[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 50 (Friday, March 14, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 12375]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-6212]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Inventory Completion: Nevada State Museum, Reno, NV, 
and U.S. Department of Interior, Bureau of Land Management, Nevada 
State Office, Reno, NV

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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    Notice is here given in accordance with the Native American Graves 
Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), 25 U.S.C. 3003, Sec. 5, of 
the completion of an inventory of human remains and associated funerary 
objects in the possession of the Nevada State Museum, Reno, NV, and in 
the control of the U.S. Department of Interior, Bureau of Land 
Management, Nevada State Office, Reno, NV. These human remains and 
associated funerary objects were removed from the vicinity of 
Winnemucca Lake, Washoe County, NV.
    This notice is published as part of the National Park Service's 
administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA, 25 U.S.C. 3003, Sec. 5 
(d)(3). 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 Bureau of 
Land Management, Nevada State Office professional staff and Nevada 
State Museum professional staff in consultation with representatives of 
the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe of the Pyramid Lake Reservation, Nevada.
    In 1952, human remains representing a minimum of two individuals 
were removed by the Nevada State Museum during legally authorized 
excavations at Chimney Cave (site 26Pe3b) near Winnemucca Lake, Washoe 
County, NV. One of the individuals may have been cremated. No known 
individuals were identified. No funerary objects are present.
    In 1953, human remains representing a minimum of two individuals 
were removed by the Nevada State Museum during legally authorized 
excavations at Horse Cave (site 26Pe2) near Winnemucca Lake, Washoe 
County, NV. One of the individuals may have been cremated. No known 
individuals were identified. No funerary objects are present.
    Between 1952 and 1954, human remains representing a minimum of 
seven individuals were removed by the Nevada State Museum during 
legally authorized excavations at Crypt Cave (site 26Pe3a) near 
Winnemucca Lake, Washoe County, NV. Some of the individuals may have 
been cremated. No known individuals were identified. The 13 associated 
funerary objects, found with one individual, are 1 bunch of moss, 2 
grass bundles, 8 animal bones, 1 obsidian flake, and 1 piece of worked 
wood.
    In 1960 and 1961, human remains representing a minimum of 14 
individuals were removed by the Nevada State Museum during legally 
authorized excavations at Kramer Cave (site 26Wa196) near Winnemucca 
Lake, Washoe County, NV. Some of the individuals may have been 
cremated. No known individuals were identified. No funerary objects are 
present.
    In 1983, human remains representing a minimum of one individual 
were removed by an unnamed person from the eastern shore of Lake 
Winnemucca, Washoe County, NV, and were donated anonymously to the 
Nevada State Museum. No known individuals were identified. No funerary 
objects are present.
    In 1987, human remains representing a minimum of two individuals 
were removed by Nevada State Museum staff from the backdirt of a looted 
cave site, Loran's Shelter (26Pe3nl), near Winnemucca Lake, Washoe 
County, NV. No known individuals were identified. No funerary objects 
are present.
    Some time prior to 1997, human remains representing a minimum of 
three individuals were removed from an unidentified site, possibly 
Rollins or Cowbone Cave (site 26Pe3c), near Winnemucca Lake, Washoe 
County, NV, and were donated anonymously to the Nevada State Museum. No 
known individuals were identified. No funerary objects are present.
    Between 1950 and 1960, human remains representing a minimum of four 
individuals were donated anonymously to the Nevada State Museum. Museum 
records suggest that these human remains had been removed from a sand 
pit on the eastern shore of Lake Winnemucca, Washoe County, NV, but do 
not indicate when these human remains were removed. No known 
individuals were identified. No funerary objects are present.
    Based on geographic location, stratigraphy, and oral traditions 
presented by representatives of the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe of the 
Pyramid Lake Reservation, Nevada, the human remains and associated 
funerary objects are considered to be Native American and culturally 
affiliated with the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe of the Pyramid Lake 
Reservation, Nevada.
    Officials of the Bureau of Land Management, Nevada State Office 
have determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001, Sec. 2 (9-10), the 
human remains listed above represent the physical remains of a minimum 
of 35 individuals of Native American ancestry. Officials of the Bureau 
of Land Management, Nevada State Office also have determined that, 
pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001, Sec. 2 (3)(A), 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 Bureau of Land Management, Nevada 
State Office have determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001, Sec. 2 
(2), 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 Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe of the 
Pyramid Lake Reservation, Nevada.
    Representatives of any other Indian tribe, that believes itself to 
be culturally affiliated with these human remains and associated 
funerary objects should contact Pat Barker, Bureau of Land Management, 
Nevada State Office, P.O. Box 12000 Reno, NV 89520, telephone (775) 
861-6482, before April 14, 2003. Repatriation of the human remains and 
associated funerary objects to the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe of the 
Pyramid Lake Reservation, Nevada may proceed after that date if no 
additional claimants come forward.
    The Bureau of Land Management, Nevada State Office is responsible 
for notifying the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe of the Pyramid Lake 
Reservation, Nevada that this notice has been published.

    Dated: February 19, 2003.
John Robbins,
Assistant Director, Cultural Resources Stewardship and Partnerships.
[FR Doc. 03-6212 Filed 3-13-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-S