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[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 48 (Wednesday, March 12, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 11463]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-6180]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Notice of Inventory Completion for Native American Human Remains 
from Lyon County, NV, in the Possession of the Physical Anthropology 
Laboratory of the University of Nevada-Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV

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 in the 
possession of the Physical Anthropology Laboratory of the University of 
Nevada-Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV.
    A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by UNLV 
Physical Anthropology Laboratory's professional staff in consultation 
with representatives of the Yerington Paiute Tribe.
    In 1981, human remains representing one individual were recovered 
from Smith Valley, Lyon County, NV, and turned over to Washoe County 
Coroner Vernon O. McCarty. This individual was subsequently donated to 
the UNLV Physical Anthropology Laboratory. No known individual was 
identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    Morphological evidence indicates this individual is Native American 
based on extreme wear of dental enamel. Consultation evidence presented 
by representatives of the Yerington Paiute Tribe indicates there are 
two historic cemeteries dating from the early 1900s in Smith Valley. 
Oral history evidence presented by representatives of the Yerington 
Paiute Tribe further state that the Smith Valley area was occupied by 
the Paiute in precontact times. Historic and ethnographic evidence 
indicates the Yerington Paiute Tribe has occupied the Smith Valley area 
in historic times, and no non-Paiute precontact cultures have been 
identified within the Smith Valley area.
    Based on the above mentioned information, officials of the 
University of Nevada-Las Vegas Physical Anthropology Laboratory 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 University of Nevada-Las Vegas 
Physical Anthropology Laboratory 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 Yerington Paiute Tribe.
    This notice has been sent to officials of the Yerington Paiute 
Tribe. Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself 
to be culturally affiliated with these human remains and associated 
funerary objects should contact Vicki Cassman, Department of 
Anthropology and Ethnic Studies, University of Nevada-Las Vegas, 4505 
Maryland Parkway, Box 455012, Las Vegas, NV 89154-5012; telephone: 
(702) 895-3590, fax (702) 895-4357, before April 11, 1997. Repatriation 
of the human remains to the Yerington Paiute Tribe may begin after that 
date if no additional claimants come forward.
Dated: March 5, 1997.
Veletta Canouts,
Acting Departmental Consulting Archeologist,
Deputy Manager, Archeology and Ethnography Program.
[FR Doc. 97-6180 Filed 3-11-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-F
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