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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 10 (Thursday, January 16, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4789-4792]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-01011]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0039318; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]

Notice of Intended Repatriation: University of California, 
Riverside, Riverside, CA

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and 
Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the University of California, Riverside 
intends to repatriate certain cultural items that meet the definition 
of unassociated funerary objects or objects of cultural patrimony and 
that have a cultural affiliation with the Indian Tribes or Native 
Hawaiian organizations in this notice.

DATES: Repatriation of the cultural items in this notice may occur on 
or after February 18, 2025.

ADDRESSES: Megan Murphy, University of California, Riverside, 900 
University Avenue, Riverside, CA 92517-5900, telephone (951) 827-6349, 
email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice is published as part of the 
National Park Service's administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA. 
The determinations in this notice are the sole responsibility of the 
University of California, Riverside, and additional information on the 
determinations in this notice, including the results of consultation, 
can be found in the summary or related records. The National Park 
Service is not responsible for the determinations in this notice.

Abstract of Information Available

    A total of 82 cultural items have been requested for repatriation. 
The five unassociated funerary objects are one lot of ceramic sherds, 
one lot of lithics, one lot of faunal remains, one lot of geological 
materials, and one pipe fragment. The 77 of objects of cultural 
patrimony are 16 lots of lithics, eight lots of metal, 11 lots of 
faunal, seven lots of botanical materials, two lots of mineralogical 
materials, one lot of unmodified shell, three lots of ceramics, four 
lots of glass, one lot of wood, six lots of geological materials, two 
lots of charcoal, one lot of textile fragments, one lot of rope, one 
lot of flotation samples, one lot of soil, one lot of plastic, four 
lots of shell beads, three lots of fire affected rock, two lots of 
grinding stones, one lot of modified shell, and one steatite ring.
    In 1965, the University of California, Riverside Archaeological 
Research Unit (UCR-ARU) was contracted by the Southern California Gas 
Company to examine the region surrounding a pipeline along the lower 
Crowder Canyon area and Cajon Creek. The project, ``The Sayles Complex, 
A Late Milling Stone Assemblage from Cajon Pass, and the Ecological 
Implications of its Scraper Planes'', was led by Makoto Kowta and 
carried out by anthropology students from Pasadena City College and the 
University of California, Riverside. Archaeologists described the site 
as consisting of a prehistoric midden and historical-period culvert. A 
total of 1,294 artifacts, including 88 surface specimens, were 
recovered from the site. The artifacts recovered were several manos 
(both small and large), pendants, painted stones, milling stones, 
projectile points and blades, scrapers, bifacial choppers,

[[Page 4790]]

