[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 30 (Friday, February 13, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7259-7260]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-3148]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Inventory Completion: University of Nevada-Reno, 
Anthropology Research Museum, 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, of the 
completion of an inventory of human remains and associated funerary 
objects in the possession of the University of Nevada-Reno, 
Anthropology Research Museum, Reno, NV. The human remains and 
associated funerary objects were removed from White Pine and Nye 
Counties, NV.
    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 
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 the Nevada 
State Museum professional staff for the University of Nevada-Reno, 
Anthropology Research Museum in consultation with representatives of 
the Battle Mountain Band of the Te-Moak Tribe of Western Shoshone 
Indians of Nevada; Confederated Tribes of the Goshute Reservation, 
Nevada and Utah; Death Valley Timbi-Sha Shoshone Band of California; 
Duckwater Shoshone Tribe of the Duckwater Reservation, Nevada; Elko 
Band of the Te-Moak Tribe of Western Shoshone Indians of Nevada; Ely 
Shoshone Tribe of Nevada; Fort McDermitt Paiute and Shoshone Tribes of 
the Fort McDermitt Indian Reservation, Nevada and Oregon; Paiute-
Shoshone Tribe of the Fallon Reservation and Colony, Nevada; Shoshone-
Paiute Tribes of the Duck Valley Reservation, Nevada; South Fork Band 
of the Te-Moak Tribe of Western Shoshone Indians of Nevada; Wells Band 
of the Te-Moak Tribe of Western Shoshone Indians of Nevada; Winnemucca 
Indian Colony of Nevada; and Yomba Shoshone Tribe of the Yomba 
Reservation, Nevada.
    In 1966, human remains representing a minimum of one individual 
were removed from site 26WP104 in White Pine, White Pine County, NV. 
While conducting a cultural resource management survey in the area, a 
crew of the Nevada Archaeological Survey excavated skeletal material, 
which was eroding out of an unstable dune. The human remains and 
associated cultural material were transported to the Nevada 
Archeological Survey facilities at the University of Nevada-Reno and 
cataloged. In 1976, the human remains and associated cultural material 
were loaned to Sheila Brooks, a physical anthropologist, for study. The 
assemblage was later accidentally returned to the Nevada State Museum 
in Carson City, NV. The University of Nevada-Reno, Anthropology 
Research Museum retrieved the human remains and cultural material from 
the Nevada State Museum in 1995. No known individual was identified. 
The 49 associated funerary objects are 8 fragments of cloth and metal, 
5 fragments of leather from shoes, 4 50-cent coins, 10 pine nuts, 1 
glass button, 1 flaked stone, 4 fragments of metal, 14 percussion caps, 
and 2 bags of debris.
    The coins and shoe fragments associated with the burial date to the 
1870s. Based on the dates and geographical location of the burial, the 
individual is believed to be Native American. Based on continuity of 
occupation in this location by the Western Shoshone, the individual is 
believed to be Western Shoshone. The Western Shoshone are believed to 
have occupied this area of Nevada during the 1800s.
    In 1978, human remains representing a minimum of one individual 
were removed from Nye County, NV. The burial was discovered and 
excavated by a special investigator affiliated with the Nye County 
District Attorney's office, and the excavated materials were turned 
over to the Nevada Archaeological Survey for analysis. In 1983, the 
human remains and associated objects were sent to the University of 
Nevada-Reno, Anthropology Research Museum where they were accessioned 
into the collection. No known individual was identified. The 178 
associated funerary objects are 1 projectile point, 163 beads, 3 
buttons, 1 ring, 8 bundles of textile, and 2 pieces of rope.
    Associated with the burial are historic artifacts that place the 
burial between 1870 and the 1880s. In 1997, forensic professionals 
determined that the skull exhibits morphological traits that are 
associated with Numic- speaking populations, who occupied the region 
historically. Additionally, in Nye County, NV, there is evidence for 
continuous occupation by the Western Shoshone. Based on the forensic 
evidence and dates and geographical location, the individual is 
believed to be Native American. Based on continuity of occupation in 
this location by the Western Shoshone, the individual is believed to be 
Western Shoshone. The Western Shoshone are believed to have occupied 
this area of Nevada during the 1800s.
    Officials of the University of Nevada-Reno, Anthropology Research 
Museum have determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (9-10), the 
human remains described above represent the physical remains of two 
individuals of Native American ancestry. Officials of the University of 
Nevada-Reno, Anthropology Research Museum also have determined that, 
pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (3)(A), the 227 objects described 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 University of Nevada-Reno, 
Anthropology Research Museum have determined that, pursuant to 25 
U.S.C. 3001 (2), there is a relationship of shared group identity that 
can be reasonably traced between the Native American human remains and 
associated funerary objects and the Western Shoshone, today represented 
by the Battle Mountain Band of the Te-Moak Tribe of Western Shoshone 
Indians of Nevada; Confederated Tribes of the Goshute Reservation, 
Nevada and Utah; Death Valley Timbi-Sha Shoshone Band of California; 
Duckwater Shoshone Tribe of the Duckwater Reservation, Nevada; Elko 
Band of the Te-Moak Tribe of Western Shoshone Indians of Nevada; Ely 
Shoshone Tribe of Nevada; Fort McDermitt Paiute and Shoshone Tribes of 
the Fort McDermitt Indian Reservation, Nevada and Oregon; Paiute-
Shoshone Tribe of the Fallon Reservation and Colony, Nevada; Shoshone-
Paiute Tribes of the Duck Valley Reservation, Nevada; South Fork Band 
of the Te-Moak Tribe of Western Shoshone Indians of Nevada; Wells Band 
of the Te-Moak Tribe of Western Shoshone Indians of Nevada; Winnemucca 
Indian Colony of Nevada; and Yomba Shoshone Tribe of the Yomba 
Reservation, Nevada.
    Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to 
be culturally affiliated with the human remains and

