44450 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 183 / Friday, September 22, 2017 / Notices 

are believed, by a preponderance of the 

evidence, to have been removed from a 

specific burial site of a Native American 

individual. 

• Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(2), there 

is a relationship of shared group 

identity that can be reasonably traced 

between the unassociated funerary 

objects and the Three Affiliated Tribes 

of the Fort Berthold Reservation, North 

Dakota. 

Additional Requestors and Disposition 

Lineal descendants or representatives 

of any Indian tribe or Native Hawaiian 

organization not identified in this notice 

that wish to claim these cultural items 

should submit a written request with 

information in support of the claim to 

Ms. Sandra Barnum, U.S. Army 

Engineer District, Omaha, ATTN: 

CENWO–PM–AB, 1616 Capital Avenue, 

Omaha, NE 68102, telephone, (402) 

995–2674, email sandra.v.barnum@

usace.army.mil, by October 23, 2017. 

After that date, if no additional 

claimants have come forward, transfer 

of control of the unassociated funerary 

objects to the Three Affiliated Tribes of 

the Fort Berthold Reservation, North 

Dakota, may proceed. 

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 

Omaha District, is responsible for 

notifying the Three Affiliated Tribes of 

the Fort Berthold Reservation, North 

Dakota, that this notice has been 

published. 

Dated: August 2, 2017. 

Melanie O’Brien, 

Manager, National NAGPRA Program. 

[FR Doc. 2017–20294 Filed 9–21–17; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4312–52–P 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

National Park Service 

[NPS–WASO–NAGPRA–NPS0023846; 

PPWOCRADN0–PCU00RP14.R50000] 

Notice of Inventory Completion: U.S. 

Department of the Interior, Bureau of 

Reclamation, Mid-Pacific Region, 

Sacramento, CA 

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior. 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of the 

Interior, Bureau of Reclamation 

(Reclamation), Mid-Pacific Regional 

Office, has completed an inventory of 

human remains and associated funerary 

objects, in consultation with the 

appropriate Indian Tribes or Native 

Hawaiian organizations, and has 

determined that there is a cultural 

affiliation between the human remains 

and associated funerary objects and 

present-day Indian Tribes or Native 

Hawaiian organizations. Lineal 

descendants or representatives of any 

Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian 

organization not identified in this notice 

that wish to request transfer of control 

of these human remains should submit 

a written request to Reclamation, MidPacific Regional Office. If no additional 

requestors come forward, transfer of 

control of the human remains and 

associated funerary objects to the lineal 

descendants, Indian Tribes, or Native 

Hawaiian organizations stated in this 

notice may proceed. 

DATES: Lineal descendants or 

representatives of any Indian Tribe or 

Native Hawaiian organization not 

identified in this notice that wish to 

request transfer of control of these 

human remains and associated funerary 

objects should submit a written request 

with information in support of the 

request to the U.S. Department of the 

Interior, Bureau of Reclamation, MidPacific Regional Office, at the address in 

this notice by October 23, 2017. 

ADDRESSES: Melanie Ryan, NAGPRA 

Specialist/Physical Anthropologist, 

Bureau of Reclamation, Mid-Pacific 

Regional Office, MP–153, 2800 Cottage 

Way, Sacramento, CA 95825, telephone 

(916) 978–5526, email emryan@

usbr.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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 under the control of 

Reclamation, Mid-Pacific Regional 

Office, Sacramento, CA. The human 

remains and associated funerary objects 

were removed from Calaveras and 

Tuolumne Counties, 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. 

