[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 58 (Thursday, March 25, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15375-15376]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-6645]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Intent to Repatriate Cultural Items: San Diego 
Archaeological Center, San Diego, CA

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. 3005, of the intent 
to repatriate cultural items in the possession of the San Diego 
Archaeological Center, San Diego, CA, that meet the definition of 
sacred objects under 25 U.S.C. 3001.
    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 
cultural items. The National Park Service is not responsible for the 
determinations within this notice.
    The 14 cultural items are 7 ceramic pipe fragments, 3 natural 
quartz crystals, 1 stone sucking tube or cloud blower pipe, 1 stone 
long-bodied projectile point, and 2 pieces of red ochre, which were 
excavated from 5 archeological sites in San Diego County, CA.
    In 1991, site CA-SDI-5075 was excavated as part of a subdivision 
project near the community of Olivenhain, Carlsbad, in northern San 
Diego County, CA. Artifacts from the excavation were taken to the San 
Diego Archaeological Center in November 2000. When preparation for 
curation of the collection began in 2003, two ceramic pipe fragments 
were discovered among the other items.

    In 1973, site CA-SDI-5699 was excavated as part of a development 
project in the City of Santee, in southeastern San Diego County, CA. 
Artifacts from the excavation were taken to the San Diego 
Archaeological Center, and were accessioned on October 12, 1998. One 
ceramic pipe fragment was discovered in the collection from site CA-
SDI-5699. The San Diego Archaeological Center is currently engaged in 
long-term processing of this poorly documented collection and 
periodically notifies tribes after cultural items subject to NAGPRA are 
discovered.
    On October 21, 1998, the San Diego Archaeological Center received a 
collection including one ceramic pipe fragment from a site designated 
CA-SDI-8022. There was no documentation with the collection and the 
only location name that is associated with this site is ``Vista 
Serrena,'' which is in the San Pasqual Valley area of San Diego County, 
CA. Preparation of the collection for curation began in 2003, and the 
ceramic pipe fragment was discovered at that time.
    In 1994, the site designated CA-SDI-11453, located near the village 
of Sunnyside, San Diego County, CA, 1.4 km south of the Sweetwater Dam 
and 0.6 km east of the Sweetwater River was excavated by Brian F. 
Mooney & Associates for the California Department of Transportation as 
part of the proposed State Route 125. Three ceramic pipe fragments were 
part of the collection from CA-SDI-11453, accessioned by San Diego 
Archaeological Center in August 2000.

[[Page 15376]]

