4312-52
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0038159; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Inventory Completion: New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, & Historic
Preservation, Waterford, NY
AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
SUMMARY: In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act
(NAGPRA), the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, & Historic Preservation
(NYOPRHP) has completed an inventory of human remains and has determined that there is no
lineal descendant and no Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization with cultural affiliation.
DATES: Upon request, repatriation of the human remains in this notice may occur on or after
[INSERT DATE 30 DAYS AFTER DATE OF PUBLICATION IN THE FEDERAL
REGISTER].
ADDRESSES: Jessica Vavrasek, New York State Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic
Preservation, Peebles Island State Park, P.O. Box 189, Waterford, NY 12188-0189, telephone
(518) 268-2199, email Jessica.Vavrasek@parks.ny.gov.
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 NYOPRHP, 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
Human remains representing, at least, one individual has been identified. No associated
funerary objects are present. A suspected Native American scalp was discovered during periotic
cleaning of 80+ year old exhibit dedicated to Dan Beard located within Bear Mountain State
Park. The scalp was discovered within a riker box inside of a cardboard box with “Indian Scalp”

written on the outside in pencil. This box was buried at the bottom of a chest of Mr. Beard’s
personal items that had been on display since the 1940’s. No information is available as to where,
when, or how it was acquired by Mr. Beard prior to his death and eventual donation of the scalp
to the park.
Consultation
Invitations to consult were sent to the Delaware Nation, Oklahoma; Delaware Tribe of
Indians; and Stockbridge Munsee Community, Wisconsin. The Delaware Nation, Oklahoma;
Delaware Tribe of Indians; and Stockbridge Munsee Community, Wisconsin. All responded yes
to NYOPRHP’s request for consultation on this matter with all three Nations agreeing that the
Stockbridge Munsee Community, Wisconsin, would take the lead during this consultation.
Cultural affiliation
The following types of information about the cultural affiliation of the human remains in
this notice are available: geographical, and historical. The information, including the results of
consultation, identified:
1.

No earlier group connected to the human remains;

2.

No Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization connected to the human
remains; and

3.

No relationship of shared group identity between the earlier group and the Indian
Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization that can be reasonably traced through
time.

Determinations
The NYOPRHP has determined that:
•

The human remains described in this notice represent the physical remains of one
individual of Native American ancestry.

•

No known lineal descendant who can trace ancestry to the human remains in this notice
has been identified.

•

No Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization with cultural affiliation to the human
remains in this notice has been clearly or reasonably identified.

Requests for Repatriation
Written requests for repatriation of the human remains 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 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.
Upon request, repatriation of the human remains described in this notice may occur on or
after [INSERT DATE 30 DAYS AFTER DATE OF PUBLICATION IN THE FEDERAL
REGISTER]. If competing requests for repatriation are received, the NYOPRHP must determine
the most appropriate requestor prior to repatriation. Requests for joint repatriation of the human
remains are considered a single request and not competing requests. The NYOPRHP is
responsible for sending a copy of this notice to any consulting lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or
Native Hawaiian organization.
Authority: Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, 25 U.S.C. 3003, and the
implementing regulations, 43 CFR 10.10.
Dated: June 14, 2024
Mariah Soriano,
Acting Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2024-14101 Filed: 6/26/2024 8:45 am; Publication Date: 6/27/2024]