I 
115TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 4436 
To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to study the suitability and feasi-
bility of designating Caguana Indigenous Ceremonial Park and Tibes 
Indigenous Ceremonial Center, as units of the National Park System. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
NOVEMBER 16, 2017 
Miss GONZA´LEZ-COLO´N of Puerto Rico introduced the following bill; which 
was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources 
A BILL 
To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to study the suit-
ability and feasibility of designating Caguana Indigenous 
Ceremonial Park and Tibes Indigenous Ceremonial Cen-
ter, as units of the National Park System. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; FINDINGS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 
‘‘Caguana Indigenous Ceremonial Park and Tibes Indige-
nous Ceremonial Center Study Act’’. 
(b) FINDINGS.—Congress finds as follows: 
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(1) 
CAGUANA
INDIGENOUS
CEREMONIAL 
PARK.— 
(A) The Caguana Indigenous Ceremonial 
Park is comprised of approximately 13.5 acres 
located at the center of Puerto Rico, in the 
Caguana Ward at the Municipality of Utuado. 
(B) The park is visited by approximately 
60,000 students and tourists every year. 
(C) Efforts to protect the park began in 
1915, when archeologist John Alden Mason, to-
gether with Robert T. Aitken, started research 
on this archeological site. A final report was 
issued in 1941. 
(D) In 1949, the Puerto Rican anthropolo-
gist and archeologist, Ricardo E. Alegrı´a start-
ed a series of excavations and, in 1964, as Di-
rector of the Institute of Puerto Rican Culture, 
ordered the restoration of the park. 
(E) During 1992, after years of studies 
and investigations, the National Park Service 
included the park in the National Register of 
Historic Places. In 1993, the park received the 
distinction of a National Historic Landmark. 
(F) The park has one of the most sur-
prising archeological sites of the Antilles, in-
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cluding 22 petroglyphs on calcareous slates, 
monoliths located in its main square, and the 
Cemı´ Mountain as sentinel. 
(G) The park museum has a permanent 
exhibition of more than 80 archeological pieces 
from the Taı´no ancestors. Other pieces are ex-
hibited at the University of Puerto Rico Mu-
seum, the Puerto Rico Historical Archives, the 
National Museum of American Indians in New 
York City, and at Yale University, among other 
private collections. 
(H) The Caguana Indigenous Ceremonial 
Park has unique pieces belonging to precolonial 
culture, from Puerto Rico and from the Carib-
bean, and the best way to ensure their protec-
tion of these treasures may be the inclusion of 
the park as a unit of the National Park Service. 
(2) TIBES
INDIGENOUS
CEREMONIAL
CEN-
TER.— 
(A) The Tibes Indigenous Ceremonial Cen-
ter is located between the wards of Tibes and 
Portugue´s in the municipality of Ponce, and is 
considered one of the most significant indige-
nous sites in the Caribbean. The center is vis-
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ited by approximately 80,000 students and 
tourists every year. 
(B) In 1975, Don Luis Herna´ndez—a 
sugar cane worker—discovered the remnants of 
indigenous cultures after the massive flooding 
caused by Hurricane Eloı´sa. 
(C) Just after the discovery, the Guaynia 
Society of Archeology and History from the 
Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico 
started the excavations and restoration on the 
site. The group was assisted by the renowned 
Antillean archeologist, Ricardo Alegrı´a. 
(D) After months of excavations, the Soci-
ety had discovered the oldest Antillean indige-
nous ceremonial site in Puerto Rico, including 
the largest indigenous cemetery on the Island 
with more than 186 human remains from the 
Igneri and Pre-Taı´no cultures. 
(E) Additionally, the Society discovered 
nine plazas used by the indigenous to dance the 
areyto, play ball and celebrate ceremonies of 
great importance. The plazas varied in size 
from 42 feet long by 35.8 feet wide to 115 feet 
long by 30.5 feet wide, and were named as fol-
lows: Horseshoe Ball Court, Cemı´ Ball Court, 
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Santa Elena Ball Court, One Row Ball Court, 
Principal Plaza, Oval or Elliptical Plaza, Bat 
Ball Court, and Chief Ball Court. The ninth 
court remains unnamed. 
(F) The Tibes Indigenous Ceremonial Cen-
ter is key in the education of the current and 
next generations of Puerto Ricans about our in-
digenous roots. Thus, the best way to preserve 
our heritage may be the inclusion of the center 
as a unit of the National Park Service. 
SEC. 2. NATIONAL PARK SERVICE STUDY. 
(a) STUDY.—The Secretary of the Interior shall— 
(1) carry out a study regarding the suitability 
and feasibility of designating Caguana Indigenous 
Ceremonial Park and Tibes Indigenous Ceremonial 
Center as units of the National Park System; and 
(2) consider management alternatives for the 
Caguana Indigenous Ceremonial Park and Tibes In-
digenous Ceremonial Center. 
(b) STUDY PROCESS AND COMPLETION.—Except as 
provided by subsection (c) of this section, section 
100507(c) of title 54, United States Code, shall apply to 
the conduct and completion of the study required by this 
section. 
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(c) SUBMISSION
OF STUDY RESULTS.—Not later 
than 1 year after the date that funds are made available 
for this section, the Secretary shall submit to the Com-
mittee on Natural Resources of the House of Representa-
tives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Re-
sources of the Senate a report describing the results of 
the study. 
Æ 
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