The ceramic pipe fragments were discovered during the curation process.
    In 1988, 1989, and 1995, the site designated CA-SDI-10998, also 
known as the Waldo site, located in the City of Lemon Grove, San Diego 
County, CA, in the floodplain of Spring Valley, was excavated by 
California Department of Transportation staff as part of the 
archeological testing for State Routes 54 and 125. One sucking tube or 
cloud blower pipe, two natural quartz crystals, one stone projectile 
point, and two pieces of red ochre were part of the collections 
received by the San Diego Archaeological Center on August 8, 2000, and 
on November 15, 2000. Site CA SDI-10998 is described in the archeology 
report as a short-term habitation site of the late Prehistoric period. 
The site is thought to be a satellite or component of the contact-
period village of Meti and falls within the traditional Kumeyaay 
(Tipai) territory. The cultural items were discovered by San Diego 
Archaeological Center staff while they prepared the collection for 
permanent curation. The cultural items were described in the 
archeological report as part of a shaman's cache, although they were 
found dispersed throughout the site.
    In 2000, the site designated CA-SDI-14788, located near South 
Chollas Creek in southern San Diego County, CA, was excavated by Tierra 
Environmental Services as part of the development of the property. One 
quartz crystal was among the collection taken to the San Diego 
Archaeological Center in September 2000 for curation. The crystal was 
discovered during preparation of the collection for curation. 
Monitoring and some data recovery was conducted pursuant to the 
California Environmental Quality Act. Radiocarbon dates place 
habitation of the site between about 650 years B.P. and the modern 
period (1940-1950).
    Archeological evidence, including artifacts typical of the late 
Prehistoric period (3500 B.P. to circa A.D. 1700) indicates that the 
sites described above are Native American. The sacred nature of the 
objects is indicated by archeological and historical literature, as 
well as oral historical evidence presented during consultation. Ceramic 
pipes, shaman's caches, natural quartz crystals, stone sucking tubes or 
cloud blower pipes, long-bodied stone projectile points, and red ochre 
are used in sacred ceremonies by the Kumeyaay. Archeological and 
historical literature and oral historical evidence presented during 
consultation confirms that all of the sites described above are located 
within traditional and historical Kumeyaay territory.
    Officials of the San Diego Archaeological Center have determined 
that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (3)(C), the 14 cultural items 
described above are specific ceremonial objects needed by traditional 
Native American religious leaders for the practice of traditional 
Native American religions by their present-day adherents. Officials of 
the San Diego Archaeological Center also 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 sacred objects and the Barona 
Group of Capitan Grande Band of Mission Indians of the Barona 
Reservation, California; Campo Band of Diegueno Mission Indians of the 
Campo Indian Reservation, California; Ewiiaapaayp Band of Kumeyaay 
Indians, California; Inaja Band of Diegueno Mission Indians of the 
Inaja and Cosmit Reservation, California; Jamul Indian Village of 
California; La Posta Band of Diegueno Mission Indians of the La Posta 
Indian Reservation, California; Manzanita Band of Diegueno Mission 
Indians of the Manzanita Reservation, California; Mesa Grande Band of 
Diegueno Mission Indians of the Mesa Grande Reservation, California; 
San Pasqual Band of Diegueno Mission Indians of California; Santa 
Ysabel Band of Diegueno Mission Indians of the Santa Ysabel 
Reservation, California; Sycuan Band of Diegueno Mission Indians of 
California; and Viejas (Baron Long) Group of Capitan Grande Band of 
Mission Indians of the Viejas Reservation, California.
    Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to 
be culturally affiliated with the sacred objects should contact Cindy 
Stankowski, Director, San Diego Archaeological Center, 16666 San 
Pasqual Valley Road, Escondido, CA 92027, before April 26, 2004. 
Repatriation of the sacred objects to the Kumeyaay Cultural 
Repatriation Committee on behalf of the Barona Group of Capitan Grande 
Band of Mission Indians of the Barona Reservation, California; Campo 
Band of Diegueno Mission Indians of the Campo Indian Reservation, 
California; Ewiiaapaayp Band of Kumeyaay Indians, California; Inaja 
Band of Diegueno Mission Indians of the Inaja and Cosmit Reservation, 
California; Jamul Indian Village of California; La Posta Band of 
Diegueno Mission Indians of the La Posta Indian Reservation, 
California; Manzanita Band of Diegueno Mission Indians of the Manzanita 
Reservation, California; Mesa Grande Band of Diegueno Mission Indians 
of the Mesa Grande Reservation, California; San Pasqual Band of 
Diegueno Mission Indians of California; Santa Ysabel Band of Diegueno 
Mission Indians of the Santa Ysabel Reservation, California; Sycuan 
Band of Diegueno Mission Indians of California; and Viejas (Baron Long) 
Group of Capitan Grande Band of Mission Indians of the Viejas 
Reservation, California may proceed after that date if no additional 
claimants come forward.
    The San Diego Archaeological Center is responsible for notifying 
the Kumeyaay Cultural Repatriation Committee; Barona Group of Capitan 
Grande Band of Mission Indians of the Barona Reservation, California; 
Campo Band of Diegueno Mission Indians of the Campo Indian Reservation, 
California; Ewiiaapaayp Band of Kumeyaay Indians, California; Inaja 
Band of Diegueno Mission Indians of the Inaja and Cosmit Reservation, 
California; Jamul Indian Village of California; La Posta Band of 
Diegueno Mission Indians of the La Posta Indian Reservation, 
California; Manzanita Band of Diegueno Mission Indians of the Manzanita 
Reservation, California; Mesa Grande Band of Diegueno Mission Indians 
of the Mesa Grande Reservation, California; San Pasqual Band of 
Diegueno Mission Indians of California; Santa Ysabel Band of Diegueno 
Mission Indians of the Santa Ysabel Reservation, California; Sycuan 
Band of Diegueno Mission Indians of California; and Viejas (Baron Long) 
Group of Capitan Grande Band of Mission Indians of the Viejas 
Reservation, California that this notice has been published.

    Dated: January 28, 2004.
John Robbins,
Assistant Director, Cultural Resources.
[FR Doc. 04-6645 Filed 3-24-04; 8:45 am]
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