[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 247 (Friday, December 22, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 80957-80958]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-32663]


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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

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 Tuolumne Band of Me-
Wuk Indians of the Tuolumne Rancheria of California.
    In 1970-71, human remains representing nine individuals were 
recovered from CA-TUO-279, a site located on a small peninsula that 
extended into the western side of the original Don Pedro Reservoir. 
During the construction of the new reservoir, an archeological data 
recovery project was undertaken by San Francisco State University. The 
site area is now inundated by the new Don Pedro Reservoir. No known 
individuals were identified. The four associated funerary objects are 
flaked stone fragments, modified bird bone, and an olivella bead.
    In 1970-71, human remains representing 21 individuals were 
recovered from CA-TUO-300, a site located near LaGrange, CA, during 
archeological excavations conducted by San Francisco State University. 
The site area is now inundated by the new Don Pedro Reservoir. No known 
individuals were identified. The 49 associated funerary objects are 
flaked stone fragments.
    In 1970-71, human remains representing nine individuals were 
recovered from CA-TUO-314, a site located on the southern bank of 
Moccasin Creek, near LaGrange, CA, during archeological excavations 
conducted by San Francisco State University. No known individuals were 
identified. The 52 associated funerary objects are flaked stone 
fragments; ground stone; and faunal materials including modified and 
unmodified animal bones and teeth, and modified bird bone.
    The geographic location of the sites and archeological, historical, 
and oral history evidence indicate that these human remains and 
associated funerary objects are Native American. The objects are 
consistent with the material culture of the ancestral Sierra Miwok who 
occupied this area during the Euro-American contact period, and all of 
the sites are located in an area that is documented as Central Sierra 
Miwok territory. Oral history evidence presented during consultation 
indicates that the area has been continuously occupied by the Miwok 
since the contact period and that there is cultural affiliation between 
the Tuolumne Band of Me-Wuk Indians of the Tuolumne Rancheria of 
California and the Sierra Miwok Indians.
    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 39 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 105 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 Tuolumne Band of Me-Wuk Indians of the Tuolumne 
Rancheria of California.
    This notice has been sent to officials of the Tuolumne Band of Me-
Wuk Indians of the Tuolumne Rancheria of California, and the Central 
Sierra Me-Wuk Cultural and Historic Preservation Committee. 
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 Tuolumne Band of Me-Wuk Indians of the Tuolumne Rancheria of 
California, and the Central Sierra Me-Wuk Cultural and Historic 
Preservation Committee 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. 00-32663 Filed 12-21-00; 8:45 am]
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