hammerstones, cores, and miscellaneous small, flaked objects, animal 
bone, floral material, mineralogical objects, and unmodified shell. 
Kowta described the site as being ``one of the best Milling Stone 
Horizon sites'' in San Bernardino County. All artifacts were cleaned, 
cataloged, and housed with the Department of Anthropology, University 
of California, Riverside as accession number 11.
    In 1972 an archaeological excavation of CA-RIV-502 (Nibbled Rock 
Ridge site) in the Jurupa Hills (Riverside, County) was led by Thomas 
King of the University of California, Riverside Archaeological Research 
Unit (UCR-ARU). The excavations were undertaken during construction on 
Route 60 in Riverside County to convert the expressway to full freeway 
standards. The site was reported by King to have been a large ``seed 
processing site'' with a number of grinding ``slicks'' or metates. In 
King's 1972 paper, ``Nibbled Rock Ridge (CA-RIV-502): A prehistoric 
milling station in the Jurupa Mountains, Riverside County, 
California'', he notes that fifteen bedrock grinding slicks were 
recorded in the site area and estimated a total of 60 slicks existed in 
the surrounding area. According to King's report burned bones and the 
``bulk of all cultural materials'' were found on the east side of the 
ridge in a layer of ``darkened soil''. A reported ``hearth feature'' 
was also found in the same layer with a rhyolite projectile point and a 
mano. Archaeologists have asserted that Serrano peoples have 
continuously occupied the San Bernardino Mountains and the Santa Ana 
River Watershed for up to 5,000-6,000 years BP. Ethnographer John 
Peabody Harrington recorded several Serrano place names throughout the 
Watershed during his interviews with Yuhaaviatam leader, Santos Manuel 
in 1918. Manuel told Harrington that the Santa Ana River is called 
hu'napat patr, meaning ``bears water''.
    In 1975, the University of California, Riverside Archaeological 
Research Unit (UCR-ARU) was contracted to conduct an archaeological 
evaluation of cultural resources within the Cucamonga Creek and 
Tributaries Project. The project, UCR-ARU #165, ``Environmental Impact 
Evaluation: Bi-weekly Report of Cultural Resource Survey of Cucamonga, 
Demens, Deer, and Hillside Creek Channels, San Bernardino and Riverside 
Counties California'', was led by Patricia Martz and Nelson Leonard. 
The investigation included an on-foot survey of the project area and 
excavation of four test units in archaeological site CA-SBR-895. It was 
identified by Leonard who noted what he believed was a cooking hearth. 
He believed that the site likely represents a temporary or seasonal 
camp near the Marrya'yam (Serrano) village of Cucamonga. Archaeologists 
recovered 14 cultural objects including lithic flakes, ground stones, 
and faunal remains. The site lies within the boundaries of what 
representatives of the Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation (also known as 
the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians) have identified as being part 
of Serrano ancestral territory.
    In 1976 Yucaipa Valley Water District contracted the University of 
California, Riverside Archaeological Research Unit (UCR-ARU) to 
evaluate archaeological site CA-SBR-1000 which was likely to be 
affected by a sewage project in the area. The site is believed to 
represent the Maara'yam (Serrano) village of Yukaipa't and was first 
recorded by Gerald Smith of the San Bernardino County Museum (SBCM) in 
1974. The site was excavated in multiple phases by UCR archaeology 
students under the supervision of UCR graduate students Patricia Martz 
and Eric Ritter, and Nelson Leonard, director of the UCR-ARU. During 
the first phase of excavation, in August and October of 1976, 
approximately 903 objects were removed from the site and housed at the 
San Bernardino County Museum. The second phase of excavations took 
place in October of 1976 with 2612 cultural objects being removed and 
stored at SBCM. The final phase of excavation took place in the spring 
of 1977 which resulted in the recovery of about 143 cultural objects 
that were subsequently stored at UCR. During this part of the 
excavation fragments of a human cranium were excavated from unit N-12, 
which was reportedly a few meters from an area where a burial was 
excavated in 1958. The human remains were repatriated by UCR to the 
Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation (also known as the San Manuel Band of 
Mission Indians) in 2008, but the cultural materials were not included 
in the repatriation. In 2022, during NAGPRA consultation, tribal 
representatives of the Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation identified the 
remaining items in the collection as being unassociated funerary 
objects. In 2024 the Morongo Band of Mission Indians also identified 
CA-SBR-1000 as an important village site to their tribal history.
    In 1971 the University of California, Riverside Archaeological 
Research Unit was contacted by the Mojave River Museum Association 
requesting an emergency salvage excavation of archaeological site CA-
SBR-554 (Jellyroll Cave). The members of the association discovered 
vandalism and looting of the cave resulting in the damage to artifacts 
and the removal of baskets and other perishable objects. The cave is a 
small dry cave located in the Ord Mountains that was found by the UCR-
ARU to contain well preserved perishable artifacts including a possible 
rodent snare, cordage and basketry fragments, and botanical materials 
such as seed and cacti. The roof of the cave appeared to be smoke-
blackened and a midden deposit seemed to have formed at the floor of 
the valley about 5 meters below the mouth of the cave. Materials 
collected during the excavation were housed at UCR under accession 
number 48, but were never cataloged or analyzed. In 2022 tribal 
representatives from the Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation (also known 
as the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians reviewed the collection and 
identified it as being a Serrano cache or bundle. A considerable amount 
of tortoise shell was also found in the cave which tribal 
representatives noted might have been used in a ceremonial context.
    In 1979 the University of California, Archaeological Research Unit 
(UCR-ARU) was contracted by the Southern California Edison Company to 
provide cultural resource impact analysis on various portions of 
transmission line corridors running through the Mojave Desert of 
California and Nevada. The work mostly consisted of foot survey and 
field sampling by archaeological surveyors from the UCR-ARU. The survey 
resulted in the location 61 archaeological sites and 146 isolates and 
artifacts collected from the surface were subsequently housed at the 
University of California, Riverside under accession number 70. In 2022, 
tribal representatives of the Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation (also 
known as the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians) identified 
archaeological site CA-SBR-2131, on the Baker Transmission Line, to be 
a part of Serrano Ancestral territory. They identified a chalcedony 
biface removed from the site as being an object of cultural patrimony 
as it represents an important piece of Serrano history and culture.
    The University of California, Riverside Archaeological Research 
Unit (UCR-ARU) conducted an archaeological assessment of a three-mile 
stretch of road leading from Dale Dry Lake to Amboy Road in 1986 at the 
request of Western America Ore Company, ahead of potential 
redevelopment. During the project, led by Adella Schroth of the UCR-
ARU, a field survey was conducted with the collection of surface 
materials subsequently housed at UCR under

