[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 71 (Thursday, April 12, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 18978]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-8990]


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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 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 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 
Moapa Band of the Southern Paiute Tribe and the Hopi Tribe of Arizona, 
in coordination with the Southern Paiute Consortium.
    In or before 1958, human remains representing two individuals were 
removed from a mesa above the Muddy River, Clark County, NV, by T. W. 
Sloan. Mr. Sloan donated these remains to the Nevada State Museum in 
1958. No known individual was identified. No associated funerary 
objects are present.
    Based on the geographical location of the burial in an area known 
to have Puebloan houses, these remains are identified as Native 
American.
    In 1975, human remains representing one individual were removed 
from a location near Atlatl Rock, Valley of Fire State Park, Clark 
County, NV, by Bussard Cunningham. At an unknown time, these remains 
were donated to the Nevada State Museum, presumably by Mr. Cunningham. 
No known individual was identified. No associated funerary objects are 
present.
    Based on the geographical location of the burial site in an area 
with Anasazi rock art, these remains are identified as Native American.
    Based on the geographical locality and probable age of the burials, 
these remains are determined to be affiliated with the archeologically-
defined Virgin Branch Anasazi Culture. Although the locations from 
which these remains were removed are within the historic territory of 
the Moapa Band of the Southern Paiute Tribe, joint consultations with 
representatives of the Moapa Band of the Southern Paiute Tribe and with 
representatives of the Hopi Tribe of Arizona produced evidence agreed 
to by both parties that the Puebloan remains from this area are 
ancestral to the modern Hopi Tribe of Arizona. Archeological evidence 
supports this conclusion.
    Based on the above-mentioned information, officials of 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 two 
individuals of Native American ancestry. Officials of the Nevada State 
Museum also 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 the Hopi Tribe of 
Arizona.
    This notice has been sent to officials of the Moapa Band of the 
Southern Paiute Tribe and the Hopi Tribe of Arizona. Representatives of 
any other Indian tribe that believes itself to be culturally affiliated 
with these human remains should 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 14, 2001. Repatriation of the human remains to the Hopi 
Tribe of Arizona may begin after that date if no additional claimants 
come forward.

    Dated: March 28, 2001.
John Robbins,
Assistant Director, Cultural Resources Stewardship and Partnerships.
[FR Doc. 01-8990 Filed 4-11-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-F