[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 77 (Wednesday, April 22, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19940-19942]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-10647]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Inventory Completion for Native American Human Remains 
in the Possession of the National Park Service, Great Basin National 
Park, Baker, NV

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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    Notice is hereby given in accordance with provisions of the Native 
American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), 43 CFR 10.9 
(e), of the completion of an inventory of human remains in the 
possession of the

[[Page 19941]]

National Park Service, Great Basin National Park, Baker, NV.
    A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by National 
Park Service professional staff in consultation with the Confederated 
Tribes of the Goshute Reservation, Duckwater Shoshone Tribe of the 
Duckwater Reservation, Ely Shoshone Tribe of Nevada, Paiute Indian 
Tribe of Utah, and Skull Valley Band of Goshute Indians.
    The following Indian tribes were also contacted but declined to 
participate in face-to-face consultation: Big Pine Band of Owens Valley 
Paiute Shoshone Indians, Bridgeport Paiute Indian Colony of California, 
Burns Paiute Tribe of the Burns Paiute Indian Colony, Chemehuevi Indian 
Tribe, Death Valley Timbi-Sha Shoshone Band of California, Fort Bidwell 
Indian Community of Paiute Indians, Fort Independence Indian Community 
of Paiute Indians, Fort McDermitt Paiute and Shoshone Tribes, Kaibab 
Band of Paiute Indians, Las Vegas Tribe of Paiute Indians of the Las 
Vegas Indian Colony, Lovelock Paiute Tribe of the Lovelock Indian 
Community, Moapa Band of Paiute Indians, Northwestern Band of Shoshoni 
Nation of Utah (Washakie), Paiute-Shoshone Indians of the Bishop 
Community, Paiute-Shoshone Indians of the Lone Pine Community, Paiute-
Shoshone Tribe of the Fallon Reservation and Colony, Pyramid Lake 
Paiute Tribe, Reno-Sparks Indian Colony, San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe 
of Arizona, Shoshone Tribe of the Wind River Reservation, Shoshone-
Bannock Tribes of the Fort Hall Reservation, Shoshone-Paiute Tribes of 
the Duck Valley Reservation, Summit Lake Paiute Tribe of Nevada, 
Susanville Indian Rancheria of Paiute, Maidu, Pit River & Washoe 
Indians, Te-Moak Tribe of Western Shoshone Indians (Battle Mountain, 
Elko, South Fork, and Wells Indian Colony Bands), Utu Utu Gwaitu Paiute 
Tribe of the Benton Paiute Reservation, Walker River Paiute Tribe, 
Washoe Tribe of Nevada & California (Carson Colony, Dresslerville & 
Washoe Ranches), Yerington Paiute Tribe of the Yerington Colony & 
Campbell Ranch, and Yomba Shoshone Tribe.
    In 1937, 1938, and 1963, a total of 110 skeletal elements were 
recovered from Lehman Cave, located within park boundaries, during 
legally authorized National Park Service or contracted excavations. The 
skeletal elements were found scattered in various soil levels. Non-
destructive physical anthropological assessments and measurements of 
the skeletal elements identified a minimum of 21 individuals. Eleven of 
the 110 skeletal elements were identified as Native American. The 
skeletal elements yielded no evidence of any other biological 
affiliation. No known individuals were identified. No associated 
funerary objects were present. Charcoal from two hearths in the cave 
yielded radiocarbon dates between AD 1700-present. Sixteen stone and 
wooden artifacts collected during the excavations are consistent with 
items found at several Shoshonean post-AD 1100 open sites elsewhere in 
the park. Based on this evidence, the human remains appear to date from 
the middle of the precontact period to early contact period (ca. AD 
1100-1930).
    Stylistic continuities in pottery, projectile points, petroglyphs, 
and basketry indicates Shoshonean occupation of the park area from 
approximately AD 1100 to the present. Ethnographic documentation, as 
well as archeological evidence from the area around Great Basin 
National Park, show that Southern Paiute are found in the area no 
earlier than AD 1000 and have a continuing presence up to the present 
time. Oral histories presented by tribal representatives of the 
Confederated Tribes of the Goshute Reservation, Ely Shoshone Tribe, and 
Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah confirm the archeological inference. 
Published sources also document historic Goshute use of another nearby 
cave for burial purposes. Present-day Shoshone, Southern Paiute, and 
Goshute tribes include: Big Pine Band of Owens Valley Paiute Shoshone 
Indians, Confederated Tribes of the Goshute Reservation, Death Valley 
Timbi-Sha Shoshone Band of California, Duckwater Shoshone Tribe of the 
Duckwater Reservation, Ely Shoshone Tribe of Nevada, Fort McDermitt 
Paiute and Shoshone Tribes, Kaibab Band of Paiute Indians, Las Vegas 
Tribe of Paiute Indians of the Las Vegas Indian Colony, Moapa Band of 
Paiute Indians, Northwestern Band of Shoshoni Nation of Utah 
(Washakie), Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah, Paiute-Shoshone Indians of the 
Bishop Community, Paiute-Shoshone Indians of the Lone Pine Community, 
Paiute-Shoshone Tribe of the Fallon Reservation and Colony, San Juan 
Southern Paiute Tribe of Arizona, Shoshone Tribe of the Wind River 
Reservation, Shoshone-Bannock Tribes of the Fort Hall Reservation, 
Shoshone-Paiute Tribes of the Duck Valley Reservation, Skull Valley 
Band of Goshute Indians, Te-Moak Tribe of Western Shoshone Indians 
(Battle Mountain, Elko, South Fork, and Wells Indian Colony Bands), and 
Yomba Shoshone Tribe.
    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 at least 
21 individuals of Native American ancestry. Officials of the National 
Park Service have also 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 the 
Confederated Tribes of the Goshute Reservation, Duckwater Shoshone 
Tribe of the Duckwater Reservation, Ely Shoshone Tribe of Nevada, 
Kaibab Band of Paiute Indians, Las Vegas Tribe of Paiute Indians of the 
Las Vegas Indian Colony, Moapa Band of Paiute Indians, Paiute Indian 
Tribe of Utah, San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe of Arizona, Skull Valley 
Band of Goshute Indians, Big Pine Band of Owens Valley Paiute Shoshone 
Indians, Death Valley Timbi-Sha Shoshone Band of California, Fort 
McDermitt Paiute and Shoshone Tribes, Northwestern Band of Shoshoni 
Nation of Utah (Washakie), Paiute-Shoshone Indians of the Bishop 
Community, Paiute-Shoshone Indians of the Lone Pine Community, Paiute-
Shoshone Tribe of the Fallon Reservation and Colony, Shoshone Tribe of 
the Wind River Reservation, Shoshone-Bannock Tribes of the Fort Hall 
Reservation, Shoshone-Paiute Tribes of the Duck Valley Reservation, Te-
Moak Tribe of Western Shoshone Indians (Battle Mountain, Elko, South 
Fork, and Wells Indian Colony Bands), and Yomba Shoshone Tribe.
    This notice has been sent to officials of the Big Pine Band of 
Owens Valley Paiute Shoshone Indians, Bridgeport Paiute Indian Colony 
of California, Burns Paiute Tribe of the Burns Paiute Indian Colony, 
Chemehuevi Indian Tribe, Confederated Tribes of the Goshute 
Reservation, Death Valley Timbi-Sha Shoshone Band of California, 
Duckwater Shoshone Tribe of the Duckwater Reservation, Ely Shoshone 
Tribe of Nevada, Fort Bidwell Indian Community of Paiute Indians, Fort 
Independence Indian Community of Paiute Indians, Fort McDermitt Paiute 
and Shoshone Tribes, Kaibab Band of Paiute Indians, Las Vegas Tribe of 
Paiute Indians of the Las Vegas Indian Colony, Lovelock Paiute Tribe of 
the Lovelock Indian Community, Moapa Band of Paiute Indians, 
Northwestern Band of Shoshoni Nation of Utah (Washakie), Paiute Indian 
Tribe of Utah, Paiute-Shoshone Indians of the Bishop Community, Paiute-
Shoshone Indians of the Lone Pine Community, Paiute-Shoshone Tribe of 
the Fallon Reservation and Colony, Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe, Reno-
Sparks Indian