Consultation 

A detailed assessment of the human 

remains was made by Reclamation, MidPacific Regional Office, professional 

staff in consultation with 

representatives of the Bishop Paiute 

Tribe (previously listed as the PaiuteShoshone Indians of the Bishop 

Community of the Bishop Colony, 

California) and the Tuolumne Band of 

Me-Wuk Indians of the Tuolumne 

Rancheria of California. The following 

Indian Tribes were invited to consult 

but did not participate in consultation: 

The Buena Vista Rancheria of Me-Wuk 

Indians; California Valley Miwok Tribe; 

Chicken Ranch Rancheria of Me-Wuk 

Indians; Ione Band of Miwok Indians; 

Jackson Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians; 

Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians; 

and Wilton Rancheria (hereafter referred 

to as ‘‘The Invited and Consulted 

Tribes’’) 

History and Description of the Remains 

In August of 1975, human remains 

representing, at minimum, one 

individual, were inadvertently removed 

from the Texas Charley Gulch site (CA– 

CAL–0338, original site number 4–CAL– 

S–286) in Calaveras County, CA. The 

site was first excavated in 1975 by San 

Francisco State University under the 

direction of Dr. Michael Moratto. Three 

burials were encountered in two of the 

units, but the human remains were left 

in situ. In 2013, SFSU notified 

Reclamation of the existence of an 

isolated left mandibular second 

premolar in the CA–CAL–0338 

collection. Physical custody was 

transferred to Reclamation, Mid-Pacific, 

on March 31, 2013. Subsequent 

reanalysis of the site CA–CAL–0338 

faunal assemblage by Reclamation, MidPacific, professional staff resulted in the 

identification of an additional 97 pieces 

of human bone. The fragmentary nature 

of the remains precluded determination 

of age or sex. No known individual was 

identified. The five associated funerary 

objects include four Olivella shell beads 

and one Haliotis disc. A sixth grave 

item, a bone awl fragment was not 

among the items transferred by San 

Francisco State University to 

Reclamation, Mid-Pacific, in 2013. 

Age estimates of CA–CAL–0338 are 

based on temporally-diagnostic artifacts 

and radiocarbon dates. Uncalibrated 14C 

dates of 320 ±80 BP (Unit I–100–N, I– 

9040) and 405 ±80 BP (Unit G–100–S, I– 

9039) suggest a Late Horizon occupation 

for all three burials. However, the 

carbon samples were not directly 

associated with the remains; rather they 

were extracted from undifferentiated 

midden deposits in the general vicinity 

of the burials. The single Type M1a 

Olivella bead found in association with 

Burial 3 suggests that this individual 

was interred sometime between the 

beginning of the Middle Period (circa 

200 B.C.) and the end of Phase 1 of the 

Late Period (circa A.D. 1500). The Type 

G2b Olivella beads, while not 

definitively associated with Burials 2 

and 5, are temporally diagnostic for the 

timespan between the Early/Middle 

Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 183 / Friday, September 22, 2017 / Notices 44451 

Period Transition (circa 500–200 B.C.) 

and the end of the Middle Period (circa 

A.D. 1000). A single H3b Haliotis flat 

disc is consistent with an occupation 

sometime prior to circa A.D. 500. 

As the foregoing makes clear, there is 

a fundamental disagreement between 

the radiometric data and the index 

artifacts for two of the three burials. The 

radiocarbon data suggests that all three 

burials date to circa A.D. 1500, which 

would indicate a clear relationship with 

the modern-day Me-Wuk. In the case of 

Burial 3, this estimate is supported by 

the Type M1a bead, which overlaps 

with the radiocarbon date at the extreme 

end of its temporal distribution. 

However, the shell beads found with 

Burials 2 and 5 indicate a much earlier 

occupation, perhaps as early as 200 B.C. 

Overlap in the temporal ranges of 

Olivella G2b beads and Haliotis H3b flat 

disc suggest that Burials 2 and 5 were 

interred no later than A.D. 500. 

Contextual ambiguity for both the 

radiometric and index artifacts are not 

resolvable, rendering these data largely 

equivocal. For Burial 3, the sum totality 

of the evidence is unambiguous and 

clearly indicates a cultural affiliation 

with the present-day Me-Wuk. In the 

absence of any quantitative method for 

determining interment dates for Burials 

2 and 5, the existence of traditional 

tribal lands of the present-day Me-Wuk 

in the same geographical area is taken 

as prima facie evidence of continuous 

occupation of the site from antiquity 

into the ethnographic present. 

