Notice of Inventory Completion: Office of the State Archaeologist, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA

AGENCY:

National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

The Office of the State Archaeologist Bioarchaeology Program, previously listed as the Office of the State Archaeologist Burials Program, has completed an inventory of human remains and associated funerary objects, in consultation with the appropriate Indian tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations, and has determined that there is a cultural affiliation between the human remains and associated funerary objects and present-day Indian tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations. Lineal descendants or representatives of any Indian tribe or Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice that wish to request transfer of control of these human remains and associated funerary objects should submit a written request to the Office of the State Archaeologist Bioarchaeology Program. If no additional requestors come forward, transfer of control of the human remains and associated funerary objects to the lineal descendants, Indian tribes, or Native Hawaiian organizations stated in this notice may proceed.

DATES:

Lineal descendants or representatives of any Indian tribe or Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice that wish to request transfer of control of these human remains and associated funerary objects should submit a written request with information in support of the request to the Office of the State Archaeologist Bioarchaeology Program at the address in this notice by July 8, 2016.

ADDRESSES:

Lara Noldner, Office of the State Archaeologist Bioarchaeology Program, University of Iowa, 700 South Clinton Street, Iowa City, IA 52242, telephone (319) 384-0740, email lara-noldner@uiowa.edu.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

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 and associated funerary objects under the control of the Office of the State Archaeologist Bioarchaeology Program, Iowa City, IA. The human remains and associated funerary objects were removed from Polk County, IA.

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 and associated funerary objects. The National Park Service is not responsible for the determinations in this notice.

Consultation

A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by the Office of the State Archaeologist Bioarchaeology Program professional staff in consultation with representatives of the Ho-Chunk Nation of Wisconsin; the Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska; the Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma; the Otoe-Missouria Tribe of Indians, Oklahoma; and the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska.

History and Description of the Remains

At an unknown date, likely between 1914 and 1935, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual were removed from a burial near the town of Runnells, in Polk County, IA. The human remains were stored at the Iowa State Historical Society until 2013, when they were transferred to the Office of the State Archaeologist Bioarchaeology Program. The human remains represent a late-term fetus or newborn child (Burial Project 2926). No known individuals were identified. The 310 associated funerary objects are 307 glass beads, one hematite fragment, one wood fragment, and one piece of linsey-woolsy textile.

Based on the artifacts associated with the human remains, the burial is believed to belong to the Ioway culture, which is affiliated with the present day Ho-Chunk Nation of Wisconsin; the Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska; the Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma; the Otoe-Missouria Tribe of Indians, Oklahoma; and the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska.

Determinations Made by the Office of the State Archaeologist Bioarchaeology Program

Officials of the Office of the State Archaeologist Bioarchaeology Program have determined that:

• Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described in this notice represent the physical remains of one individual of Native American ancestry.
• Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A), the 310 objects described in this notice 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.
• 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 associated funerary objects and the Ho-Chunk Nation of Wisconsin; the Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska; the Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma; the Otoe-Missouria Tribe of Indians, Oklahoma; and the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska.

Additional Requestors and Disposition

Lineal descendants or representatives of any Indian tribe or Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice that wish to request transfer of control of these human remains and associated funerary objects should submit a written request with information in support of the request to Lara Noldner, Office of the State Archaeologist Bioarchaeology Program, University of Iowa, 700 South Clinton Street, Iowa City, IA 52242, telephone (319) 384-0740, email lara-noldner@uiowa.edu, by July 8, 2016. After that date, if no additional requestors have come forward, transfer of control of the human remains and associated funerary objects to the Ho-Chunk Nation of Wisconsin; the Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska; the Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma; the Otoe-Missouria Tribe of Indians, Oklahoma; and the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska, may proceed.

The Office of the State Archaeologist Bioarchaeology Program is responsible for notifying the Ho-Chunk Nation of Wisconsin; the Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska; the Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma; the Otoe-Missouria Tribe of Indians, Oklahoma; and the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska, that this notice has been published.