Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 42 / Thursday, March 5, 2009 / Notices 9631 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

National Park Service 

Notice of Inventory Completion: 

Southwest Museum of the American 

Indian, Autry National Center, Los 

Angeles, CA 

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior. 

ACTION: Notice. 

Notice is here given in accordance 

with the Native American Graves 

Protection and Repatriation Act 

(NAGPRA), 25 U.S.C. 3003, of the 

completion of an inventory of human 

remains and associated funerary objects 

in the control of the Southwest Museum 

of the American Indian, Autry National 

Center, Los Angeles, CA. The human 

remains and associated funerary objects 

were removed from Kern County, CA. 

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 human remains and 

associated funerary objects. The 

National Park Service is not responsible 

for the determinations in this notice. 

A detailed assessment of the human 

remains was made by the Southwest 

Museum of the American Indian, Autry 

National Center professional staff in 

consultation with representatives of the 

Picayune Rancheria of the Chukchansi 

Indians of California; Santa Rosa Indian 

Community of the Santa Rosa 

Rancheria, California; Table Mountain 

Rancheria of California; Tule River 

Indian Tribe of the Tule River 

Reservation of California; and 

Tuolumne Band of Me-Wuk Indians of 

the Tuolumne Rancheria of California. 

In an unknown year, human remains 

representing a minimum of one 

individual were removed from an 

unknown site in Buttonwillow, Kern 

County, CA (Cat. #17.c.11). The 

museum has no additional information 

regarding the circumstances of the 

removal or the museum’s acquisition of 

the human remains. No known 

individual was identified. No associated 

funerary objects are present. 

In 1935, human remains representing 

a minimum of 12 individuals were 

removed from burials at site 

P–15–000116 (CA-KER–116) in Elk 

Hills Cemetery, Buena Vista Lake, Kern 

County, CA, by Edwin F. Walker, 

Southwest Museum Research Associate, 

and were donated to the museum that 

same year (Accn. #11.F). No known 

individuals were identified. The 955 

associated funerary objects are 9 

arrowpoints (8 chalcedony, 1 obsidian 

arrowpoint); 1 basket covered bowl 

fragment; 11 basket fragments; 1 

fragmented wooden bowl; 1 wooden 

bowl; 1 small round metal container; 1 

soapstone bowl fragment, 2 steatite bowl 

fragments; 1 cup; 1 cup fragment; 867 

beads (435 blue beads, 37 red beads, 163 

white beads, 1 amber bead, 2 green 

beads, 1 polychrome bead, 8 pismo clam 

beads, 100 seed beads, 1 black bead, 2 

bone beads with tiny fragments, 67 

olivella shell beads, 1 abalone bead, 1 

clam shell bead, 23 light blue, 4 green 

and 21 trade beads); 5 strings of beads; 

5 brass buttons; 1 clam shell disk; 1 

steatite dish; 5 fabric fragments with 

small fragments as well; 2 abalone shell 

gorgets; 1 nut; 16 shell ornaments (5 

Columbella ornaments; 10 Hinnites 

ornaments and 1 pismo clam shell); 12 

pendants (8 freshwater clams and 4 

seawater clam shell); 2 pigment 

fragments; 1 piece of leather rope; 1 

fragmented limpet shell; 1 bag of well 

broken, powdered shell; 3 brass 

thimbles; 1 fiber water bottle; 1 clay 

whistle; and 1 whistle fragment. 

Historically, a Yokuts village 

extended along the north shore, on a 

sand spit, at the outlet of Buena Vista 

Lake. The Elk Hills Cemetery is located 

approximately 1,000 feet due north of 

this sand spit and Yokut village. The 

associated funerary objects removed 

from site P–15–000116 (CA-KER–116) 

illustrate that this burial site was in use 

during the Historic Period, 

approximately between the years A.D. 

1780 and 1818. 

The burial contexts identify the 

human remains removed from sites in 

Kern County, CA, as being Native 

American. Linguistic evidence indicates 

that this region of California was 

inhabited by Native American Yokut 

speakers. Consultation with a tribal 

representative of the Santa Rosa Indian 

Community of the Santa Rosa 

Rancheria, California, confirmed that 

these burial sites were within an area, 

documented by Yokut oral history, of 

continued habitation that include the 

Protohistoric and Historic Periods. 

Historical sources corroborate this oral 

history. Modern descendants of Yokut 

speakers are members of the Picayune 

Rancheria of the Chukchansi Indians of 

California; Santa Rosa Indian 

Community of the Santa Rosa 

Rancheria, California; Table Mountain 

Rancheria of California; Tule River 

Indian Tribe of the Tule River 

Reservation of California; and 

Tuolumne Band of Me-Wuk Indians of 

the Tuolumne Rancheria of California. 