In August of 1972, human remains 

representing, at minimum, one 

individual, were removed from site CA– 

TUO–0313 in Tuolumne County, CA. 

Human remains consisting of one right 

patella, one proximal hand phalanx, one 

middle hand phalanx, and one cervical 

vertebra were encountered by the 

excavators. In 2016, re-examination of 

the faunal assemblage by Reclamation 

professional staff identified additional 

human remains consisting of one 

ischium fragment (side indeterminate), 

one left pubis fragment, and four pieces 

of unidentified human bone. The 

human remains represent one adult of 

indeterminate sex. No known individual 

was identified. No associated funerary 

objects are present. The vertical 

distribution of human remains within a 

single unit suggests the disturbed 

interment of a single individual. The 

preponderance of the available evidence 

indicates that the human remains are 

culturally affiliated with the present-day 

Me-Wuk/Miwok. 

In August of 1972, human remains 

representing, at minimum, one 

individual, were removed from site CA– 

TUO–0314 in Tuolumne County, CA. 

Human remains consisting of a fragment 

of a cervical vertebra and a rib were 

encountered by the excavators. In 2016, 

re-examination of the faunal assemblage 

by Reclamation, Mid-Pacific Region, 

professional staff identified additional 

human remains consisting of one 

vertebra fragment, one cervical vertebra, 

one rib, one first rib, and seventeen 

sternum fragments. The human remains 

represent one adult of indeterminate 

sex. No known individual was 

identified. No associated funerary 

objects are present. The vertical 

distribution of human remains within a 

single unit suggests the disturbed 

interment of a single individual. The 

bulk of the site CA–TUO–0314 artifact 

inventory consists of historic artifacts 

and suggest the possibility that the 

historic component of the site was 

accumulated through aboriginal 

activities. The artifacts are concentrated 

on the surface and upper levels, but 

occur in decreasing frequency all the 

way to the base of the deposit. Based on 

the artifact and contextual evidence, 

both Johnson (1973:79) and Moratto et 

al. (1988:193–194) estimate a brief-butintensive occupation during the Gold 

Rush period. The preponderance of the 

available evidence indicates that the 

human remains are culturally affiliated 

with the present-day Me-Wuk/Miwok. 

In August of 1972, human remains 

representing, at minimum, one 

individual, were removed from site CA– 

TUO–0307 in Tuolumne County, CA. 

The human remains consist of a 

fragment of a right femoral head and a 

nearly-complete left third metacarpal 

and represent one adult of 

indeterminate sex. No known individual 

was identified. No associated funerary 

objects are present. The small size of the 

site CA–TUO–0307 artifact inventory 

precludes any precise temporal 

placement, but two artifacts in the 

collection are temporally diagnostic. A 

single Stockton Serrated projectile point 

suggests an occupation in the middle of 

the Late Prehistoric period (A.D. 700– 

1100). A single Type H1a Olivella bead 

is temporally diagnostic to the Early 

Mission period (A.D. 1770–1800). 

Additionally, relatively few historic 

artifacts were present at site CA–TUO– 

0307. Most artifacts were found in the 

upper excavation levels, and none 

exhibiting any evidence of aboriginal 

use and/or modification. This site falls 

within the aboriginal lands of the MeWuk (Heizer 1978:ix, 400). Taken 

together, these data indicate an 

occupation beginning sometime during 

the Late Prehistoric period, probably no 

earlier than approximately A.D. 1200– 

1300. The preponderance of the 

evidence suggests that the human 

remains are culturally affiliated with the 

present-day Me-Wuk. 

The collection from sites CA–TUO– 

0313, CA–TUO–0314, and CA–TUO– 

0307 was made by University of 

California Field School, Davis, under 

the direction of Patti Johnson. 

