[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 74 (Tuesday, April 18, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Page 19408]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-9491]



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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Notice of Inventory Completion for Native American Human Remains 
and Associated Funerary Objects in the Control of the Ojai Valley 
Historical Society and Museum, Ojai, CA

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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    Notice is hereby given under provisions of the Native American 
Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, 25 U.S.C. 3003 (d), of the 
completion of an inventory of human remains and associated funerary 
objects from the site designated CA-Ven 132 and currently in the 
control of the Ojai Valley Historical Society and Museum.
    A detailed inventory and assessment of the human remains and 
associated funerary objects has been made by the staff of the Ojai 
Valley Historical Society and Museum in consultation with 
representatives of the Santa Ynez Band of Mission Indians.
    The human remains consist of a minimum of 180 individuals. There 
are also 12,118 funerary objects, including shell, stone, and trade 
beads and pendants; projectile points; crystals; stone bowls; scrapers; 
fish hooks; copper pitcher; bone, wooden, and metal awls; square iron 
nails; shark's teeth; metal bowl fragments; stone balls; clay tiles; 
and pestle and mortars. The human remains and associated funerary 
objects were excavated in 1969 by Robert O. Browne at CA-Ven 132 (Awhay 
village site), located on private property near Ojai, CA. The human 
remains and associated funerary objects were accessioned into the 
collections of the Ojai Valley Museum that same year. CA-Ven 132 has 
been identified as Awhay, a Chumash village occupied during the 
historic period. All archeological evidence indicates that these human 
remains and associated funerary objects were interred during this 
historic period occupation of the site. 11,599 of the objects were 
shell, stone and trade beads believed to be parts of necklaces and 
bracelets or other objects of personal adornment placed with the 
remains. Mortuary practices documented by Mr. Browne are consistent 
with those used by the Chumash tribe during the historic period. 
Genealogical evidence shows that families from the Awhay village site 
relocated to the Santa Inez Mission during the Spanish period and are 
presently members of the Santa Inez Band of Mission Indians.
    Inventory of the human remains and review of the accompanying 
documentation indicate that no known individuals were identifiable. 
Based on the above information, officials of the Ojai Valley Historical 
Society and Museum 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 human remains and associated funerary 
objects and the Santa Ynez Band of Mission Indians. Further, officials 
of the Ojai Valley Historical Society and Museum 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 human remains and 
associated funerary objects and the present-day Santa Ynez Band of 
Mission Indians.
    At the request of the Santa Ynez Band of Mission Indians, the Ojai 
Valley Historical Society and Museum has transferred these human 
remains and associated funerary objects to the Repository for 
Archaeological and Ethnographic Collections (RAEC), Department of 
Anthropology, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA. The RAEC has 
accepted this collection for curation under the condition that the 
Santa Ynez Band of Mission Indians retains control of this collection.
    This notice has been sent to officials of the Santa Ynez Band of 
Mission Indians. Representatives of any other Indian tribe which 
believes itself to be culturally affiliated with these human remains 
and associated funerary objects should contact Mary K. Porter, Curator, 
Ojai Valley Historical Society and Museum, P.O. Box 204, Ojai, CA 
93024, telephone (805) 646-0445 before May 18, 1995. Repatriation of 
these human remains and associated funerary objects to the Santa Ynez 
Band of Mission Indians may begin after that date if no additional 
claimants come forward.
    Dated: April 7, 1995.
Francis P. McManamon,
Departmental Consulting Archeologist,
Chief, Archeological Assistance Division.
[FR Doc. 95-9491 Filed 4-17-95; 8:45 am]
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