[[Page 4791]]

accession number 117. The survey uncovered one historic site and one 
prehistoric site. The geographic area is known to the Yuhaaviatam of 
San Manuel Nation (also known as the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians 
and the Morongo Band of Mission Indians as Serrano ancestral territory. 
In 2022, representatives of the Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation 
reviewed the collection a identified the items as being objects of 
cultural patrimony. The objects included metal, quartz, lithics, and 
faunal remains.
    In 1989, at the request of the Southwestern Portland Cement Company 
(SPCC), the University of California, Riverside Archaeological Research 
Unit (UCR-ARU) conducted a cultural resources assessment of 1028 acres 
of land. The assessment, led by Joan Schneider and Brook Arkush, 
consisted of a foot survey and test excavations. The project resulted 
in the identification of eleven prehistoric archaeological sites. Of 
these sites, archaeological materials were collected from nine sites 
and housed at UCR under accession numbers 153 and 180 through 186. 
These materials included lithics, glass, shell beads, faunal remains, 
botanical materials, fire affected rock, metal, charcoal, manos and 
metates, a steatite ring, and geological materials. The sites 
identified consisted of grinding slicks and bedrock mortars, boulders 
with cupules, hearths and roasting pits, and fire affected rock 
scatters. In 2022, during tribal consultation, representatives of the 
Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation (also known as the San Manuel Band of 
Mission Indians) identified this project as falling within Serrano 
ancestral territory.
    In 1990, the University of California, Riverside Archaeological 
Unit (UCRARU) conducted an archaeological assessment of 320 acres of 
land located southwest of the City of Barstow, in western San 
Bernardino County, California at the request of Tala-Lynwood, Inc., 
ahead of a development project. The project, UCRARU #1047, 
``Environmental Impact Evaluation: An Archaeological Assessment of 320 
Acres of Land Located near Barstow in San Bernardino County, 
California'', was led by Robert Yohe II and Brooke Arkush. During the 
assessment, an on-site survey was conducted with the collection of 
surface materials subsequently housed at UCR under accession number 
163. The survey uncovered nine prehistoric sites and seven prehistoric 
isolates. The materials found within the area included lithic scatter, 
consisting of less than 30 flakes. In 2024, during tribal consultation, 
representatives of the Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation (also known as 
the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians) and the Morongo Band of Mission 
Indians identified this project as falling within Serrano ancestral 
territory. Tribal representatives identified the lithic materials 
collected during the project as being objects of cultural patrimony.
    In 1992, the University of California, Riverside Archaeological 
Research Unit (UCRARU) conducted an archaeological assessment on 20 
acres of land designated Tentative Parcel 13964, located in the Baldy 
Mesa area of San Bernardino Country, California at the request of 
Creative Boundaries, ahead of a proposed development project. The 
project, UCRARU #1185, ``Cultural Resource Assessment: Tentative Parcel 
13964 Located near Baldy Mesa in San Bernardino County, California'', 
was led by Bruce Love and Michael Hogan. The project area is located to 
the east of Oro Grande Wash, north of the Cajon Summit area of the San 
Gabriel Mountains. During the assessment, an on-foot survey was 
conducted with the collection of surface materials subsequently housed 
at UCR under accession number 208. The survey uncovered two 
archaeological sites. The archaeologists noted this site as a 
prehistoric site consisting of a very dark concentration of ash, burned 
and fire-cracked rock, and at least two formed artifacts, a mano 
fragment and a quartzite cutting tool were recovered. The geographical 
location of the area is known to have been occupied by the Marrya'yam 
(Serrano) during the protohistoric time period.
    In 2018, Dudek conducted cultural resources inventory on 
approximately 686.9 areas of land in Lucerne Valley, San Bernardino 
County, California at the request of Lendlease Energy Development, 
ahead of the Calcite Solar Project. The project, ``Cultural Resources 
Inventory and Evaluation Report for the Calcite Solar Project'', was 
led by Micah Hale. The cultural resource study uncovered 14 sites, 
seven historic roads, and five isolates in the project area. A total of 
three test units were excavated, each measuring at approximately 0.5 x 
0.25m with 20cm increments to depths no more than 40-60 cm. The 
materials collected during the project was housed at the University of 
California, Riverside under accession number 326. During tribal 
consultation representatives of the Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation 
(also known as the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians) and the Morongo 
Band of Mission Indians identified this project as falling within 
Serrano ancestral territory.
    In 1989, the University of California, Riverside Archaeological 
Research Unit (UCR-ARU) conducted a cultural resource assessment of 
132.6 acres of land located in the Manix Basin region of western San 
Bernardino Country at the request of Ting-Seng Ho, ahead of a 
development project. The project, UCRARU #1002, ``Environmental Impact 
Evaluation: An Archaeological Assessment of Assessor's Parcel 539-081-
03, Located in Manix Basin in San Bernardino County, California'', was 
led by Philip Wilke and Brooke Arkush. During the assessment, an on-
foot survey was conducted with the collection of surface materials 
subsequently housed at UCR under accession number 480. The assessment 
uncovered three prehistoric sites and five prehistoric isolates. All 
three sites are the result of lithic reduction activity, while all five 
isolates are stone artifacts. The archaeologists noted the presences of 
lithic cores, various types of flakes, biface fragments, ground stone 
artifacts, a bifacial core, and one hammerstone. During tribal 
consultation representatives of the Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation 
(previously listed as San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, California) 
and the Morongo Band of Mission Indians, California identified this 
project as falling within Serrano ancestral territory.

