[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 77 (Friday, April 20, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20332-20333]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-9822]


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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 Leland Bliss, chairman 
of the Lovelock Paiute Tribe of the Lovelock Indian Colony, Nevada.
    In the early 1900s, human remains representing one individual were 
removed from the vicinity of Lovelock, NV, by John T. Reid. These 
remains were donated to the Nevada Historical Society after Mr. Reid's 
death by his brother, Paul Reid, in 1941. The Nevada Historical Society 
is an agency within the Nevada State Division of Museums and History. 
No known individual was identified. The seven associated funerary 
objects are a rifle barrel, a metal pipe, cloth, shoes, a mammal bone, 
and wood fragments.
    Osteological evidence indicates that these human remains represent 
a Native American. The dental patterns are characteristic of post-1840s 
diet. The presence of a rifle and Euro-American clothing also date the 
remains to the post-1840s. The location where the human remains were 
found is within the known historic territory of the Lovelock Paiute 
Tribe of the Lovelock Indian Colony, Nevada. Both tribal oral history 
and historical evidence document that this group has occupied the 
Lovelock area since before the 1840s.
    In the early 1900s, human remains representing one individual were 
removed from the vicinity of Lovelock, NV, by John T. Reid. These 
remains were donated to the Nevada Historical Society after Mr. Reid's 
death by his brother, Paul Reid, in 1941. No known individual was 
identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    Morphological evidence indicates that this individual is a Native 
American. The teeth exhibit caries, a condition common in post-contact 
Native American remains, which are rare in prehistoric individuals from 
western Nevada. The location where the human remains were found is 
within the known historic territory of the Lovelock Paiute Tribe of the 
Lovelock Indian Colony, Nevada. Both tribal oral history and historical 
evidence document that this group have occupied the Lovelock area since 
before the 1840s.
    In the early 1900s, human remains representing one individual were 
removed from the vicinity of Lovelock, NV, by John T. Reid. These 
remains were donated to the Nevada Historical Society after Mr. Reid's 
death by his brother, Paul Reid, in 1941. No known individual was 
identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    Osteological evidence indicates that these human remains are Native 
American. A piece of glass found in the vicinity of the remains 
tentatively dates the remains to a post-1840s time period. The location 
where the human remains were found is within the known historic 
territory of the Lovelock Paiute Tribe of the Lovelock Indian Colony, 
Nevada. Both tribal oral history and historical evidence document that 
this group has occupied the Lovelock area since before the 1840s.

[[Page 20333]]

    Based on morphological evidence, these human remains are determined 
to be Native American. Dental characteristics and objects from the 
vicinity of the burials provisionally date the remains to a post-1840s 
context. The locations of all of the burials are within the known 
historic territory of the Lovelock Paiute Tribe of the Lovelock Indian 
Colony, Nevada. Tribal oral history and historic records document the 
presence of this group in this region of Nevada prior to Euro-American 
contact.
    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 three 
individuals of Native American ancestry. Officials of the Nevada State 
Museum 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 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 Lovelock Paiute Tribe of the Lovelock Indian Colony, 
Nevada.
    This notice has been sent to officials of the Lovelock Paiute Tribe 
of the Lovelock Indian Colony, Nevada. Representatives of any other 
Indian tribe that believes itself to be culturally affiliated with 
these human remains and associated funerary objects 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 21, 2001. Repatriation of the 
human remains and associated funerary objects to the Lovelock Paiute 
Tribe of the Lovelock Indian Colony, Nevada may begin after that date 
if no additional claimants come forward.

    Dated: March 30, 2001.
John Robbins,
Assistant Director, Cultural Resources Stewardship and Partnerships.
[FR Doc. 01-9822 Filed 4-19-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-F