[[Page 7260]]

associated funerary objects should contact Dr. C.S. Fowler, 
Anthropology Research Museum, Department of Anthropology, College of 
Arts and Sciences, Ansari Business Building, Reno, NV 89557, telephone 
(775) 784-6704, before March 15, 2004. Repatriation of the human 
remains and associated funerary objects to the Battle Mountain Band of 
the Te-Moak Tribe of Western Shoshone Indians of Nevada; Confederated 
Tribes of the Goshute Reservation, Nevada and Utah; Death Valley Timbi-
Sha Shoshone Band of California; Duckwater Shoshone Tribe of the 
Duckwater Reservation, Nevada; Elko Band of the Te-Moak Tribe of 
Western Shoshone Indians of Nevada; Ely Shoshone Tribe of Nevada; Fort 
McDermitt Paiute and Shoshone Tribes of the Fort McDermitt Indian 
Reservation, Nevada and Oregon; Paiute-Shoshone Tribe of the Fallon 
Reservation and Colony, Nevada; Shoshone-Paiute Tribes of the Duck 
Valley Reservation, Nevada; South Fork Band of the Te-Moak Tribe of 
Western Shoshone Indians of Nevada; Wells Band of the Te-Moak Tribe of 
Western Shoshone Indians of Nevada; Winnemucca Indian Colony of Nevada; 
and Yomba Shoshone Tribe of the Yomba Reservation, Nevada may proceed 
after that date if no additional claimants come forward.
    The University of Nevada-Reno, Anthropology Research Museum is 
responsible for notifying the Battle Mountain Band of the Te-Moak Tribe 
of Western Shoshone Indians of Nevada; Confederated Tribes of the 
Goshute Reservation, Nevada and Utah; Death Valley Timbi-Sha Shoshone 
Band of California; Duckwater Shoshone Tribe of the Duckwater 
Reservation, Nevada; Elko Band of the Te-Moak Tribe of Western Shoshone 
Indians of Nevada; Ely Shoshone Tribe of Nevada; Fort McDermitt Paiute 
and Shoshone Tribes of the Fort McDermitt Indian Reservation, Nevada 
and Oregon; Paiute-Shoshone Tribe of the Fallon Reservation and Colony, 
Nevada; Shoshone-Paiute Tribes of the Duck Valley Reservation, Nevada; 
South Fork Band of the Te-Moak Tribe of Western Shoshone Indians of 
Nevada; Wells Band of the Te-Moak Tribe of Western Shoshone Indians of 
Nevada; Winnemucca Indian Colony of Nevada; and Yomba Shoshone Tribe of 
the Yomba Reservation, Nevada that this notice has been published.

    Dated: January 12, 2004.
John Robbins,
Assistant Director, Cultural Resources.
[FR Doc. 04-3148 Filed 2-12-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-50-S