Determinations

    The University of California, Riverside has determined that:
     The five unassociated funerary objects described in this 
notice are reasonably believed to have been placed intentionally with 
or near human remains, and are connected, either at the time of death 
or later as part of the death rite or ceremony of a Native American 
culture according to the Native American traditional knowledge of a 
lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization. The 
unassociated funerary objects have been identified by a preponderance 
of the evidence as related to human remains, specific individuals, or 
families, or removed from a specific burial site or burial area of an 
individual or individuals with cultural affiliation to an Indian Tribe 
or Native Hawaiian organization.
     The 77 objects of cultural patrimony described in this 
notice have ongoing historical, traditional, or cultural importance 
central to the Native American group, including any constituent sub-
group (such as a band, clan, lineage, ceremonial society, or other 
subdivision), according to the Native American traditional knowledge

[[Page 4792]]

of an Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization.
     There is a reasonable connection between the cultural 
items described in this notice and the Morongo Band of Mission Indians, 
California, and the Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation (previously listed 
as San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, California).

Requests for Repatriation

    Additional, written requests for repatriation of the cultural items 
in this notice must be sent to the authorized representative identified 
in this notice under ADDRESSES. Requests for repatriation may be 
submitted by any lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian 
organization not identified in this notice who shows, by a 
preponderance of the evidence, that the requestor is a lineal 
descendant or a culturally affiliated Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian 
organization.
    Repatriation of the cultural items in this notice to a requestor 
may occur on or after February 18, 2025. If competing requests for 
repatriation are received, the University of California, Riverside must 
determine the most appropriate requestor prior to repatriation. 
Requests for joint repatriation of the cultural items are considered a 
single request and not competing requests. The University of 
California, Riverside is responsible for sending a copy of this notice 
to the Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations identified in 
this notice and to any other consulting parties.
    Authority: Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, 
25 U.S.C. 3004 and the implementing regulations, 43 CFR 10.9.

    Dated: January 6, 2025.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2025-01011 Filed 1-15-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
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