[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 38 (Monday, February 27, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11569-11571]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-4519]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

 National Park Service

[2253-665]


Notice of Intent To Repatriate Cultural Items: USDA Forest 
Service, Coconino National Forest, Flagstaff, AZ

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The USDA Forest Service, Coconino NF, in consultation with the 
appropriate Indian tribe, has determined that the cultural items meet 
the definition of unassociated funerary objects and repatriation to the 
Indian tribe stated below may occur if no additional claimants come 
forward. Representatives of any Indian tribe that believes itself to be 
culturally affiliated

[[Page 11570]]

with the cultural items may contact the USDA Forest Service, 
Southwestern Region.

DATES: Representatives of any Indian tribe that believes it has a 
cultural affiliation with the cultural items should contact the USDA 
Forest Service, Southwestern Region at the address below by March 28, 
2012.

ADDRESSES: Dr. Frank E. Wozniak, NAGPRA Coordinator, Southwestern 
Region, USDA Forest Service, 333 Broadway Blvd. SE., Albuquerque, NM 
87102, telephone (505) 842-3238.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice is here given in accordance with the 
Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), 25 
U.S.C. 3005, of the intent to repatriate cultural items under the 
control of the Coconino National Forest and in the custody of the 
Museum of Northern Arizona that meet the definition of unassociated 
funerary objects under 25 U.S.C. 3001. These unassociated funerary 
objects were removed from sites within the boundaries of the Coconino 
National Forest, Coconino County, AZ.
    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 cultural items. The National Park Service is not responsible 
for the determinations in this notice.

History and Description of the Cultural Items

    Between 1927 and 1929, two ceramic jars were removed from site NA 
660 (Turkey Hill Pueblo) in Coconino County, AZ, during archeological 
excavations conducted by the University of Arizona and the Museum of 
Northern Arizona. The jars have been curated at the Museum of Northern 
Arizona since their removal.
    Based on the ceramic collections and ceramic seriation, Turkey Hill 
Pueblo (site NA 660) is identified as a Northern Sinagua pueblo with 
pithouses that were occupied during the second half of the 13th and the 
first quarter of the 14th centuries A.D. Records at the Museum of 
Northern Arizona indicate that the items were removed from a burial 
context. The human remains were either left in the ground or are not 
locatable at the present time.
    Between 1938 and 1940, eight objects were removed from site NA 862 
in Coconino County, AZ, during archeological excavations conducted by 
the Museum of Northern Arizona. The objects have been curated at the 
Museum of Northern Arizona since their removal. The eight unassociated 
funerary objects are three ceramic bowls, one ceramic jar, one ceramic 
ladle, one stone scraper, one stone pendant and one bone tool.
    Based on the ceramic collection and ceramic seriation, site NA 862 
is identified as a Northern Sinagua residential site that was occupied 
during the 11th and 12th centuries A.D. Records at the Museum of 
Northern Arizona indicate that the items were removed from a burial 
context. The human remains were either left in the ground or are not 
locatable at the present time.
    Between 1931 and 1951, two objects were removed from site NA 1814 
(Juniper Terrace Site) in Coconino County, AZ, during archeological 
excavations conducted by the Museum of Northern Arizona. The objects 
have been curated at the Museum of Northern Arizona since their 
removal. The two unassociated funerary objects are pupae casings and 
pottery sherds.
    Based on the ceramic collection and ceramic seriation, the Juniper 
Terrace Site (site NA 1814) is identified as a group of Northern 
Sinagua roomblocks that were occupied during the second half of the 
12th and the first half of the 13th centuries A.D. Records at the 
Museum of Northern Arizona indicate that the items were removed from a 
burial context. The human remains were either left in the ground or are 
not locatable at the present time.
    During the 1950s, five objects were removed from site NA 4266 
(Piper Site) in Coconino County, AZ, during archeological excavations 
conducted by the Museum of Northern Arizona. The objects have been 
curated at the Museum of Northern Arizona since their removal. The five 
unassociated funerary objects are three ceramic bowls, one ball of 
unworked clay and one shell bracelet.
    Based on the ceramic collection and ceramic seriation, site NA 4266 
has been identified as a Northern Sinagua residential site that was 
occupied during the 11th and 12th centuries A.D. Records at the Museum 
of Northern Arizona indicate that the items were removed from a burial 
context. The human remains were either left in the ground or are not 
locatable at the present time.
    During the early 1970s, two objects were removed from site NA 10806 
in Coconino County, AZ, during archeological excavations conducted by 
the Museum of Northern Arizona. The objects have been curated at the 
Museum of Northern Arizona since their removal. The two unassociated 
funerary objects are one clay figurine and one shell bracelet.
    Based on the ceramic collection and ceramic seriation, site NA 
10806 has been identified as a Northern Sinagua residential site that 
was occupied during the 10th and 12th centuries A.D. Records at the 
Museum of Northern Arizona indicate that the items were removed from a 
burial context. The human remains were either left in the ground or are 
not locatable at the present time.
    Based on the archeological evidence, the sites listed above have 
been identified as Northern Sinagua sites. Continuities in ethnographic 
materials indicate a cultural affiliation of Northern Sinagua sites in 
the Flagstaff area of north central Arizona with the Hopi Tribe of 
Arizona. Furthermore, oral traditions presented by representatives of 
the Hopi Tribe of Arizona, support their claims of cultural affiliation 
with Northern Sinagua sites in this portion of north central Arizona.

Determinations Made by the USDA Forest Service, Southwestern Region

    Officials of the USDA Forest Service, Southwestern Region, and the 
Coconino National Forest have determined that:
    <bullet> Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(B), the 19 cultural items 
described 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 and are believed, by a preponderance of the 
evidence, to have been removed from a specific burial site of a Native 
American individual.
    <bullet> Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(2), there is a relationship of 
shared group identity that can be reasonably traced between the 
unassociated funerary objects and the Hopi Tribe of Arizona.

Additional Requestors and Disposition

    Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to 
be culturally affiliated with the unassociated funerary objects should 
contact Dr. Frank E. Wozniak, NAGPRA Coordinator, Southwestern Region, 
USDA Forest Service, 333 Broadway Blvd. SE., Albuquerque, NM 87102, 
(505) 842-3238 before March 28, 2012. Repatriation of the unassociated 
funerary objects to the Hopi Tribe, Arizona may proceed after that date 
if no additional claimants come forward.
    The Coconino National Forest is responsible for notifying the Hopi 
Tribe of Arizona that this notice has been published.


[[Page 11571]]


    Dated: February 22, 2012.
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2012-4519 Filed 2-24-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-50-P