[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 63 (Monday, April 2, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19697-19698]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-7884]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[2253-665]


Notice of Intent to Repatriate Cultural Items: Maxwell Museum of 
Anthropology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Maxwell Museum of Anthropology, in consultation with the 
appropriate Indian tribes, has determined that a collection of cultural 
items meet the definition of sacred objects and repatriation to the 
Indian tribes stated below may occur if no additional claimants come 
forward. Representatives of any Indian tribe that believes itself to be 
culturally affiliated with the cultural items may contact the Maxwell 
Museum of Anthropology.

DATES: Representatives of any Indian tribe that believes it has a 
cultural affiliation with the cultural items should contact the Maxwell 
Museum of Anthropology at the address below by May 2, 2012.

ADDRESSES: David Phillips, Curator of Archaeology, Maxwell Museum of 
Anthropology, MSC01 1050, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 
87131, telephone (505) 277-9229.

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 Maxwell Museum of Anthropology, University of New 
Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, that meet the definition of sacred objects 
under 25 U.S.C. 3001.
    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

    In 1949, the University of New Mexico (UNM) conducted an 
archeological field school at site LA 46316 (Wahaniak Shukuk 
Shtuitauwa/Correo Snake Pit) in Valencia County, NM. UNM students 
collected cultural objects from the site, many made of perishable 
materials. Limited additional collecting at the site by UNM probably

[[Page 19698]]

took place in the year or years immediately following the field school. 
The items removed from site LA 46316 include 90 sacred objects commonly 
called prayer sticks, materials for making prayer sticks, decomposed 
prayer sticks, and six lots of loose feathers, at least some of which 
were a part of prayer sticks.
    The collection was transferred to the Maxwell Museum of 
Anthropology. Due to poor documentation and analysis, the full extent 
and nature of the collection emerged only recently, as analysts began 
detailed studies of the cultural objects. To date, the UMN collection 
from site LA 46316 includes the sacred objects detailed above as well 
as other cultural items and two partial sets of human remains, which 
require additional consultation and analysis before determinations can 
be made.
    Based on radiocarbon dating, site LA 46316 was first used around 
B.C. 1400, and remained in use for centuries. The site is an ecumenical 
shrine, containing a travertine dome with dry deposits. The first 
documented excavation of the site occurred in 1917 by Elsie Clews 
Parsons, who reported even earlier activities on the site by ``treasure 
seekers.'' Parsons described the shrine as a Laguna shrine, but stated 
that the site was used by visitors from ``Acoma, Zuni, and other 
towns.'' At the time of the UNM field school in 1949, the site was on 
privately owned land, but more recently, the land area was purchased by 
the Pueblo of Laguna. Today, the Pueblo of Laguna continues to use the 
site and considers itself the custodian of the shrine. During a 2011 
inspection of the sacred objects, delegates from the Pueblo of Laguna 
confirmed the presence of Laguna and Acoma sacred objects in the 
collection and indicated that other sacred objects may be related to 
the Zuni and Hopi tribes. The sacred objects in this notice are 
reasonably believed to be affiliated with the Pueblo of Laguna as well 
as other Pueblo Indians (including, but not limited to, the Hopi Tribe 
of Arizona; Pueblo of Acoma, New Mexico; and the Zuni Tribe of the Zuni 
Reservation, New Mexico).
    In response to consultations with Indian tribes (including in a 
letter from the Governor of the Pueblo of Laguna, representing the 
Pueblo in its role as land owner and custodian of the shrine), the 
staff of the Maxwell Museum will rebury the ``prayer sticks,'' ``prayer 
stick materials,'' and loose feathers from site LA 46316. The Pueblo of 
Laguna has agreed to provide access to the shrine and to supervise the 
return of the sacred objects.

Determinations Made by the Maxwell Museum of Anthropology

    Officials of the Maxwell Museum of Anthropology have determined 
that:
    <bullet> Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(C), the 96 cultural items 
described above are specific ceremonial objects needed by traditional 
Native American religious leaders for the practice of traditional 
Native American religions by their present-day adherents.
    <bullet> Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(2), there is a relationship of 
shared group identity that can be reasonably traced between the sacred 
objects and the Hopi Tribe of Arizona; Pueblo of Acoma, New Mexico; 
Pueblo of Laguna, New Mexico; and the Zuni Tribe of the Zuni 
Reservation, New Mexico.

Additional Requestors and Disposition

    Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to 
be culturally affiliated with the sacred objects should contact David 
Phillips, Curator of Archaeology, Maxwell Museum of Anthropology, MSC01 
1050, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, telephone (505) 
277-9229, before May 2, 2012. Repatriation of the sacred objects to the 
Pueblo of Laguna, New Mexico, may proceed after that date if no 
additional claimants come forward.
    The Maxwell Museum of Anthropology is responsible for notifying the 
Hopi Tribe of Arizona; Pueblo of Acoma, New Mexico; Pueblo of Laguna, 
New Mexico; and the Zuni Tribe of the Zuni Reservation, New Mexico that 
this notice has been published.

    Dated: March 28, 2012
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2012-7884 Filed 3-30-12; 8:45 am]
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