[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 35 (Wednesday, February 21, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 11044]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-4297]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Inventory Completion for Native American Human Remains 
and Associated Funerary Objects in the Control of the U.S. Department 
of Interior, Bureau of Land Management, New Mexico State Office, Santa 
Fe, NM

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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    Notice is hereby given in accordance with provisions of the Native 
American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), 43 CFR 10.9, 
of the completion of an inventory of human remains and associated 
funerary objects in the control of the U.S. Department of Interior, 
Bureau of Land Management, New Mexico State Office, Santa Fe, NM.
    This notice is published as part of the National Park Service's 
administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA, 43 CFR 10.2 (c). The 
determinations within this notice are the sole responsibility of the 
museum, institution, or Federal agency that has control of these Native 
American human remains and associated funerary objects. The National 
Park Service is not responsible for the determinations within this 
notice.
    A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by the 
University of Colorado Museum, Eastern New Mexico University, the 
Maxwell Museum of Anthropology (University of New Mexico), the New 
Mexico State University Museum, the Museum of New Mexico, the San Juan 
County Museum, and Bureau of Land Management professional staff in 
consultation with representatives of the Hopi Tribe of Arizona; the 
Navajo Nation, Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah; the Pueblo of Acoma, New 
Mexico; the Pueblo of Jemez, New Mexico; the Pueblo of Isleta, New 
Mexico; the Pueblo of San Ildefonso, New Mexico; the Pueblo of Zia, New 
Mexico; and the Zuni Tribe of the Zuni Reservation.
    Between 1966 and 1967, human remains representing three individuals 
were recovered from site LA 8779 in New Mexico during legally 
authorized excavations and collections conducted by the Cottonwood 
Gulch Foundation. These human remains are presently curated at the 
Maxwell Museum of Anthropology, University of New Mexico. No known 
individuals were identified. The eight associated funerary object are a 
pottery effigy, ladle and bowls, a jet bead, and yucca cord fragments.
    Based on material culture, architecture, and site organization, 
site LA 8779 has been identified as a Chacoan outlier occupied between 
C.E. 1100-1300.
    In 1978, human remains representing two individuals were recovered 
from site LA 89418 in New Mexico during legally authorized excavations 
and collections by Bill Kight of the Bureau of Land Management. These 
human remains are presently curated at the Maxwell Museum of 
Anthropology, University of New Mexico. No known individuals were 
identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    Based on material culture and site organization, site LA 89418 has 
been identified as a small Anasazi pueblo occupied between C.E. 900-
1300.
    In 1979, human remains representing two individuals were recovered 
from site LA 27211 in New Mexico during legally authorized excavations 
and collections by the Bureau of Land Management. These human remains 
are currently curated at the Maxwell Museum of Anthropology, University 
of New Mexico. No known individuals were identified. The two associated 
funerary objects are a pottery bowl and pitcher.
    Based on material culture and site organization, site LA 27211 has 
been identified as a small Anasazi pueblo occupied between C.E. 900-
1300.
    In 1987, human remains representing five individuals were recovered 
from site LA 50364 in New Mexico during legally authorized excavations 
and collections by Complete Archaeological Service Associates. These 
human remains are presently curated by the Museum of New Mexico. No 
known individuals were identified. No associated funerary objects were 
present.
    Based on material culture and site organization, site LA 50364 has 
been identified as a small Anasazi pueblo occupied between C.E. 1050-
1150.
    Continuities of ethnographic materials, technology, and 
architecture indicate affiliation of Anasazi sites in this area of New 
Mexico with historic and present-day Puebloan cultures. Oral traditions 
presented by representatives of the Pueblo of Acoma, New Mexico; the 
Hopi Tribe of Arizona; and the Zuni Tribe of the Zuni Reservation 
support cultural affiliation with Anasazi sites in this area of New 
Mexico.
    Based on the above mentioned information, officials of the New 
Mexico State Office of the Bureau of Land Management have determined 
that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 (d)(1), the human remains listed above 
represent the physical remains of 12 individuals of Native American 
ancestry. Officials of the New Mexico State Office of the Bureau of 
Land Management also have determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 
(d)(2), the 10 objects listed 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 New Mexico State Office of the Bureau of Land Management have 
determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 (e), there is a relationship 
of shared group identity that can be reasonably traced between these 
Native American human remains and associated funerary objects and the 
Pueblo of Acoma, New Mexico; the Hopi Tribe of Arizona; and the Zuni 
Tribe of the Zuni Reservation.
    This notice has been sent to officials of the Hopi Tribe of 
Arizona; the Navajo Nation, Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah; the Pueblo 
of Acoma, New Mexico; the Pueblo of Jemez, New Mexico; the Pueblo of 
Isleta, New Mexico; the Pueblo of San Ildefonso, New Mexico; the Pueblo 
of Zia, New Mexico; and the Zuni Tribe of the Zuni Reservation. 
Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to be 
culturally affiliated with these human remains and associated funerary 
objects should contact Stephen L. Fosberg, State Archeologist and 
NAGPRA Coordinator, New Mexico State Office, Bureau of Land Management, 
1474 Rodeo Road, Santa Fe, NM 87502-0115, telephone (505) 438-7415, 
before March 23, 2001. Repatriation of the human remains and associated 
funerary objects to the Pueblo of Acoma, New Mexico; the Hopi Tribe of 
Arizona; and the Zuni Tribe of the Zuni Reservation may begin after 
that date if no additional claimants come forward.

    Dated: February 1, 2001.
John Robbins,
Assistant Director, Cultural Resources Stewardship and Partnerships.
[FR Doc. 01-4297 Filed 2-20-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-F