[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 31 (Friday, February 14, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7039-7040]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-3683]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Notice of Inventory Completion for Native American Human Remains 
and Associated Funerary Objects from near Yerington, Nevada, in the 
Possession of the Nevada State Museum, Carson City, NV

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interor.

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 near Yerington, Nevada, in the possession 
of the Nevada State Museum, Carson City, NV.
    A detailed assessment of the human remains and associated funerary 
objects was made by the Nevada State Museum professional staff in 
consultation with representatives of the Yerington Paiute Tribe.
    Before 1970, human remains representing one individual were 
collected by an unknown person and delivered to the Nevada State 
Museum. ``Yerington'' was written on the box the human remains were 
delivered in. No known individual was identified. No associated 
funerary objects are present.
    Morphological evidence indicates this individual is Native American 
based on cranial shape and dental traits. One tooth in the cranium 
shows pre-contact type wear and lingual tilting, supporting precontact 
but otherwise unknown age. Historic and ethnographic evidence indicates 
only the Yerington Paiute Tribe has occupied the Yerington area in 
historic times, and no non-Paiute precontact cultures have been 
identified within the Yerington area. Oral tradition presented by 
representatives of the Yerington Paiute Tribe supports this conclusion.
    In 1984, human remains representing one individual were recovered 
during water line construction by the City of Yerington, Nevada. No 
known individual was identified. The 759 associated funerary objects 
include: 12 white buttons, one blue button, and 745 turquoise-colored, 
blue and black glass trade beads.
    Morphological evidence indicates this individual is Native American 
based on cranial shape and dental traits. The associated funerary 
objects date this burial to after 1840. The manner of internment and 
the presence of glass beads and clothing buttons are consistent with 
Northern Paiute burials in this region. Consultation evidence indicates 
the Yerington Paiute Tribe has occupied this area since precontact 
times. Historic and ethnographic evidence indicates only the Yerington 
Paiute Tribe has occupied the Yerington area in historic times, and no 
non-Paiute precontact cultures have been identified within the 
Yerington area.
    In 1987, human remains representing one individual were recovered 
from Smith Valley, Lyon County, NV, by the Nevada Division of 
Investigations and turned over to the Nevada State Museum when it was 
determined to be a Native American individual. No known individual was 
identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    Historic and ethnographic evidence indicates only the Yerington 
Paiute Tribe has occupied the Yerington area in historic times, and no 
non-Paiute precontact cultures have been identified within the 
Yerington area. Oral tradition presented by representatives of the 
Yerington Paiute Tribe support this conclusion.
    In May of 1990, human remains representing one individual was found 
by a private citizen near Yerington, Nevada, and reported to the Lyon 
County Sheriff's Office. No known individual was identified. The eight 
associated funerary objects include: denim jeans, a wool army jacket, a 
braided hackamore bosal, metal rings and leather representing a saddle, 
and

[[Page 7040]]

wrappings consisting of a rabbit skin blanket, and possibly a wool 
blanket.
    Based on biometric attributes, this individual has been identified 
as Paiute. The associated funerary objects date this burial to ca. 
1920. The tightly flexed posture, talus burial setting, twined rabbit 
skin blanket, and burial with horse tack is also consistent with 
specifically Northern Paiute burial practices. Consultation evidence 
indicates the Yerington Paiute Tribe has occupied this area since 
precontact times.
    In 1990, human remains representing one individual were recovered 
by the Nevada Division of Investigations during shallow land leveling 
operations preparing a hay pad in a sandy area of a privately owned 
ranch near Yerington, Nevada. The human remains were identified as 
Native American and turned over to the Nevada State Museum. No known 
individual was identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    Historic and ethnographic evidence indicates only the Yerington 
Paiute Tribe has occupied the Yerington area in historic times, and no 
non-Paiute precontact cultures have been identified within the 
Yerington area. Oral tradition presented by representatives of the 
Yerington Paiute Tribe support this conclusion.
    At an unknown date, human remains representing one individual were 
exposed by heavy equipment on the John Connaly (Connolly?) Ranch in 
Mason Valley, Nevada, and turned over to the Nevada State Museum by an 
unknown person. No known individual was identified. The 1,870 
associated funerary objects include: a leather thong, a rubber shoe 
fragment, four buttons (two bone, two white glass), three metal shanked 
buttons, 1,803 glass beads, a brass band (1 by 2 inches) and 57 
olivella shell beads.
    Morphological evidence indicates this individual is Native American 
based on biometric attributes, cranial shape, and dental traits. The 
associated funerary objects indicates this burial dates after 1840, and 
are consistent with funerary objects present in known Northern Paiute 
(including Yerington Paiute) historic burials. Consultation evidence 
presented by representatives of the Yerington Paiute Tribe indicates 
the area of Connolly Ranch was a burial area for a Yerington Paiute 
family.
    At an unknown date, human remains representing one individual were 
found by Mr. and Mrs. George Compston, ``near Yerington'', Nevada and 
donated to the Nevada State Museum. No known individual was identified. 
The approximately 3,135 associated funerary objects include: 3,071 
glass trade beads, 60 pine nuts, several twine and cordage fragments, 
four buttons, and wood fragments.
    This individual has identified as Native American based on the 
associated funerary objects present. The associated funerary objects 
also indicate this burial dates after 1840, when such objects became 
locally available with the immigration of American settlers through 
Nevada. The cloth wrapping, associated beads and pine nuts indicates 
this was an intentional Northern Paiute burial. Consultation evidence 
indicates the Yerington Paiute Tribe has occupied this area since 
precontact times.
    Based on the above mentioned information, officials of the Nevada 
State Museum have determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 (d)(1), the 
human remains listed above represent the physical remains of seven 
individuals of Native American ancestry. Officials of the Nevada State 
Museum have also determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (3)(A), 
the 5,772 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 
Nevada State Museum have determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 
(2), and 43 CFR 10.9 (d)(1) 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 Yerington Paiute 
Tribe.
    This notice has been sent to officials of the Yerington Paiute 
Tribe, Fallon Paiute Shoshone Tribes, Washoe Tribe of California and 
Nevada, Walker River Paiute Tribe, and Pyramid Lake Tribe. 
Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to be 
culturally affiliated with these human remains and associated funerary 
objects should contact Amy Dansie, Nevada Division of Museums and 
History NAGPRA coordinator, 600 N. Carson, Carson City, Nevada 89710; 
telephone: (702) 687-4810, extension 245, before March 17, 1997. 
Repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects to 
the Yerington Paiute Tribe may begin after that date if no additional 
claimants come forward.
Dated: January 31, 1997.
Veletta Canouts,
Acting Departmental Consulting Archeolgist,
Deputy Manager, Archeology and Ethnograpy Program.
[FR Doc. 97-3683 Filed 2-13-97; 8:45 am]
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