[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 63 (Monday, April 2, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 17571]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-7981]


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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 Control of the U.S. Department 
of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management, New Mexico State Office, 
Santa Fe, NM

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 control of the U.S. Department of the Interior, 
Bureau of Land Management, New Mexico State Office, Santa Fe, NM.
    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 
University of Colorado Museum, Eastern New Mexico University, the 
Maxwell Museum of Anthropology (University of New Mexico), the New 
Mexico State University Museum, the Museum of New Mexico, the San Juan 
County Museum, and Bureau of Land Management professional staff in 
consultation with representatives of the Hopi Tribe of Arizona; the 
Navajo Nation, Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah; the Pueblo of Acoma, New 
Mexico; the Pueblo of Jemez, New Mexico; the Pueblo of Isleta, New 
Mexico; the Pueblo of San Ildefonso, New Mexico; the Pueblo of Zia, New 
Mexico; and the Zuni Tribe of the Zuni Reservation.
    In 1915, human remains representing three individuals were 
recovered from two archeological sites in Gobernador Canyon and Adams 
Canyon in northwestern New Mexico during legally-authorized excavations 
and collections by Earl Morris of the University of Colorado and the 
American Museum of Natural History. These human remains are presently 
curated at the University of Colorado Museum. No known individuals were 
identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    Based on material culture, architecture, and site organization, the 
Gobernador Canyon site and the Adams Canyon site have been identified 
as a Navajo pueblito and hogans occupied between C.E. 1500-1750.
    In 1941, human remains representing one individual were recovered 
from site LA 11171 in New Mexico during legally-authorized excavations 
and collections by E.T. Hall of Columbia University. These human 
remains are presently curated by the Museum of New Mexico. No known 
individual was identified. The 13 associated funerary objects are 
pottery sherds and chipped stone.
    Based on material culture, site LA 11171 has been identified as an 
18th century Navajo burial.
    During 1959-1965, human remains representing one individual were 
recovered from site LA 54175 in New Mexico during legally authorized 
excavations and collections by the Museum of New Mexico as part of the 
Navajo Reservoir Project. These human remains are presently curated by 
the Museum of New Mexico. No known individual was identified. No 
associated funerary objects are present.
    Based on material culture, site LA 54175 has been identified as a 
cave with an historic-period Navajo utilization.
    Continuities of ethnographic materials, technology, and 
architecture indicate affiliation of the four sites listed above with 
the historic and present-day Navajo Nation. Oral traditions presented 
by representatives of the Navajo Nation, Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah 
support cultural affiliation with these four sites in New Mexico.
    Based on the above-mentioned information, officials of the New 
Mexico State Office of the Bureau of Land Management have determined 
that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 (d)(1), the human remains listed above 
represent the physical remains of a minimum of five individuals of 
Native American ancestry. Officials of the New Mexico State Office of 
the Bureau of Land Management also have determined that, pursuant to 43 
CFR 10.2 (d)(2), the 13 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 New Mexico State Office of the Bureau of Land Management 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 
Navajo Nation, Arizona, New Mexico and Utah. This notice has been sent 
to officials of the Hopi Tribe of Arizona; the Navajo Nation, Arizona, 
New Mexico, and Utah; the Pueblo of Acoma, New Mexico; the Pueblo of 
Jemez, New Mexico; the Pueblo of Isleta, New Mexico; the Pueblo of San 
Ildefonso, New Mexico; the Pueblo of Zia, New Mexico; and the Zuni 
Tribe of the Zuni Reservation. Representatives of any other Indian 
tribe that believes itself to be culturally affiliated with these human 
remains and associated funerary objects should contact Stephen L. 
Fosberg, State Archeologist and NAGPRA Coordinator, New Mexico State 
Office, Bureau of Land Management, 1474 Rodeo Road, Santa Fe, NM 87502-
0115, telephone (505) 438-7415, before May 2, 2001. Repatriation of the 
human remains and associated funerary objects to the Navajo Nation, 
Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah may begin after that date if no 
additional claimants come forward.

    Dated: March 16, 2001.
John Robbins,
Assistant Director, Cultural Resources Stewardship and Partnerships.
[FR Doc. 01-7981 Filed 3-30-01; 8:45 am]
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