[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 239 (Friday, December 12, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65442-65443]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-32566]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Inventory Completion for Native American Human Remains 
from Kern County, CA in the Possession of California State University-
Bakersfield, Bakersfield, CA

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 in the possession of California State 
University-Bakersfield, Bakersfield, CA.
    A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by California 
State University-Bakersfield professional staff

[[Page 65443]]

in consultation with representatives of the Tule River Indian Tribe of 
the Tule River Reservation (Yokuts).
    In 1978, human remains representing five individuals were collected 
from site CA-KER-2421, Kern County, CA by an unknown individual. In 
1989, this individual donated these human remains to the California 
State University-Bakersfield. No known individuals were identified. No 
associated funerary objects are present.
    In 1992, human remains representing one individual were collected 
from site CA-KER-2720 during routine screening of soil excavated from a 
test unit prior to a work project. In 1994, these human remains were 
found in the collections of California State University-Bakersfield 
during laboratory procession of the screen soils. No known individual 
was identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    Based on the skeletal morphology and apparent age of these remains, 
these individuals have been determined to be Native American. 
Archeological evidence, including continuities of material culture, 
occupation sites, and manner of interment indicate that Yokuts people 
have occupied this area for several thousand years. These human remains 
are believed not to pre-date Yokuts occupation of this area.
    Based on the above mentioned information, officials of the 
California State University-Bakersfield have determined that, pursuant 
to 43 CFR 10.2 (d)(1), the human remains listed above represent the 
physical remains of six individuals of Native American ancestry. 
Officials of the California State University-Bakersfield 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 the Tule River Indian 
Tribe of the Tule River Reservation.
    This notice has been sent to officials of the Tule River Indian 
Tribe of the Tule River Reservation. Representatives of any other 
Indian tribe that believes itself to be culturally affiliated with 
these human remains should contact Dr. Mark Q. Sutton, Department of 
Sociology and Anthropology, California State University-Bakersfield, 
Bakersfield, CA 93311-1099; telephone: (805) 664-33153, before January 
12, 1998. Repatriation of the human remains to the Tule River Indian 
Tribe of the Tule River Reservation may begin after that date if no 
additional claimants come forward.

    Dated: December 9, 1997.
Daniel Haas,
Acting Departmental Consulting Archeologist,
Archeology and Ethnography Program.
[FR Doc. 97-32566 Filed 12-11-97; 8:45 am]
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