[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 197 (Thursday, October 9, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59651-59652]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-23947]



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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Intent to Repatriate Cultural Items: San Diego 
Archaeological Center, San Diego, CA

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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    Notice is here given in accordance with the Native American Graves 
Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), 25 U.S.C. 3005, of the intent 
to repatriate cultural items in the possession of the San Diego 
Archaeological Center, San Diego, CA, that meet the definitions of 
``unassociated funerary objects'' or ``sacred objects'' under 25 U.S.C. 
3001.
    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 cultural 
items. The National Park Service is not responsible for the 
determinations in this notice.
    In 1973 and 1974, cultural items were removed from archeological 
site CA-SDI-681 in the County of San Diego, CA, as part of an 
archeological excavation performed by an avocational archeological 
group. In 2006, the collection was accessioned by the San Diego 
Archaeological Center, and assessed for objects eligible for 
repatriation in accordance with NAGPRA. The 378 cultural items are 1 
piece of hematite, 1 piece of ochre, 16 pieces of ceramic pipe 
fragments, 1 ceramic effigy, 1 ceramic effigy fragment, 2 quartz 
crystals, and 356 shell disc beads.
    Site CA-SDI-681 is located in the unincorporated City of Bonsall 
about 11 miles northeast of the San Luis Rey River. This site falls 
within traditional Luiseno territory. Hematite, ochre, ceramic pipes, 
ceramic effigies and crystals are known to be used by the Luiseno 
Nation in sacred rites. Therefore, 22 of the cultural items removed 
from site CA-SDI-681 are considered sacred objects. Disc shell beads 
are known to be used as funerary objects. Therefore, the 356 shell disc 
beads removed from site CA-SDI-681 are considered unassociated funerary 
objects.
    In 1981, cultural items were removed from CA-SDI-8629 and CA-SDI-
8639H near Warner Springs, in San Diego County, CA, as part of an 
archeological excavation performed in compliance with the California 
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). On May 10, 2006, the collection was 
accessioned by the San Diego Archaeological Center, and assessed for 
objects eligible for repatriation in accordance with NAGPRA. The two 
cultural items are one quartz crystal and one ceramic pipe fragment.
    Cyrstals and pipes are known to be used the Luiseno Nation in 
sacred rites, and are considered sacred objects.
    Sites CA-SDI-8629 and CA-SDI-8639H are located on the U.S. 
Geographical Survey topographic map of Warner Springs. The Warner 
Springs Ranch is located in the eastern part of San Diego County. These 
sites fall within traditional Cupeno territory and are considered to be 
part of the ethnohistoric village of Cupa. The reporting archeologist 
determined that artifacts from the test units gave a clear impression 
that the deposits relate to Late Prehistoric and historic times. 
Descendants of the Cupeno Nation (Cupa, Kuupangaxwichem) reside on the 
Pala reservation. The Pala reservation is also home to the Pala Band of 
Luiseno Mission Indians of the Pala Reservation, California, which is a 
member of the Luiseno Nation.
    The Luiseno Nation is represented by the La Jolla Band of Luiseno 
Mission Indians of the La Jolla Reservation, California; Pala Band of 
Luiseno Mission Indians of the Pala Reservation, California; Pauma Band 
of Luiseno Mission Indians of the Pauma & Yuima Reservation, 
California; Pechanga Band of Luiseno Mission Indians of the Pechanga 
Reservation, California; Rincon Band of Luiseno Mission Indians of the 
Rincon Reservation, California; Soboba Band of Luiseno Indians, 
California; Twenty-Nine Palms Band of Luiseno Mission Indians of 
California; and San Luis Rey Band of Mission Indians, a non-federally 
recognized Indian group.
    Officials of the San Diego Archaeological Center have determined 
that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (3)(B), the 356 cultural items 
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 and are believed, by a preponderance of the 
evidence, to have been removed from a specific burial site of a Native 
American individual. Officials of the San Diego Archaeological Center 
also have determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (3)(C), the 24 
cultural items described above are specific ceremonial objects needed 
by traditional Native American religious leaders for the practice of 
traditional Native American religions by their present-day adherents. 
Lastly, officials of the San Diego Archaeological 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 sacred objects and unassociated funerary objects to the 
Luiseno Nation, which is represented by the La Jolla Band of Luiseno 
Mission Indians of the La Jolla Reservation, California; Pala Band of 
Luiseno Mission Indians of the Pala Reservation, California; Pauma Band 
of Luiseno Mission Indians of the Pauma & Yuima Reservation, 
California; Pechanga Band of Luiseno Mission Indians of the Pechanga 
Reservation, California; Rincon Band of Luiseno Mission Indians of the 
Rincon Reservation, California; Soboba Band of Luiseno Indians, 
California; Twenty-Nine Palms Band of Luiseno Mission Indians of 
California; and San Luis Rey Band of Mission Indians, a non-federally 
recognized Indian group.
    Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to 
be culturally affiliated with the unassociated funerary objects and/or 
sacred objects should contact Cindy Stankowski, San Diego 
Archaeological Center, 16666 San Pasqual Valley Road, Escondido, CA 
92027-7001, telephone (760) 291-0370, before November 10, 2008. 
Repatriation of the unassociated funerary objects and/or sacred objects 
to the Luiseno Nation, which is represented by the La Jolla Band of 
Luiseno Mission Indians of the La Jolla Reservation, California; Pala 
Band of Luiseno Mission Indians of the Pala Reservation, California; 
Pauma Band of Luiseno Mission Indians of the Pauma & Yuima Reservation, 
California; Pechanga Band of Luiseno Mission Indians of the Pechanga 
Reservation, California; Rincon Band of Luiseno Mission Indians of the 
Rincon Reservation, California; Soboba Band of Luiseno Indians, 
California; Twenty-Nine Palms Band of Luiseno Mission Indians of 
California; and San Luis Rey Band of Mission Indians, a non-federally 
recognized Indian group, may proceed after that date if no additional 
claimants come forward.
    The San Diego Archaeological Center is responsible for notifying 
the Cupeno (Cupa, Kuupangaxwichem) Nation of the Pala Reservation, 
California; La Jolla Band of Luiseno Mission Indians of the La Jolla 
Reservation, California; Pala Band of Luiseno Mission Indians of the 
Pala Reservation, California; Pauma Band of Luiseno Mission Indians of 
the Pauma & Yuima Reservation, California; Pechanga Band of Luiseno 
Mission Indians of the Pechanga Reservation, California; Rincon Band of 
Luiseno Mission Indians of the Rincon

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Reservation, California; Soboba Band of Luiseno Indians, California; 
and Twenty-Nine Palms Band of Luiseno Mission Indians of California; 
and San Luis Rey Band of Mission Indians, a non-federally recognized 
Indian group, that this notice has been published.

    Dated: September 12, 2008
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. E8-23947 Filed 10-8-08; 8:45 am]
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