[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]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-F