in this notice may occur on or after October 15, 2024.

ADDRESSES:

Dr. Judith Pine, Western Washington University, Department of Anthropology, Arntzen Hall 340, 516 High Street, Bellingham, WA 98225, telephone (360) 650-4783, email pinej@wwu.edu.

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 WWU, and additional information on the determinations in this notice, including the results of consultation, can be found in its inventory or related records. The National Park Service is not responsible for the determinations in this notice.

Abstract of Information Available

Three associated funerary objects have been newly identified during a recent repatriation and rehousing project. The three associated funerary objects consist of one wooden burial box, one lot of carbon 14 samples, and one antler wedge. These items were newly identified in consultation with Lummi Nation Cultural Specialist, R. Tom. No hazardous chemicals are known to have been used to treat the associated funerary objects while in the custody of WWU.

Western Washington State College signed a contract with Arcomm Construction Company, Inc. of Seattle in April of 1975 to conduct “salvage” archaeology during the development of the Birch Bay sewage treatment facility. The project was led by Jeannette Gaston and Garland Grabert (WWU). Most of the work consisted of monitoring and salvage archaeology during construction activities throughout the summer of 1975. A total of twenty-six test cuts were excavated within the pipeline right-of-way (Gaston and Grabert,1975).

During this work, an intact cedar slab box burial was identified at site 45-WH-67. Analysis of the box burial was conducted, which included radiocarbon dating of a sample of the wood burial box (Lundy, 1977). The ancestral remains were previously repatriated to the Lummi Nation, however, the burial box, carbon 14 samples, and an antler wedge found with the box are present in the WWU collections.

The associated funerary objects in this notice are connected to one or more identifiable earlier groups, tribes, peoples, or cultures. There is a relationship of shared group identity between the identifiable earlier groups, tribes, peoples, or cultures and one or more Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations. The following types of information were used to reasonably trace the relationship: anthropological information, archaeological information, geographical information, historical information, and oral tradition.

Cultural Affiliation

Based on the information available and the results of consultation, cultural affiliation is clearly identified by the information available about the associated funerary objects described in this notice.

Determinations

The WWU has determined that:

• The three objects described in this notice are reasonably believed to have been placed intentionally with or near individual human remains at the time of death or later as part of the death rite or ceremony.
• There is a connection between the associated funerary objects described in this notice and the Lummi Tribe of the Lummi Reservation and the Nooksack Indian Tribe.

Requests for Repatriation

Written requests for repatriation of the associated funerary objects in this notice must be sent to the authorized representative identified in this notice under ADDRESSES . Requests for repatriation may be submitted by:

1. Any one or more of the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations identified in this notice.

2. 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 an Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization with cultural affiliation.

Repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects described in this notice to a requestor may occur on or after October 15, 2024. If competing requests for repatriation are received, the WWU must determine the most appropriate requestor prior to repatriation. Requests for joint repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects are considered a single request and not competing requests. The WWU is responsible for sending a copy of this notice to the Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations identified in this notice.

Authority: Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, 25 U.S.C. 3003, and the implementing regulations, 43 CFR 10.10.

[FR Doc. 2024-20869 Filed 9-12-24; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4312-52-P