Excavation of the sites was done in 

compliance with an agreement between 

the National Park Service and the 

Foundation for Archaeological 

Research, Phase IV, of the New Melones 

Reservoir Archaeological Project. In 

1978, ownership of the New Melones 

Dam and Reservoir transferred to the 

Department of the Interior, who directed 

Reclamation, Mid-Pacific Region, to be 

responsible for its operation and 

maintenance. The archeological 

collections resulting from the 

construction project were also 

transferred to Reclamation, Mid-Pacific 

Region. In 2014, the collection was 

moved to the New Melones Curation 

Facility (NMCF) located near the New 

Melones Visitors Center, Tuolumne 

County, CA. No intact burials were 

recorded during the excavations. 

Determinations Made by the Bureau of 

Reclamation, Mid-Pacific Region 

Officials of the Bureau of 

Reclamation, Mid-Pacific Region, have 

determined that: 

• Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the 

human remains described in this notice 

represent the physical remains of a 

minimum of four individuals of Native 

American ancestry. 

• Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A), 

the five objects described in this notice 

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. 

• 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 the Buena Vista Rancheria 

of Me-Wuk Indians; California Valley 

Miwok Tribe; Chicken Ranch Rancheria 

of Me-Wuk Indians; Ione Band of 

Miwok Indians; Jackson Rancheria of 

Me-Wuk Indians; Shingle Springs Band 

of Miwok Indians; Tuolumne Band of 

Me-Wuk Indians of the Tuolumne 

Rancheria of California; and Wilton 

Rancheria. 

Additional Requestors and Disposition 

Lineal descendants or representatives 

of any Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian 

organization not identified in this notice 

that wish to request transfer of control 

of these human remains should submit 

a written request with information in 

support of the request to Melanie Ryan, 

44452 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 183 / Friday, September 22, 2017 / Notices 

NAGPRA Specialist/Physical 

Anthropologist, Bureau of Reclamation, 

Mid-Pacific Office, MP–153, 2800 

Cottage Way, Sacramento, CA 95825, 

telephone (916) 978–5526, email 

emryan@usbr.gov, by October 23, 2017. 

After that date, if no additional 

requestors have come forward, transfer 

of control of the human remains and 

associated funerary objects to the Buena 

Vista Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians; 

California Valley Miwok Tribe; Chicken 

Ranch Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians; 

Ione Band of Miwok Indians; Jackson 

Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians; Shingle 

Springs Band of Miwok Indians; 

Tuolumne Band of Me-Wuk Indians of 

the Tuolumne Rancheria of California; 

and Wilton Rancheria may proceed. 

The Bureau of Reclamation, MidPacific Region, is responsible for 

notifying The Invited and Consulted 

Tribes that this notice has been 

published. 

Dated: August 1, 2017. 

Melanie O’Brien, 

Manager, National NAGPRA Program. 

[FR Doc. 2017–20299 Filed 9–21–17; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4312–52–P 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

National Park Service 

[NPS–WASO–NAGPRA–NPS0024070; 

PPWOCRADN0–PCU00RP14.R50000] 

Notice of Inventory Completion: U.S. 

Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha 

District, Omaha, NE, and State 

Archaeological Research Center, 

Rapid City, SD 

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior. 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: The U.S. Army Corps of 

Engineers, Omaha District, has 

completed an inventory of human 

remains and associated funerary objects, 

in consultation with the appropriate 

Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian 

organizations, and has determined that 

there is a cultural affiliation between the 

human remains and associated funerary 

objects and present-day Indian Tribes or 

Native Hawaiian organizations. Lineal 

descendants or representatives of any 

Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian 

organization not identified in this notice 

that wish to request transfer of control 

of these human remains and associated 

funerary objects should submit a written 

request to the U.S. Army Corps of 

Engineers, Omaha District. If no 

additional requestors come forward, 

transfer of control of the human remains 

and associated funerary objects to the 

lineal descendants, Indian Tribes, or 

Native Hawaiian organizations stated in 

this notice may proceed. 

