[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 153 (Tuesday, August 8, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 48530]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-19956]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Inventory Completion for Native American Human Remains 
From Fresno, Kings, and Madera Counties, CA in the Possession of the 
Department of Anthropology, California State University, Fresno, CA

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 possession of 
the Department of Anthropology, California State University, Fresno, 
CA. This notice is published as part of the National Park Service's 
administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA, 43 CFR 10.2 (c). The 
determinations within this notice are the sole responsibility of the 
museum, institution, or Federal agency that has control of these Native 
American human remains and associated funerary objects. The National 
Park Service is not responsible for the determinations within this 
notice.
    A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by the 
Department of Anthropology, California State University, Fresno, 
professional staff.
    During the 1950's and 1960's, human remains representing a minimum 
of 122 individuals were recovered from excavations conducted by Fresno 
State College staff, in addition to individuals given to the college by 
various law enforcement agencies. The packaging and labeling of the 
human remains was destroyed many years ago, making positive 
identification for these human remains impossible. Extant 
documentation, including field notes and reports of the archeological 
projects conducted by Fresno State College, now the California State 
University, Fresno, indicates that these remains probably came from 
sites in Fresno, Kings, and Madera Counties, CA. No known individuals 
were identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    The absence of specific information on the provenience, age, or 
cultural context of these remains makes it impossible to determine 
their cultural affiliation, and they have been inventoried as 
``culturally unidentifiable.'' Department of Anthropology, California 
State University, Fresno, officials consulted with the four Federally 
recognized Native American tribes and non-Federally recognized Native 
American groups of the central San Joaquin Valley, the geographic area 
of the probable origin of the remains, and all parties agreed that the 
remains should be repatriated to the Central Valley and Mountain 
Reinterment Association, which has been authorized to act on behalf of 
the Native American tribes and groups.
    On April 15, 1999, California State University, Fresno, petitioned 
the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Review Committee 
concerning the Central Valley and Mountain Reinterment Association's 
request for repatriation of these individuals listed as ``culturally 
unidentifiable'' on the Department of Anthropology, California State 
University, Fresno, NAGPRA inventory. Representatives of the 
university, North Fork Rancheria, and the Tuolumne Me-Wuk Tribal 
Councils presented the petition to the Review Committee at its May, 
1999 meeting. The Review Committee recommended that the university 
repatriate these remains to the Central Valley and Mountain Reinterment 
Association. This recommendation was transmitted to the university by 
the National Park Service in a letter of September 3, 1999.
    Based on the above-mentioned information, officials of the 
Department of Anthropology, California State University, Fresno, have 
determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 (d)(1), the human remains 
listed above represent the physical remains of a minimum of 122 
individuals of Native American ancestry. Also, officials of the 
Department of Anthropology, California State University, Fresno, have 
determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 (e), there is no relationship 
of shared group identity that can be reasonably traced between these 
Native American human remains and a Federally recognized Indian tribe.
    This notice has been sent to officials of the Big Sandy Rancheria, 
Picayune Rancheria, Table Mountain Rancheria, North Fork Rancheria, 
Cold Springs Rancheria, the Santa Rosa Rancheria Tachi Tribe, and the 
Tuolumne Me-Wuk Tribal Council. Representatives of any other Indian 
tribe that believes itself to be culturally affiliated with these 
objects should contact Professor Roger LaJeunesse, Department of 
Anthropology, California State University, Fresno, CA, 93740-8001, 
telephone (559) 278-4900, before September 7, 2000. Repatriation of the 
human remains occurred on December 5, 1999.

    Dated: July 18, 2000.
John Robbins,
Assistant Director, Cultural Resources Stewardship and Partnerships.
[FR Doc. 00-19956 Filed 8-7-00; 8:45 am]
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