[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 69 (Tuesday, April 10, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18653-18654]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-8703]


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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 Indian Affairs, Washington, DC, and in the 
Possession of the Nevada State Museum, Carson City, NV

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 Indian Affairs, Washington, DC, and in the possession of the 
Nevada State Museum, Carson City, NV.
    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 Nevada State 
Museum professional staff in consultation with representatives of the 
Fort McDermitt Paiute and Shoshone Tribes of the Fort McDermitt Indian 
Reservation, Nevada and Oregon.
    In 1966, human remains representing one individual were recovered 
from the Fort McDermitt Indian Reservation, Humboldt County, NV, by 
State of Nevada Planning Board staff George J. Pitta and Stanley 
Szymanski, who donated the remain to the Nevada State Museum the same 
year. No known individuals were identified. The 323 associated funerary 
objects are a brass bullet case, 300 small bone beads, 5 large bone 
beads, 15 white glass beads, a metal fragment, and fabric.
    Cranial morphology indicates that the individual is Native 
American. Small twigs in soil samples taken from near the burial imply 
that pack rats lived in the vicinity, suggesting that burial took place 
in a rock shelter, crevice, or cave, a common practice by Native 
Americans prior to contact in the 1850s. The presence of the metal 
casing and Euro-American clothing indicates that burial took place 
post-1840s. The location of the burial is within the known historic 
territory of the Fort McDermitt Paiute and Shoshone Tribes of the Fort 
McDermitt Indian Reservation, Nevada and Oregon. Oral history and 
historic records document the presence of this group in the area prior 
to Euro-American contact. On the basis of osteological evidence, 
mortuary customs, and geographic location, these human remains and 
associated funerary objects are determined to be affiliated with the 
Fort McDermitt Paiute and Shoshone Tribes of the Fort McDermitt Indian 
Reservation, Nevada and Oregon.
    Based on the above-mentioned information, officials of the Bureau 
of Indian Affairs and the Nevada State Museum have determined that, 
pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2(d)(1), the human remains listed above represent 
the physical remains of one individual of Native American ancestry. 
Officials of the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Nevada State Museum 
also have determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2(d)(2), the 323 
cultural items 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 Bureau of 
Indian Affairs and the Nevada State Museum 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 Fort McDermitt 
Paiute and Shoshone Tribes of the Fort McDermitt Indian Reservation, 
Nevada and Oregon.
    This notice has been sent to officials of the Fort McDermitt Paiute 
and Shoshone Tribes of the Fort McDermitt Indian Reservation, Nevada 
and Oregon. Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes 
itself to be culturally affiliated with these human remains and 
associated funerary objects should

[[Page 18654]]

contact Dr. Alanah Woody, Nevada Division of Museums and History NAGPRA 
Coordinator, 600 North Carson Street, Carson City, NV 89701, telephone 
(775) 687-4810, extension 229, before May 10, 2001. Repatriation of the 
human remains and associated funerary objects to the Fort McDermitt 
Paiute and Shoshone Tribes of the Fort McDermitt Indian Reservation, 
Nevada and Oregon may begin after that date if no additional claimants 
come forward.

    Dated: March 26, 2001.
John Robbins,
Assistant Director, Cultural Resources Stewardship and Partnerships.
[FR Doc. 01-8703 Filed 4-9-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-F