[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 102 (Thursday, May 28, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29249-29250]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-14047]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Inventory Completion for Native American Human Remains 
and Associated Funerary Objects from Rio Arriba County and Taos County, 
NM in the Control of the Carson National Forest, United States Forest 
Service, Taos, 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), 43 CFR 10.9, 
of the completion of an inventory of human remains in the control of 
the Carson National Forest, United States Forest Service, Taos, NM.
    A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by Museum of 
New Mexico, Maxwell Museum (University of New Mexico), and U.S. Forest 
Service professional staff in consultation with representatives of the 
Navajo Nation, the Pueblo of Taos, and the Pueblo of Picuris.
    In 1934, human remains representing one individual were recovered 
from site LA 1684 during legally authorized excavations conducted by 
C.O. Erwin and M.W. Kelly of the Laboratory of Anthropology (Museum of 
New Mexico). No known individuals were identified. No associated 
funerary objects are present.
    Based on material culture, architecture, and site organization, 
site LA 1684 has been identified as a Navajo pueblito occupied during 
the first half of the 18th century.
    Based on the above mentioned information, officials of the United 
States Forest Service have determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 
(d)(1), the human remains listed above represent the physical remains 
of one individual of Native American ancestry. Officials of the United 
States Forest 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 the 
Navajo Nation.
    In 1965, human remains representing one individual were recovered 
from site LA 9203 during legally authorized excavations conducted by 
the University of New Mexico Archaeological Field School. No known 
individual was identified. No funerary objects are present.
    Based on material culture and site organization, site LA 9203 has 
been identified as an Anasazi pithouse occupied between 1100-1225 A.D.
    In 1967, human remains representing three individuals were 
recovered from sites LA 9204, LA 9205, and LA 9206 during legally 
authorized excavations conducted by the University of New Mexico 
Archaeological Field School. No known individuals were identified. The 
one associated funerary object is a piece of animal bone with the 
individual at site LA 9204.
    Based on material culture, architecture, and site organization, 
sites LA 9204, LA 9205, and LA 9206 have been identified as three 
Anasazi roomblocks occupied between 1100-1225 A.D.
    In 1968, human remains representing nine individuals were recovered 
from site LA 66407 near Los Rancho de Taos during legally authorized 
excavations conducted by U.S. Forest Service personnel. No known 
individuals were identified. The five associated funerary objects 
include pottery sherds.
    Based on material culture, architecture, and site organization, 
site LA 66407 has been identified as an Anasazi pithouse occupied 
between 1150-1350 AD.
    Based on the above mentioned information, officials of the United 
States Forest Service have determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 
(d)(1), the human remains listed above represent the physical remains 
of 13 individuals of Native American ancestry. Officials of the United 
States Forest Service have also determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 
10.2 (d)(2), the six 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 United States Forest Service have determined that, pursuant to 
43 CFR 10.2 (e), 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 Pueblo of Taos and the Pueblo 
of Picuris.
    This notice has been sent to officials of the Navajo Nation, the 
Pueblo of Taos, and the Pueblo of Picuris. Representatives of any other 
Indian tribe that believes itself to be culturally affiliated with 
these human remains and associated funerary objects should contact Dr. 
Frank E. Wozniak, NAGPRA

[[Page 29250]]

Coordinator, Southwestern Region, USDA Forest Service, 517 Gold Ave., 
SW, Albuquerque, NM 87102; telephone: (505) 842-3238, fax (505) 842-
3800, before June 29, 1998. Repatriation of the human remains and 
associated funerary objects to the culturally affiliated tribes may 
begin after that date if no additional claimants come forward.
Dated: May 20, 1998.
Francis P. McManamon,
Departmental Consulting Archeologist,
Manager, Archeology and Ethnography Program.
[FR Doc. 98-14047 Filed 5-27-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-F