[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 187 (Monday, September 28, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51589-51590]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-25809]



DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Inventory Completion for Native American Human Remains 
and Associated Funerary Objects from New Mexico in the Possession of 
the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Albuquerque District, Albuquerque, NM

AGENCY: National Park Service

ACTION: Notice

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    Notice is hereby given in accordance with provisions of the Native 
American

[[Page 51590]]

Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), 43 CFR 10.9, of the 
completion of an inventory of human remains and associated funerary 
objects in the possession of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 
Albuquerque District, Albuquerque, NM.
    A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by Army Corps 
of Engineers professional staff in consultation with representatives of 
the Pueblo of Cochiti, Pueblo of Santa Clara, Jicarilla Apache Tribe, 
Mescalero Apache Tribe, Pueblo of Acoma, Pueblo of Isleta, Pueblo of 
Jemez, Pueblo of Laguna, Pueblo of Nambe, Pueblo of Picuris, Pueblo of 
Pojoaque, Pueblo of San Felipe, Pueblo of San Ildefonso, Pueblo of San 
Juan, Pueblo of Sandia, Pueblo of Santa Ana, Pueblo of Santo Domingo, 
Pueblo of Taos, Pueblo of Tesuque, Pueblo of Zia, and Pueblo of Zuni.
    Between 1962-1966, human remains representing 118 individuals were 
recovered from the Pueblo del Encierro site (LA 70) during legally 
authorized salvage excavations conducted by the School of American 
Research. No known individuals were identified. The 100 associated 
funerary objects include ceramic sherds, ceramic vessels, lithic 
flakes, one mano fragment, matting, and worked bone including two bone 
whistles.
    Between 1962-1966, human remains representing 89 individuals were 
recovered from the Alfred Herrera site (LA 6455) during legally 
authorized salvage excavations conducted by the School of American 
Research. No known individuals were identified. The 48 associated 
funerary objects include ceramic sherds, a Cieniguilla-glazed ceramic 
bowl, a San Clemente glaze polychrome bowl, an Agua Fria bowl, mat 
impressions, lithic flakes, and worked bone.
    Between 1962-1966, human remains representing 19 individuals were 
recovered from the North Bank site (LA 6462) during legally authorized 
salvage excavations conducted by the School of American Research. No 
known individuals were identified. The five associated funerary objects 
include ceramic sherds and worked bone.
    Between 1962-1966, human remains representing seven individual were 
recovered from the Ojito del Canyoncito site (LA 9154) during legally 
authorized salvage excavations conducted by the School of American 
Research. No known individuals were identified. The three associated 
funerary objects are a ceramic sherd and lithic flakes.
    Based on cultural material, skeletal morphology of the human 
remains, and architecture, these four sites listed above have been 
identified as Middle Rio Grande Puebloan villages occupied between 900-
1500 A.D. Based on skeletal morphology, these human remains have been 
identified as Native American. All the human remains from these sites 
are identified as Puebloan, and all are believed to be ancestral to 
present day Pueblo of Cochiti people based on the archaeological 
context of their collection or excavation.
    Based on the above mentioned information, officials of the U.S. 
Army Corps of Engineers have determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 
(d)(1), the human remains listed above represent the physical remains 
of 233 individuals of Native American ancestry. Officials of the U.S. 
Army Corps of Engineers have also determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 
10.2 (d)(2), the 156 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 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 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 Cochiti.
    This notice has been sent to officials of the Pueblo of Cochiti, 
Pueblo of Santa Clara, Jicarilla Apache Tribe, Mescalero Apache Tribe, 
Pueblo of Acoma, Pueblo of Isleta, Pueblo of Jemez, Pueblo of Laguna, 
Pueblo of Nambe, Pueblo of Picuris, Pueblo of Pojoaque, Pueblo of San 
Felipe, Pueblo of San Ildefonso, Pueblo of San Juan, Pueblo of Sandia, 
Pueblo of Santa Ana, Pueblo of Santo Domingo, Pueblo of Taos, Pueblo of 
Tesuque, Pueblo of Zia, and Pueblo of Zuni. Representatives of any 
other Indian tribe that believes itself to be culturally affiliated 
with these human remains and associated funerary objects should contact 
Dr. Ronald Kneebone, Archaeologist, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 
Albuquerque District, 4101 Jefferson Plaza NE., Albuquerque, NM 87109-
3435; telephone: (505) 342-3355, before October 28, 1998. Repatriation 
of the human remains and associated funerary objects to the Pueblo of 
Cochiti may begin after that date if no additional claimants come 
forward.
Dated: September 14, 1998.
Francis P. McManamon,
Departmental Consulting Archeologist,
Manager, Archeology and Ethnography Program.
[FR Doc. 98-25809 Filed 9-25-98; 8:45 am]
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