[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 181 (Thursday, September 18, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49025-49026]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-24823]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Inventory Completion for Native American Human Remains 
and Associated Funerary Objects from Pima, Santa Cruz, and Cochise 
Counties, AZ in the Control of the Coronado National Forest, United 
States Forest Service, Tucson, AZ

AGENCY: National Park Service

ACTION: Notice

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    Notice is hereby given in accordance with provisions of the Native 
American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), 25 U.S.C. 
3003 (d), of the completion of an inventory of human remains and 
associated funerary objects from Pima, Santa Cruz, and Cochise 
Counties, AZ in the control of the Coronado National Forest, United 
States Forest Service, Tucson, AZ.
    A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by U.S. Forest 
Service, Amerind Foundation, and Arizona State Museum professional 
staff in consultation with representatives of the Ak-Chin Indian 
Community, the Fort Sill Apache Tribe of Oklahoma, the Gila River 
Indian Community, the Mescalero Apache Tribe, the Salt River Pima-
Maricopa Indian Community, the San Carlos Apache Tribe, the Tohono 
O'odham Nation, and the White Mountain Apache Tribe.
    During the early 1950s, human remains representing one individual 
were recovered from Ramanote Cave, Santa Cruz County during legally 
authorized excavations by Dr. Charles C. DiPeso, Amerind Foundation. No 
known individual was identified. The one associated funerary object, a 
woven fiber mat, can not be located at present.
    The Ramanote Cave site was utilized during the protohistoric period 
1450-1700 A.D. based on ceramic seriation. Continuities of ethnographic 
materials indicate affiliation between this protohistoric site and 
historic and present day Piman and O'odham cultures. Oral traditions of 
the Tohono O'odham Nation, Gila River Indian Community, Ak-Chin Indian 
Community, and the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community support 
the cultural affiliation of these four Indian tribes with Hohokam sites 
in this area of southeastern Arizona.
    In 1976, human remains representing two individuals were recovered 
from the Patagonia School site, Santa Cruz County during legally 
authorized excavations conducted by Donald G. Wood. No known 
individuals were identified. No associated funerary objects are 
present.
    The Patagonia School site has been identified as a small Hohokam 
habitation occupied between 850-1300 A.D. based on architecture and 
material culture. Continuities of ethnographic materials, technology, 
and architecture indicate the affiliation of Hohokam sites in the area 
with historic and present day Piman and O'odham cultures. Oral 
traditions of the Tohono O'odham Nation, Gila River Indian Community, 
Ak-Chin Indian Community, and the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian 
Community support the cultural affiliation of these four Indian tribes 
with Hohokam sites in this area of southeastern Arizona.

[[Page 49026]]

    Between 1979-1980, human remains representing 75 individuals were 
recovered from ten precontact sites within the Anamax-Rosemont Project 
in the Santa Rita Mountains, Coronado National Forest during legally 
authorized excavations by Dr. Alan Ferg, University of Arizona. No 
known individuals were identified. The 105 associated funerary objects 
include ceramic bowls, jars, and sherds, shell, bone and turquoise 
ornaments, bone and stone tools, metates, and a projectile point.
    These sites within the Anamax-Rosemont Project have been identified 
as Hohokam village occupations dating between 500-1300 A.D. based on 
architecture and material culture. Continuities of ethnographic 
materials, technology, and architecture indicate the affiliation of 
Hohokam sites in the area with historic and present day Piman and 
O'odham cultures. Oral traditions of the Tohono O'odham Nation, Gila 
River Indian Community, Ak-Chin Indian Community, and the Salt River 
Pima-Maricopa Indian Community support the cultural affiliation of 
these four Indian tribes with Hohokam sites in this area of 
southeastern Arizona.
    Based on the above mentioned information, officials of the U.S. 
Forest Service have determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 (d)(1), 
the human remains listed above represent the physical remains of 81 
individuals of Native American ancestry. Officials of the U.S. Forest 
Service have also determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (3)(A), 
the 105 objects listed above 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. Lastly, officials of the 
U.S. Forest Service have determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 
(2), there is a relationship of shared group identity which can be 
reasonably traced between these Native American human remains and 
associated funerary objects and the Ak-Chin Indian Community, the Gila 
River Indian Community, the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, 
and the Tohono O'odham Nation.
    In 1976, human remains representing one individual were recovered 
from the Pothole Canyon site, Cochise County during legally authorized 
excavations by Dr. Alan Ferg, University of Arizona. No known 
individual was identified. The 27 associated funerary objects include a 
gourd jar, iron knife, textile fragment, and cord.
    The Pothole Canyon site has been identified as a 19th century 
Chiricahua Apache encampment based on historical and ethnographical 
information. Historical documents, ethnographic evidence, and oral 
traditions indicate this site is affiliated with the Chiricahua Apache, 
represented by the present day tribes of the Fort Sill Apache Tribe and 
Mescalero Apache Tribe.
    Based on the above mentioned information, officials of the U.S. 
Forest Service have determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 (d)(1), 
the human remains listed above represent the physical remains of one 
individual of Native American ancestry. Officials of the U.S. Forest 
Service have also determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (3)(A), 
the 27 objects listed above 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. Lastly, officials of the U.S. 
Forest Service have determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (2), 
there is a relationship of shared group identity which can be 
reasonably traced between these Native American human remains and 
associated funerary objects and the Fort Sill Apache Tribe and the 
Mescalero Apache Tribe.
    This notice has been sent to officials of the Ak-Chin Indian 
Community, the Fort Sill Apache Tribe of Oklahoma, the Gila River 
Indian Community, the Mescalero Apache Tribe, the Salt River Pima-
Maricopa Indian Community, the San Carlos Apache Tribe, the Tohono 
O'odham Nation, and the White Mountain Apache Tribe. Representatives of 
any other Indian tribe that believes itself to be culturally affiliated 
with these human remains and associated funerary objects should contact 
Dr. Frank E. Wozniak, NAGPRA Coordinator, Southwestern Region, USDA 
Forest Service, 517 Gold Ave. SW, Albuquerque, NM 87102; telephone: 
(505) 842-3238, fax: (505) 842-3800, before October 20, 1997. 
Repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects to 
the culturally affiliated tribes may begin after that date if no 
additional claimants come forward.
Dated: September 12, 1997.
Francis P. McManamon,
Departmental Consulting Archeologist,
Manager, Archeology and Ethnography Program.
[FR Doc. 97-24823 Filed 9-17-97 ; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-F