[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 228 (Wednesday, November 26, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66485-66486]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-29506]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Inventory Completion: Denver Art Museum, Denver, CO

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, of the 
completion of an inventory of Native American associated funerary 
objects in the possession of the Denver Art Museum, Denver, CO. The 
associated funerary objects were removed from an unidentified location 
in Arizona.
    This notice is published as part of the National Park Service's 
administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA, 25 U.S.C. 3003 (d)(3). 
The determinations within this notice are the sole responsibility of 
the museum, institution, or Federal agency that has control of the 
associated funerary objects. The National Park Service is not 
responsible for the determinations within this notice.
    A detailed assessment of the associated funerary objects was made 
by Denver Art Museum professional staff in consultation with 
representatives of the Ak Chin Indian Community of the Maricopa (Ak 
Chin) Indian Reservation, Arizona; Gila River Indian Community of the 
Gila River Indian Reservation, Arizona; Hopi Tribe of Arizona; Salt 
River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community of the Salt River Reservation, 
Arizona; Tohono O'odham Nation of Arizona; and Zuni Tribe of the Zuni 
Reservation, New Mexico.
    At an unknown date prior to 1972, one ceramic jar and six shell 
fragments were acquired by Ralph Ray of Wheatridge, CO. The ceramic jar 
is buff in color and made of micaceous clay. It measures 16.4 cm high 
and 17.3 cm in diameter and features one loop handle on the rim. The 
ceramic jar is similar to plainware types typically found at Hohokam 
sites in Arizona. The shell fragments represent as many as three 
different types of Glycymeris. The ceramic jar and shell fragments were 
donated to the Denver Art Museum in 1972. According to Denver Art 
Museum documentation, the jar originally held cremated human remains. 
No evidence shows that the human remains were ever accessioned by the 
Denver Art Museum. A rattlesnake rattle found inside the jar is thought 
to have been added after the jar was acquired by the Denver Art Museum.
    Archeological evidence has demonstrated that pit or urn cremations 
were the predominant Hohokam burial practice prior to A.D. 1100. 
Extended supine inhumations then became more prevalent, completely 
replacing cremations by A.D. 1300. Officials of the Denver Art Museum 
recognize that while ceramic jars and shells had other uses within 
Hohokam culture, the assembly of this particular ceramic jar and shell 
fragments was made exclusively for burial purposes.
    Archeological evidence has demonstrated a strong relationship of 
shared group identity between the Hohokam and the present-day O'odham 
(Pima and Papago) and Hopi. The O'odham people are currently 
represented by the Ak Chin Indian Community of the Maricopa (Ak Chin) 
Indian Reservation, Arizona; Gila River Indian Community of the Gila 
River Indian Reservation, Arizona; Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian 
Community of the Salt River Reservation, Arizona; and Tohono O'odham 
Nation of Arizona. In 1990, representatives of the Ak Chin Indian 
Community of the Maricopa (Ak Chin) Indian Reservation, Arizona; Gila 
River Indian Community of the Gila River Indian Reservation, Arizona; 
Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community of the Salt River 
Reservation, Arizona; and Tohono O'odham Nation of Arizona issued a 
joint policy statement claiming ancestral ties to the Hohokam cultural 
traditions.
    Hopi oral tradition places the origins of their Patki, Sun, Sand, 
Corn, and Tobacco Clans south of the Colorado plateau. While the Hopi 
oral traditions do not identify specific locations, some of the 
descriptions are consistent with Hohokam settlements in central Arizona 
during the Classic period. O'odham oral traditions indicate that some 
of the Hohokam people migrated north and joined the Hopi. In 1994, 
representatives of the Hopi Tribe of Arizona issued a statement 
claiming cultural affiliation with Hohokam cultural traditions.
    Zuni oral traditions mention Hawikuh, a Zuni community, as a 
destination of settlers from the Hohokam area. Zuni language, prayers, 
and rituals used by the Zuni Shu maakwe medicine society have descended 
from the Hohokam. In 1995, representatives of the Zuni Tribe of the 
Zuni Reservation, New Mexico issued a statement claiming cultural 
affiliation with the Hohokam cultural traditions.

[[Page 66486]]

    Officials of the Denver Art Museum have determined that, pursuant 
to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (9-10), the seven cultural items are reasonably 
believed to have been made exclusively for burial purposes or to 
contain human remains. Officials of the Denver Art Museum also have 
determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (3)(A), there is a 
relationship of shared group identity that can be reasonably traced 
between the associated funerary objects and the Ak Chin Indian 
Community of the Maricopa (Ak Chin) Indian Reservation, Arizona; Gila 
River Indian Community of the Gila River Indian Reservation, Arizona; 
Hopi Tribe of Arizona; Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community of the 
Salt River Reservation, Arizona; Tohono O'odham Nation of Arizona; and 
Zuni Tribe of the Zuni Reservation, New Mexico.
    Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to 
be culturally affiliated with the associated funerary objects should 
contact Nancy J. Blomberg, Curator of Native Arts, Denver Art Museum, 
100 West 14th Avenue Parkway, Denver, CO 80204, telephone (720) 913-
0161 before December 26, 2003. Repatriation of the associated funerary 
objects to the Ak Chin Indian Community of the Maricopa (Ak Chin) 
Indian Reservation, Arizona; Gila River Indian Community of the Gila 
River Indian Reservation, Arizona; Hopi Tribe of Arizona; Salt River 
Pima-Maricopa Indian Community of the Salt River Reservation, Arizona; 
Tohono O'odham Nation of Arizona; and Zuni Tribe of the Zuni 
Reservation, New Mexico may proceed after that date if no additional 
claimants come forward.
    The Denver Art Museum is responsible for notifying the Ak Chin 
Indian Community of the Maricopa (Ak Chin) Indian Reservation, Arizona; 
Gila River Indian Community of the Gila River Indian Reservation, 
Arizona; Hopi Tribe of Arizona; Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian 
Community of the Salt River Reservation, Arizona; Tohono O'odham Nation 
of Arizona; and Zuni Tribe of the Zuni Reservation, New Mexico that 
this notice has been published.

    Dated: October 28, 2003.
John Robbins,
Assistant Director, Cultural Resources.
[FR Doc. 03-29506 Filed 11-25-03; 8:45 am]
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