[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 225 (Tuesday, November 21, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69960-69961]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-29807]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Inventory Completion for Native American Human Remains 
and Associated Funerary Objects in the Possession of the Lost City 
Museum, Overton, NV

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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    Notice is hereby given in accordance with provisions of the Native 
American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), 43 CFR 10.9, 
of the completion of an inventory of human remains and associated 
funerary objects in the possession of the Lost City Museum, Overton, 
NV.
    This notice is published as part of the National Park Service's 
administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA, 43 CFR 10.2(c). The 
determinations within this notice are the sole responsibility of the 
museum, institution, or Federal agency that has control of these Native 
American human remains and associated funerary objects. The National 
Park Service is not responsible for the determinations within this 
notice.
    A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by Lost City 
Museum professional staff in consultation with Nevada State Museum 
staff, representatives of the Moapa Band of the Southern Paiute Tribe, 
and representatives of the Hopi Tribe of Arizona, in coordination with 
the Southern Paiute Consortium.
    At an unknown date before 1970, human remains representing two 
individuals were removed from an unknown location in the vicinity of 
Overton, NV, by an unknown person. These remains were donated to the 
Lost City Museum at an unknown time after 1970 by an unknown person. No 
known individuals were identified. No associated funerary objects are 
present.
    At an unknown date, human remains representing six individuals were 
removed from an unknown location in the vicinity of Overton, NV, by an 
unknown person. At an unknown time, these remains were donated to the 
Lost City Museum by an unknown person. No known individuals were 
identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    In the 1980's, human remains representing one individual and two 
associated funerary objects were removed from the Lewis Site 
(26CK2036), Sand Beach, Overton, NV, by Lost City Museum staff. The 
landowner donated the remains and objects to the Lost City Museum at 
the time of excavation. No known individual was identified. The two 
associated funerary objects are a pot and a projectile point.
    Archeological investigations have identified the Lewis Site (also 
known as Anasazi number 1) as a known Anasazi site. The remains were 
found in a room in a house.
    In 1987, human remains representing 4 individuals and 32 associated 
funerary objects were removed during salvage excavations during 
construction at the Bunker Hill Site (26CK020), Sand Beach, Overton, 
NV, by Lost City Museum staff. The remains were donated to the Lost 
City Museum by the landowner. No known individuals were identified. The 
associated funerary objects are shell pendant beads, a stone drill, a 
projectile point, Puebloan pottery, and turquoise beads.
    Archeological investigations have identified the Bunker Hill Site 
as a known Anasazi site.
    In 1992, human remains representing one individual were removed 
from the Park-Perkins number 9 Site (26CK029), Overton, NV, by the 
landowner during trenching activity on his land. In 1995, the landowner 
donated these remains to the Lost City Museum. No known individual was 
identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    Archeological investigations have identified the Park-Perkins 
number 9 Site as a known Anasazi site.
    In 1992, human remains representing one individual and three 
associated funerary objects were removed during salvage excavations by 
Lost City Museum staff at a quarry on private property at the Mill 
Point number 1 Site (26CK2003), Sand Beach, Overton, NV. No known 
individual was identified. The associated funerary objects are a 
ceramic vessel, a bead, and a stone.
    Stylistic attributes of the associated ceramic vessel identify the 
burial as characteristic of the Anasazi culture.
    In 1982, human remains representing one individual were removed 
during salvage excavations at the Adam 2 Site (26CK2059), Overton, NV, 
by University of Nevada, Las Vegas staff. The remains were returned to 
the Lost City Museum, which owns the property on which the site is 
located, in 2000. No known individual was identified. No associated 
funerary objects are present.
    Archeological investigations have identified the Adam 2 Site as 
affiliated with the Anasazi culture.
    On the basis of archeological context, the human remains listed 
above are determined to be Native American. Based on the geographical 
locality and probable age of the burials, the remains are determined to 
be affiliated with the archeologically-defined Virgin Branch Anasazi 
Culture, dated to circa 300 B.C.-A.D. 1300. Although the locations from 
which these remains were removed are within the historic territory of 
the Moapa Band of the Southern Paiute Tribe, joint consultations with 
representatives of the Moapa Band of the Southern Paiute Tribe and with 
representatives of the Hopi Tribe of Arizona produced evidence agreed 
to by both parties that the Anasazi remains from this area are 
ancestral to the modern Hopi Tribe of Arizona. Archaeological evidence 
supports this conclusion.
    Based on the above-mentioned information, officials of the Lost 
City Museum have determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2(d)(1), the 
human remains listed above represent the physical remains of 16 
individuals of Native American ancestry. Officials of the Lost City 
Museum also have determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR

[[Page 69961]]

10.2(d)(2), the 37 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 Lost City Museum have determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2(e), 
there is a relationship of shared group identity that can be reasonably 
traced between these Native American human remains and associated 
funerary objects and the Hopi Tribe of Arizona.
    This notice has been sent to officials of the the Moapa Band of the 
Southern Paiute Tribe and the Hopi Tribe of Arizona. Representatives of 
any other Indian tribe that believes itself to be culturally affiliated 
with these human remains and associated funerary objects should contact 
Kathryne Olson, Curator, Lost City Museum, P.O. Box 807, 721 South 
Moapa Valley Boulevard, Overton, NV 89040, telephone (702) 397-2193, 
before December 21, 2000. Repatriation of the human remains and 
associated funerary objects to the Hopi Tribe of Arizona may begin 
after that date if no additional claimants come forward.

    Dated: November 14, 2000.
John Robbins,
Assistant Director, Cultural Resources, Stewardship, and Partnerships.
[FR Doc. 00-29807 Filed 11-20-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-F