[[Page 19942]]

Colony, San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe of Arizona, Shoshone Tribe of 
the Wind River Reservation, Shoshone-Bannock Tribes of the Fort Hall 
Reservation, Shoshone-Paiute Tribes of the Duck Valley Reservation, 
Skull Valley Band of Goshute Indians of Utah, Summit Lake Paiute Tribe 
of Nevada, Susanville Indian Rancheria of Paiute, Maidu, Pit River & 
Washoe Indians, Te-Moak Tribe of Western Shoshone Indians (Battle 
Mountain, Elko, South Fork, and Wells Indian Colony Bands), Utu Utu 
Gwaitu Paiute Tribe of the Benton Paiute Reservation, Walker River 
Paiute Tribe, Washoe Tribe of Nevada & California (Carson Colony, 
Dresslerville & Washoe Ranches), Yerington Paiute Tribe of the 
Yerington Colony & Campbell Ranch, and Yomba Shoshone Tribe. 
Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to be 
culturally affiliated with these human remains and associated funerary 
objects should contact Rebecca Mills, Superintendent, Great Basin 
National Park, Baker, NV; telephone: (702) 324-7331, before May 22, 
1998. Repatriation of the human remains to the Confederated Tribes of 
the Goshute Reservation, Duckwater Shoshone Tribe of the Duckwater 
Reservation, Ely Shoshone Tribe of Nevada, Kaibab Band of Paiute 
Indians, Las Vegas Tribe of Paiute Indians, Moapa Band of Paiute 
Indians, Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah, San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe of 
Arizona, Skull Valley Band of Goshute Indians, Big Pine Band of Owens 
Valley Paiute Shoshone Indians, Death Valley Timbi-Sha Shoshone Band of 
California, Fort McDermitt Paiute and Shoshone Tribes, Northwestern 
Band of Shoshoni Nation of Utah (Washakie), Paiute-Shoshone Indians of 
the Bishop Community, Paiute-Shoshone Indians of the Lone Pine 
Community, Paiute-Shoshone Tribe of the Fallon Reservation and Colony, 
Shoshone Tribe of the Wind River Reservation, Shoshone-Bannock Tribes 
of the Fort Hall Reservation, Shoshone-Paiute Tribes of the Duck Valley 
Reservation, Te-Moak Tribe of Western Shoshone Indians (Battle 
Mountain, Elko, South Fork, and Wells Indian Colony Bands), and Yomba 
Shoshone Tribe may begin after that date if no additional claimants 
come forward.
Dated: April 16, 1998.
Francis P. McManamon,
Departmental Consulting Archeologist,
Manager, Archeology and Ethnography Program.
[FR Doc. 98-10647 Filed 4-21-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-F