[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 153 (Wednesday, August 9, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40600-40601]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-19606]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Notice of Intent to Repatriate Cultural Items in the Possession
of the Phoebe A. Hearst Museum of Anthropology, University of
California, Berkeley, CA
AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior
[[Page 40601]]
ACTION: Notice
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Notice is hereby given under the Native American Graves Protection
and Repatriation Act of 1990 of the intent to repatriate cultural items
in the possession of the Phoebe A. Hearst Museum, University of
California, Berkeley, CA that meet the definition of ``unassociated
funerary object'' under 25 U.S.C. 3001 (3)(B).
The items consist of an olla (1-22476) and an amulet (1-255409)
collected from sites in the Vallecitos Valley of San Diego County, CA.
The catalogue information for the olla (1-22476) states that it is
a ``mortuary olla'' and that it was collected for the Heye Museum of
American Indians, which subsequently exchanged it to the University of
California in 1920. It was collected on October 26, 1920 by Edward H
Davis from Vallecitos, San Diego County, California. The olla is whole,
made of ceramic and is colored light brown with patches of black fired
areas. It is approximately 30 centimeters tall. The shape of the vessel
is stylistically similar to ollas found throughout the aboriginal
territory of the Diegueno/Tipai-Ipai, as it is outlined in the Handbook
of North American Indians, Vol. 8, pp 592-609.
Based on the above information, Museum Officials have determined
pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (3) (B) that the olla is reasonably believed
to have been intentionally placed with or near individual human remains
at the time of death or later as part of the death rite or ceremony of
a culture.
The amulet (1-266409) was found in a cremation in Vallecitos
Valley, San Diego County, California and is part of the Ben L. Squier
collection. The catalogue record for the amulet states that it is made
of clay with mica inclusions into the shape of a thunderbird. Its
dimensions are 6 cm long and 2 cm in width at its widest point. The
amulet is cracked in three places at its base, has a black surface, was
finished by burnishing and has a hole through the body for stringing.
The catalogue card further states ``California, San Diego, Vallecito
Valley'' ``Cremation assoc. w/ 16 small carved beads.'' The amulet was
donated to the University of California in 1984 by the Oregon
Historical Society without the cremation or beads.
Based on the above information museum officials have determined,
pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (3)(B), that the amulet is reasonably
believed to have been intentionally placed with or near individual
human remains at the time of death or later as part of the death rite
or ceremony of a culture.
Available evidence does not allow identification of a single Indian
tribe as being culturally affiliated with these cultural objects.
Recent assessment studies in consultation with Indian tribes indicate
basic similarities in crematory practices, ceramics, and geographic
location between known archaeological traditions from which similar
objects have been recovered and groups believed to be ancestral to the
contemporary Diegueno. Based on the above information museum officials
have determined pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (2), that there is a
relationship of shared group identity that can be reasonably traced
between the olla and amulet and contemporary Diegueno descendants,
including the San Pasqual Band of Indians, the Cuyapaipe Band of
Mission Indians, Viejas Tribal Council, Manzanita General Council,
Campo Band of Mission Indians, Jamul Band of Mission Indians, Sycuan
Business Committee, Barona General Business, La Posta Band of Mission
Indians, Inaja and Cosmit Band of Mission Indians, Mesa Grande Band of
Mission Indians, and the Santa Ysabel Band of Mission Indians. The San
Pasqual Band of Indians expressed an interest in repatriating these
cultural items.
This notice has been sent to officials of the San Pasqual Band of
Indians, the Cuyapaipe Band of Mission Indians, Viejas Tribal Council,
Manzanita General Council, Campo Band of Mission Indians, Jamul Band of
Mission Indians, Sycuan Business Committee, Barona General Business, La
Posta Band of Mission Indians, Inaja and Cosmit Band of Mission
Indians, Mesa Grande Band of Mission Indians, and the Santa Ysabel Band
of Mission Indians. Representatives of any other Indian tribe that
believes itself to be culturally affiliated with these cultural items
should contact Fritz Stern, NAGPRA Project Coordinator, University of
California, Phoebe A. Hearst Museum of Anthropology, 103 Kroeber Hall,
Berkeley, CA 94720, telephone (510) 643-7833 before September 8, 1995.
Repatriation of these cultural items to the San Pasqual Band of Indians
may begin after that date if no additional claimants come forward.
Dated: August 3, 1995
Veletta Canouts
Acting, Departmental Consulting Archeologist, and
Acting Chief, Archeological Assistance Division
[FR Doc. 95-19606 Filed 8-8-95; 8:45 am]
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