[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 191 (Friday, October 2, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53100-53101]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-26419]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Intent to Repatriate Cultural Items in the Possession 
of Bandelier National Monument, National Park Service, Los Alamos, 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 10.10 
(a)(3), of the intent to repatriate cultural items in the possession of 
Bandelier National Monument, the National Park Service,

[[Page 53101]]

Los Alamos, NM which meet the definition of ''sacred object'' under 
Section 2 of the Act.
    The two cultural items are lightning stones.
    In 1988, these cultural items were recovered from the Burnt Mesa 
Pueblo site, located within the Monument boundaries, by Dr. Timothy 
Kohler of the Washington State University. Based on ceramics, this site 
has been identified as a Pueblo II occupation, dating to AD 1200-1350.
    The two other cultural items are a lightning stone and a kiva bell.
    Monument accession records do not record the provenience for a 
third lightning stone and one kiva bell. However, they are believed to 
have been recovered from the Monument, as they are similar to the type 
and appearance of other items found at other sites in the Monument 
area. The estimated dates of the two objects are between AD 1200-1600 
on the basis of similar objects found in the area.
    Anthropological, archeological, and oral tradition evidence 
indicates that the monument area has been continuously occupied by 
Keres-speaking pueblo groups (including the Pueblo of Acoma, Pueblo of 
Cochiti, Pueblo of Laguna, Pueblo of San Felipe, Pueblo of Santa Ana, 
Pueblo of Santo Domingo, and Pueblo of Zia) and the Tewa-speaking 
pueblo groups (including the Pueblo of Nambe, Pueblo of Pojoaque, 
Pueblo of San Ildefonso, Pueblo of San Juan, Pueblo of Santa Clara, 
Pueblo of Tesuque, and the present-day Hano Village at Hopi) since at 
least AD 1100.
    In 1995, representatives of Bandelier National Monument began 
consultation with the Pueblo of Cochiti as part of its NAGRPA 
compliance process. Cochiti traditional religious leaders reviewed the 
Monument's archeological collection and identified these four specific 
items as needed for the practice of traditional Cochiti religion by 
present-day adherents. Information regarding the names of the 
traditional religious leaders and specific ceremonies in which these 
objects will be used is being withheld from this notice by the 
Superintendent of the Monument, at the request of the Cochiti 
representatives, in order not to compromise the Pueblo of Cochiti's 
code of religious practice.
    Based on the above-mentioned information, officials of the National 
Park Service have determined that, pursuant to 42 CFR 10.2 (d) (3), 
these four objects are specific ceremonial objects needed by 
traditional Native American religious leaders for the practice of 
traditional Native religion by present-day adherents. Officials of the 
National Park Service have also determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 
10.2 (e), that there is a shared group identity which can be reasonably 
traced between these objects and the Pueblo of Acoma, Pueblo of 
Cochiti, Pueblo of Laguna, Pueblo of Nambe, Pueblo of Pojoaque, Pueblo 
of San Felipe, Pueblo of San Ildefonso, Pueblo of San Juan, Pueblo of 
Santa Ana, Pueblo of Santa Clara, Pueblo of Santo Domingo, Pueblo of 
Tesuque, Pueblo of Zia, and Hopi Tribe.
    This notice has been sent to officials of the Pueblo of Acoma, 
Pueblo of Cochiti, Pueblo of Isleta, Pueblo of Jemez, Pueblo of Laguna, 
Pueblo of Nambe, Pueblo of Pojoaque, Pueblo of Picuris, Pueblo of San 
Felipe, Pueblo of San Ildefonso, Pueblo of San Juan, Pueblo of Sandia, 
Pueblo of Santa Ana, Pueblo of Santa Clara, Pueblo of Santo Domingo, 
Pueblo of Taos, Pueblo of Tesuque, Pueblo of Zia, Pueblo of Zuni, 
Ysleta Del Sur Pueblo of Texas and the Hopi Tribe. Representatives of 
any other Indian tribe that believes itself to be culturally affiliated 
with these objects should contact Roy W. Weaver, Superintendent, 
Bandelier National Monument, National Park Service, HCR 1, Box 1, Suite 
15, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87544; telephone: (505) 672-3861, ext. 501 
before November 2, 1998. Repatriation of these cultural items to the 
Pueblo of Cochiti will begin after that date if no additional claimants 
come forward.
Dated: September 28, 1998.
Francis P. McManamon,
Departmental Consulting Archeologist,
Manager, Archeology and Ethnography Program.
[FR Doc. 98-26419 Filed 10-1-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-F