[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 247 (Friday, December 22, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 80958]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-32660]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Inventory Completion for Native American Human Remains 
and Associated Funerary Objects in the Possession of the Department of 
Anthropology, San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA

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, 
of the completion of an inventory of human remains and associated 
funerary objects in the possession of the Department of Anthropology, 
San Francisco State University, San Francisco, 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, San Francisco State University professional 
staff in consultation with representatives of the United Auburn Indian 
Community, the Washoe Tribe of Nevada & California, and the Mooretown 
Rancheria of Maidu Indians of California.
    In 1964, human remains representing five individuals were recovered 
from CA-PLA-17, a site near Ophir, CA, that was excavated by San 
Francisco State University as part of the Middle Fork American River 
project. No known individuals were identified. The seven associated 
funerary objects are flaked stone, ground stone, shell, and quartz 
crystals.
    Archeological evidence, geographic location, historical 
documentation, and oral history records indicate that these human 
remains and associated funerary objects are Native American and are 
reasonably believed to be associated with the Maidu Indians. The 
typology of the basalt projectile points recovered from the site links 
them with the archeological Martis culture, a predecessor of the Maidu/
Nisenan cultural group. Historical documents indicate that the Maidu 
people have occupied this area of California since the period of Euro-
American contact, and oral history records presented during 
consultation support this affiliation.
    Based on the above-mentioned information, officials of the 
Department of Anthropology, San Francisco State University have 
determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 (d)(1), the human remains 
listed above represent the physical remains of five individuals of 
Native American ancestry. Officials of the Department of Anthropology, 
San Francisco State University also have determined that, pursuant to 
43 CFR 10.2 (d)(2), the seven 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 Department of Anthropology, San Francisco 
State University have determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 (e), 
there is a relationship of shared group identity that can be reasonably 
traced between these Native American human remains and associated 
funerary objects and the United Auburn Indian Community, the Washoe 
Tribe of Nevada & California, and the Mooretown Rancheria of Maidu 
Indians of California.
    This notice has been sent to officials of the United Auburn Indian 
Community, the Washoe Tribe of Nevada & California, and the Mooretown 
Rancheria of Maidu Indians of California. Representatives of any other 
Indian tribe that believes itself to be culturally affiliated with 
these human remains and associated funerary objects should contact Jeff 
Fentress, NAGPRA Coordinator, Department of Anthropology, San Francisco 
State University, 1600 Holloway Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94132, 
telephone (415) 338-2046, before January 22, 2001. Repatriation of the 
human remains and associated funerary objects to the United Auburn 
Indian Community, the Washoe Tribe of Nevada & California, and the 
Mooretown Rancheria of Maidu Indians of California may begin after that 
date if no additional claimants come forward.

    Dated: December 14, 2000.
John Robbins,
Assistant Director, Cultural Resources Stewardship and Partnerships.
[FR Doc. 00-32660 Filed 12-21-00; 8:45 am]
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