[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 195 (Tuesday, October 9, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51470-51471]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-25159]


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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 U.S. 
Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Yosemite National 
Park, Yosemite, CA

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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    Notice is hereby given in accordance with provisions of the Native 
American

[[Page 51471]]

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 U.S. Department of the Interior, 
National Park Service, Yosemite National Park, Yosemite, 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 
National Park Service unit that has control or possession of these 
Native American human remains. The Assistant Director, Cultural 
Resources Stewardship and Partnerships is not responsible for the 
determinations within this notice.
    A detailed inventory and assessment of the human remains and 
associated funerary objects has been made by professional staff of the 
National Park Service in consultation with lineal descendants and 
representatives of Bridgeport Paiute Indian Colony of California and 
the Paiute-Shoshone Indians of the Bishop Community of the Bishop 
Colony, California. The National Park Service also consulted with 
representatives of American Indian Council of Mariposa County and the 
Mono Lake Indian Community, two non-Federally recognized Indian groups.
    In 1954, human remains representing one individual were recovered 
from a site in the Yosemite Valley during legally authorized 
excavations. The human remains consist of four teeth: one molar, one 
premolar, and two incisors. The rest of the human remains were left in 
place at the time of excavation. The 176 associated funerary objects 
are 1 U.S. half dollar coin dated 1870, 8 buttons, 2 metal thimbles (1 
containing what appears to be bird feathers and skin), 1 metal tobacco 
container lid, 26 iron nails, 4 fragments of a Japanese Kutani 
porcelain plate, 7 fragments from a lead jar seal, 1 pair of ladies 
scissors, 1 padlock, 10 pieces of red ochre, 8 haliotis sp. necklace 
pendants, 1 shell bead, 5 shell fragments, 9 obsidian tool fragments, 
73 pieces of obsidian debitage, 1 piece of green glass with possible 
edge modification, 5 unidentified ungulate long bones, 2 pebbles, 7 
stones, and 4 rocks. An unknown number of wood and charcoal fragments 
were also recovered.
    Consultations with Native American representatives at the time of 
the excavation identified the human remains as those of Kosano, also 
known as Joaquin Sam, a northern Paiute from either the Bridgeport or 
Mono Lake communities. Kosano is known to have died in the Yosemite 
Valley and was buried around 1875. Subsequent consultation has 
identified several individuals who can trace their ancestry directly 
and without interruption to Kosano, including Paul Williams (great 
grandson), Elaine Lundy (great granddaughter), and Janice Lundy Mendez 
(great-great granddaughter).
    Based on the above mentioned information, the superintendent of 
Yosemite National Park has 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. The superintendent of 
Yosemite National Park also has determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 
10.2 (d)(2), the 176 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 a death rite or ceremony. Lastly, the 
superintendent of Yosemite National Park has determined that, pursuant 
to 43 CFR 10.2 (b)(1), Paul Williams, Elaine Lundy, and Janice Lundy 
Mendez can trace their ancestry directly and without interruption by 
means of the traditional kinship system of the Paiute people to Kosano.
    This notice has been sent to officials of the Bridgeport Paiute 
Indian Colony of California and the Paiute-Shoshone Indians of the 
Bishop Community of the Bishop Colony, California. The notice has also 
been sent to officials of the American Indian Council of Mariposa 
County and the Mono Lake Indian Community, two non-Federally recognized 
Indian groups. Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes 
itself to be culturally affiliated with these human remains and 
associated funerary objects should contact David A. Mihalic, 
Superintendent, Yosemite National Park, P.O. Box 577, Yosemite, CA 
95389, telephone (209) 372-0201, before November 8, 2001. Repatriation 
of the human remains and associated funerary objects to Paul Williams, 
Elaine Lundy, and Janice Lundy Mendez may begin after that date if no 
additional claimants come forward.

    Dated: July 9, 2001.
John Robbins,
Assistant Director, Cultural Resources Stewardship and Partnerships.
[FR Doc. 01-25159 Filed 10-5-01; 8:45 am]
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