Officials of the Southwest Museum of 

the American Indian, Autry National 

Center have determined that, pursuant 

to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (9–10), the human 

remains described above represent the 

physical remains of 13 individuals of 

Native American ancestry. Officials of 

the Southwest Museum of the American 

Indian, Autry National Center also have 

determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 

3001 (3)(A), the 955 objects 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. Lastly, officials of the 

Southwest Museum of the American 

Indian, Autry National Center have 

determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 

3001 (2), there is a relationship of 

shared group identity that can be 

reasonably traced between the Native 

American human remains and 

associated funerary objects and the 

Picayune Rancheria of the Chukchansi 

Indians of California; Santa Rosa Indian 

Community of the Santa Rosa 

Rancheria, California; Table Mountain 

Rancheria of California; Tule River 

Indian Tribe of the Tule River 

Reservation of California; and 

Tuolumne Band of Me-Wuk Indians of 

the Tuolumne Rancheria of California. 

Representatives of any other Indian 

tribe that believes itself to be culturally 

affiliated with the human remains and 

associated funerary objects should 

contact Steven Karr, Ph.D., Ahmanson 

Curator of History and Culture and 

Interim Executive Director, 234 Museum 

Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90065, 

telephone (323) 221–2164, extension 

241, or LaLena Lewark, Senior NAGPRA 

Coordinator, Autry National Center, 

4700 Western Heritage Way, Los 

Angeles, CA 90027, telephone (323) 

667–2000, extension 220, before April 6, 

2009. Repatriation of the human 

remains and associated funerary objects 

to the Santa Rosa Indian Community of 

the Santa Rosa Rancheria, California 

may proceed after that date if no 

additional claimants come forward. 

The Southwest Museum of the 

American Indian, Autry National Center 

is responsible for notifying the Picayune 

Rancheria of the Chukchansi Indians of 

California; Santa Rosa Indian 

Community of the Santa Rosa 

Rancheria, California; Table Mountain 

Rancheria of California; Tule River 

Indian Tribe of the Tule River 

Reservation of California; and 

Tuolumne Band of Me-Wuk Indians of 

the Tuolumne Rancheria of California 

that this notice has been published. 


jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES
9632 Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 42 / Thursday, March 5, 2009 / Notices 

Dated: February 13, 2009. 

Sangita Chari, 

Acting Manager, National NAGPRA Program. 

[FR Doc. E9–4675 Filed 3–4–09; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4312–50–S 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

National Park Service 

Notice of Inventory Completion: U.S. 

Department of Agriculture, Forest 

Service, Gila National Forest, Silver 

City, NM 

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior. 

ACTION: Notice. 

Notice is here given in accordance 

with the Native American Graves 

Protection and Repatriation Act 

(NAGPRA), 25 U.S.C. 3003, of the 

completion of an inventory of human 

remains and associated funerary objects 

in the control of the U.S. Department of 

Agriculture, Forest Service, Gila 

National Forest, Silver City, NM. The 

human remains and associated funerary 

objects were removed from Catron and 

Grant Counties, NM. 

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 human remains and 

associated funerary objects. The 

National Park Service is not responsible 

for the determinations in this notice. 

A detailed assessment of the human 

remains was made by Gila National 

Forest professional staff in consultation 

with representatives of the Hopi Tribe of 

Arizona; Pueblo of Acoma, New Mexico; 

and Zuni Tribe of the Zuni Reservation, 

New Mexico. 

In 1935 and 1936, human remains 

representing two individuals were 

removed from Starkweather Ruin, 

Catron County, NM, during legally 

authorized excavations by Paul H. 

Nesbitt of Beloit College, Beloit, WI. The 

human remains and associated funerary 

objects had been curated at the Logan 

Museum of Anthropology, Beloit 

College since their excavation; however, 

the human remains and funerary objects 

are presently being transferred to the 

Forest Supervisor’s Office, Gila National 

Forest. No known individuals were 

identified. The two associated funerary 

objects are pottery sherds. 

Based on material culture, 

architecture and site organization, 

Starkweather Ruin has been identified 

as an Upland Mogollon pithouse village 

and pueblo occupied between A.D. 500– 

1000 and A.D. 1100–1300. 