DATES: Lineal descendants or 

representatives of any Indian Tribe or 

Native Hawaiian organization not 

identified in this notice that wish to 

request transfer of control of these 

human remains and associated funerary 

objects should submit a written request 

with information in support of the 

request to the U.S. Army Corps of 

Engineers, Omaha District, at the 

address in this notice by October 23, 

2017. 

ADDRESSES: Ms. Sandra Barnum, U.S. 

Army Engineer District, Omaha, ATTN: 

CENWO–PM–AB, 1616 Capital Avenue, 

Omaha, NE 68102, telephone, (402) 

995–2674, email sandra.v.barnum@

usace.army.mil. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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 under the control of the 

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha 

District. The human remains and 

associated funerary objects were 

removed from site 39BF231, Buffalo 

County, SD. 

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. 

Consultation 

A detailed assessment of the human 

remains and associated funerary objects 

was made by the State Archaeological 

Research Center and the U.S. Army 

Corps of Engineers, Omaha District, 

professional staff in consultation with 

representatives of the Yankton Sioux 

Tribe of South Dakota. 

History and Description of the Remains 

In 1961, human remains representing, 

at minimum, two individuals were 

removed from site 39BF231 in Buffalo 

County, SD. The human remains were 

collected by Robert W. Neuman of the 

Smithsonian Institution, when thirteen 

coffin burials were excavated prior to 

construction of a new Highway 47. The 

human remains are determined to be 

Native American based on the location 

of the site, which is near the Crow Creek 

Indian Reservation. The human remains 

and associated funerary objects were 

stored at the Midwest Archeological 

Center (MWAC). The human remains 

were transferred from MWAC in 1964 to 

the University of Kansas, then to the 

University of Tennessee-Knoxville in 

1971, and then to the Smithsonian 

Institution in 1979. The human remains 

are currently at the Smithsonian 

Institution and are not included in the 

Notice. MWAC did not transfer the 

funerary objects and the human remains 

together. Instead, MWAC transferred the 

funerary objects to the South Dakota 

State Archaeological Research Center 

(SARC) in 1987. In 1999 and 2000, 

SARC found human remains— 

mummified skin and hair—among the 

funerary objects. The mummified skin 

and hair are from two individual burials 

collected by Neuman in 1961. These 

human remains are currently housed at 

SARC. No known individuals were 

identified. The 1,351 associated 

funerary objects are 1,046 glass beads, 

141 shell beads, 81 brass beads, 1 brass 

button, 16 glass buttons, 4 silver 

earrings, 1 vial of seeds, 2 wood 

fragments, 1 antler and brass handle, 1 

chipped stone, 1 mirror with brass 

frame, 2 iron nails, 1 brass pendant, 3 

pipe preforms, 38 iron pot fragments, 1 

iron ring, 1 spoon, 2 brass tacks, 3 linen 

fragments, 3 wool fragments, and 2 brass 

thimbles. 

The use of coffins for Native 

American burials and the alignment of 

the burials in rows are representative of 

the post-1870s, Early Reservation Period 

at the nearby Crow Creek Indian 

Reservation. By the 1870s, the 

reservation was inhabited by the 

Yanktonai. The associated funerary 

objects are consistent with Yanktonai 

historic burials. The Yanktonai today 

are represented by the Yankton Sioux 

Tribe of South Dakota. Consultation 

with the Yankton Sioux Tribe of South 

Dakota indicates that the associated 

funerary objects listed in this notice are 

the kinds of objects that were typically 

placed with individuals at the time of 

death. 

Determinations Made by the U.S. Army 

Corps of Engineers, Omaha District 

Officials of the U.S. Army Corps of 

Engineers, Omaha District, have 

determined that: 

• Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the 

human remains described in this notice 

represent the physical remains of two 

individuals of Native American 

ancestry. 

• Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A), 

the 1,351 objects described in this 

notice are reasonably believed to have 

been placed with or near individual 

human remains at the time of death or