[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 188 (Thursday, September 26, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50505-50506]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-24685]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Notice of Inventory Completion for Native American Human Remains 
and Associated Funerary Objects in the Control of Gila Cliff Dwellings 
National Monument, National Park Service, Silver City, NM

AGENCY: National Park Service

ACTION: Notice

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    Notice is hereby given in accordance with provisions of the Native 
American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), 25 U.S.C. 
3003 (d), of the completion of an inventory of human remains and 
associated funerary objects in the control of the National Park 
Service, Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument, Silver City, NM.
    A detailed assessment of the human remains and associated funerary 
objects was made by National Park Service professional staff in 
consultation with representatives of the Apache Tribe, Fort McDowell 
Mohave-Apache Indian Community, Fort Sill Apache Business Committee, 
Hopi Tribe, Jicarilla Apache Tribe, Kaibab Band of Paiute Indians, 
Mescalero Apache Tribe, Navajo Nation, Pueblo of Acoma, Pueblo of 
Jemez, Pueblo of Laguna, Pueblo of Pojoaque, Pueblo of San Ildefonso, 
Pueblo of Taos, Pueblo of Tesuque, Southern Ute Indian Tribe, Ute 
Mountain Tribe, White Mountain Apache Tribe, Yavapai-Apache Indian 
Nation, and Zuni Tribe. The Piro-Manso-Tiwa, a non-federally recognized 
Native American group, was also consulted. The Pueblo of Cochiti, 
Pueblo of Isleta, Pueblo of Picuris, Pueblo of San Felipe, Pueblo of 
Sandia, Pueblo of Santa Ana, Pueblo of Santa Clara, Pueblo of Santo 
Domingo, and Pueblo of Zia were invited to consultation meetings but 
did not attend. The Tortugas, a non-federally recognized Native 
American group, was also invited to consultation meetings but did not 
attend.
    In 1963 and 1968, human remains representing 45 individuals were 
recovered from the Main Group site during legally authorized 
excavations. No known individuals were identified. The associated 
funerary objects include one blanket wrapped with fur strips and 
feathers, three cordage remnants, three unworked feathers, one fur 
artifact, three matting fragments, one yucca leaf paho, and three 
textile fragments. The Main Group site consists of several masonry 
cliff structures located off the Gila River. Based on the associated 
funerary objects, this site dates to the Pueblo III period (ca. 1250-
1300 AD).
    In the 1980s, human remains representing one individual were 
recovered through surface collecting at the TJ Ruin site. No known 
individuals were identified. No associated funerary objects are 
present. Based on other non-funerary material culture evidence, this 
site is dated to the Pueblo I period (ca. 900-1100 AD).
    Both the Main Group and TJ Ruin sites are classified as Mogollon. 
However, the Main Group is associated

[[Page 50506]]

with the Cibola Mogollon culture group and TJ Ruin is associated with 
the Mimbres Mogollon culture. As noted by scholars, Mimbres sites are 
most likely related to the pueblo cultures to the north and east of the 
Gila River area. These cultures are particularly the Zuni and, to a 
lesser degree, the Pueblo of Acoma. Based on archeological evidence, 
the Pueblo of Laguna, like Acoma, are regarded as peripheral to the 
Mogollon culture area. Zuni affiliation to the Mogollon cultural area 
is supported by origin and migration stories. Oral tradition of the 
Hopi and the Piro-Manso-Tiwa indicate a cultural affiliation with the 
Gila Cliff Dwelling Mogollon sites.
    Based on the above-mentioned information, officials of the National 
Park Service have determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 (d)(1), the 
human remains listed above represent the physical remains of 46 
individuals of Native American ancestry. Officials of the National Park 
Service have also determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (3)(A), 
the 15 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 National 
Park Service have determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (2), 
there is a relationship of shared group identity which can be 
reasonably traced between these Native American human remains and 
associated funerary objects and the Hopi Tribe, Pueblo of Acoma, Pueblo 
of Laguna, Zuni Tribe. Further, officials of the National Park Service 
recognze that there is a relationship of shared group identity which 
can be reasonably traced between these Native American human remains 
and associated funerary objects and the Piro-Manso-Tiwa, a non-
federally recognized Indian group.
    This notice has been sent to officials of the Apache Tribe, Fort 
McDowell Mohave-Apache Indian Community, Fort Sill Apache Business 
Committee, Hopi Tribe, Jicarilla Apache Tribe, Kaibab Band of Paiute 
Indians, Mescalero Apache Tribe, Navajo Nation, Pueblo of Acoma, Pueblo 
of Cochiti, Pueblo of Isleta, Pueblo of Jemez, Pueblo of Laguna, Pueblo 
of Picuris, Pueblo of Pojoaque, Pueblo of San Felipe, Pueblo of San 
Ildefonso, Pueblo of Sandia, Pueblo of Santa Ana, Pueblo of Santa 
Clara, Pueblo of Santo Domingo, Pueblo of Taos, Pueblo of Tesuque, 
Pueblo of Zia, Southern Ute Indian Tribe, Ute Mountain Tribe, White 
Mountain Apache Tribe, Yavapai-Apache Indian Nation, and Zuni Tribe. It 
has also been sent to the Piro-Manso-Tiwa and the Tortugas, two non-
federally recognized Indian groups. Representatives of any other Indian 
tribe that believes itself to be culturally affiliated with these 
remains should contact Susan Kozacek, Superintendent, Gila Cliff 
Dwellings National Monument, Route 11, Box 100, Silver City, NM 88061; 
telephone: (505) 536-9461, before October 28, 1996. Repatriation of the 
human remains and associated funerary objects to the Hopi Tribe, Pueblo 
of Acoma, Pueblo of Laguna, and Zuni Tribe may begin after that date if 
no additional claims come forward.

    Dated: September 20, 1996.
Francis P. McManamon,
Departmental Consulting Archeologist Manager, Archeology and 
Ethnography Program.
[FR Doc. 96-24685 Filed 9-25-96; 8:45 am]
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