In 1986, human remains representing 

one individual were removed from the 

Comanche Springs Site (LA 105121) in 

Grant County, NM, during legally 

authorized excavations conducted by 

the University of Arizona. The human 

remains have been curated at the Forest 

Supervisor’s Office, Gila National Forest 

since their removal from the site. No 

known individual was identified. No 

associated funerary objects are present. 

Based on material culture and site 

organization, the Comanche Springs Site 

has been identified as a Mogollon 

village occupied between A.D. 1000 and 

1200. 

In 1986, human remains representing 

one individual were removed from the 

Eva Faust Site (LA 33704) in Catron 

County, NM, during legally authorized 

excavations conducted by Dr. James 

Neely, University of Texas-Austin. No 

known individual was identified. No 

associated funerary objects are present. 

Based on material culture and site 

organization, the Eva Faust Site has 

been identified as an Upland Mogollon 

pithouse village with surface rooms that 

was occupied between A.D. 600 and 

1100. 

In 1987, human remains representing 

two individuals were removed from the 

Diamond Creek Site (AR–03–06–05– 

214) in Catron County, NM, during 

archeological excavations conducted by 

the U.S. Forest Service in conjunction 

with an investigation under the 

Archaeological Resources Protection Act 

(ARPA) of illegal activities at the site. 

The human remains have been curated 

at the Forest Supervisor’s Office, Gila 

National Forest since their removal from 

the site. No known individuals were 

identified. No associated funerary 

objects are present. 

Based on material culture and site 

organization, the Diamond Creek Site 

has been identified as a Mogollon 

village occupied between A.D. 1000 and 

1150. 

In July to August 1990, human 

remains representing one individual 

were removed from site LA 78983 (Elk 

Ridge Ruin) in Catron County, NM, 

during archeological excavations 

conducted by Human Systems Research 

(Alamagordo, NM) in conjunction with 

an investigation under ARPA of illegal 

activities at the site. The human remains 

have been curated at the Forest 

Supervisor’s Office, Gila National Forest 

since their removal from the site. No 

known individual was identified. No 

associated funerary objects are present. 

Based on material culture and site 

organization, LA 78983 has been 

identified as a Mogollon village 

occupied between A.D. 1000 and 1200. 

Continuities between ethnographic 

materials and technology indicate the 

affiliation of the above Mogollon sites 

that are located in west-central New 

Mexico with the Pueblo of Acoma, New 

Mexico; Hopi Tribe of Arizona; and 

Zuni Tribe of the Zuni Reservation, New 

Mexico. The oral traditions of the 

Pueblo of Acoma, New Mexico; Hopi 

Tribe of Arizona; and Zuni Tribe of the 

Zuni Reservation, New Mexico support 

the cultural affiliation of these three 

Indian tribes with Mogollon sites in 

west-central New Mexico. 

In 1966–1967, human remains 

representing two individuals were 

removed from site LA 10014 in Catron 

County, NM, during legally authorized 

excavations conducted by the U.S. 

Forest Service. No known individuals 

were identified. No associated funerary 

objects are present. 

Based on material culture and site 

organization, LA 10014 has been 

identified as a Mogollon pithouse 

village with surface rooms that was 

occupied between A.D. 600 and 1100. 

In January to February 1990, human 

remains representing four individuals 

were removed from site LA 66315 in 

Grant County, NM, during archeological 

excavations conducted by the U.S. 

Forest Service in conjunction with an 

investigation under ARPA of illegal 

activities at the site. The human remains 

and associated funerary objects have 

been curated at the Forest Supervisor’s 

Office, Gila National Forest since their 

removal from the site. No known 

individuals were identified. The 120 

associated funerary objects are 109 bags 

of ceramic sherds, chipped stone and 

groundstone fragments; 9 metates; 1 box 

of adobe/daub; and 1 ceramic vessel. 

Based on material culture and site 

organization, LA 66315 has been 

identified as a Mogollon village 

occupied between A.D. 900 and 1150. 

Continuities between ethnographic 

materials and technology indicate the 

affiliation of the two above-mentioned 

Mogollon sites located in southwestern 

New Mexico with the Pueblo of Acoma, 

New Mexico; Hopi Tribe of Arizona; 

and Zuni Tribe of the Zuni Reservation, 

New Mexico. The oral traditions of the 

Pueblo of Acoma, New Mexico; Hopi 

Tribe of Arizona; and Zuni Tribe of the 

Zuni Reservation, New Mexico support 

the cultural affiliation of these three 

Indian tribes with Mogollon sites in 

southwestern New Mexico. 

Officials of the U.S. Department of 

Agriculture, Forest Service, Gila 

National Forest have determined that, 

pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (9–10), the 

human remains described above 


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