[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 58 (Thursday, March 25, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15376-15378]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-6648]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Inventory Completion: 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. 3003, of the 
completion of an inventory of human remains and associated funerary 
objects in the possession of San Diego Archaeological Center, San 
Diego, CA. The human remains and associated funerary objects were 
removed from six sites in San Diego County, CA.

[[Page 15377]]

    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 San Diego 
Archaeological Center professional staff in consultation with 
representatives of the Kumeyaay Cultural Repatriation Committee, which 
is the authorized NAGPRA representative 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.
    On February 4, 1971, human remains representing a minimum of one 
individual were discovered by a private individual on his property at 
the far western end of Batiquitos Lagoon, Leucadia, San Diego County, 
CA. The human remains were removed by the individual and kept in his 
possession until 2004. Examination of the human remains by the San 
Diego County Sheriff confirmed that they are ancient and, based on the 
age of the human remains, shape of the teeth, and the provenience, 
experts at local museums confirmed that they are Native American. On 
January 13, 2004, the human remains were donated to the San Diego 
Archaeological Center by the private landowner, and were accessioned at 
that time. Stone tools, perhaps associated with the burial, and 
reported in a 1971 newspaper article, are no longer in the individual's 
possession and the location of the stone tools is unknown. No known 
individual was identified. The 26 associated funerary objects are 
fragments of fossilized nonhuman bone, shells, and stone flakes.
    In 1973, human remains representing a minimum of one individual 
were removed from site CA-SDI-5699 in Santee, San Diego County, CA, 
during excavations conducted by Archaeological Consulting Technology, 
Inc. (ACT), for Time For Living, Inc., a residential development. The 
collection of archeological materials from the site was stored by ACT 
until 1998, when it was donated to the San Diego Archaeological Center. 
No other items subject to NAGPRA were found in the collection. No known 
individual was identified. No associated funerary objects are present. 
Other human remains from site CA-SDI-5699 were repatriated to the 
Cuyapaipe Community of Diegueno Mission Indians of the Cuyapaipe 
Reservation, now known as Ewiiaapaayp Band of Kumeyaay Indians, 
California, in 1973, and unassociated funerary objects from the site 
were reported in a notice of intent to repatriate published in the 
Federal Register on May 23, 2000 (FR Doc. 00-12850, pages 33352-33353). 
The San Diego Archaeological Center is currently engaged in the long-
term processing of this poorly documented collection.
    In or around 1978, human remains representing a minimum of one 
individual were removed from site CA-SDI-4765 in southern San Diego 
County, CA, during excavations conducted by Archaeological Consulting 
Technology, Inc. (ACT) for a private subdivision project. The 
collection of archeological materials from the site was stored by ACT 
until 1998, when it was donated to the San Diego Archaeological Center. 
No other items subject to NAGPRA were found in the collection. No known 
individual was identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    In 1993 or 1994, human remains representing a minimum of one 
individual were removed from site CA-SDI-9243 in Santee, San Diego 
County, CA, during excavations undertaken by the California Department 
of Transportation (Caltrans). When the collection of archeological 
materials from site CA-SDI-9243 was accessioned by the San Diego 
Archaeological Center as part of the Caltrans District 11 collection, 
bones were found with a note that they had been identified by an expert 
at the San Diego Museum of Man as ``possibly human.'' San Diego 
Archaeological Center staff in consultation with representatives of the 
Kumeyaay Cultural Repatriation Committee have determined that the 
remains are likely to be human. No other items subject to NAGPRA were 
found in the collection. No known individual was identified. No 
associated funerary objects are present.
    In 1995, human remains representing a minimum of one individual 
were removed from site CA-SDI-9273 in the southeastern part of San 
Diego County, CA, near the United States-Mexico border and the city of 
Tecate, Mexico. Site CA-SDI-9273 was excavated in 1995 by Caltrans's 
District 11 Environmental Analysis Branch as part of a cultural 
resources assessment prior to development of the property. The site was 
described in a Caltrans report as containing a human cremation feature, 
ceramic and lithic scatter, faunal material, and other artifacts 
associated with village life. The report also mentions discovery of 
inhumations and the proposed reburial of the human remains, which would 
occur after project completion. The collection of archeological 
materials was brought to the San Diego Archaeological Center on August 
11, 2001, and the cremated human remains were discovered while 
preparing the collection for permanent curation. No other items subject 
to NAGPRA were found in the collection. The collection also includes 
108 cataloged items, including chipped stone, and faunal and Historic-
period artifacts. No known individual was identified. No associated 
funerary objects are present.
    In 1996-1997, human remains representing a minimum of two 
individuals were removed from CA-SDI-4530, also known as the Salt Creek 
Ranch site, in southern San Diego County, CA. Site CA-SDI-4530 lies 
partially within the Bonita-Miguel National Register District, 
northwest of the upper Otay Reservoir and across Proctor Road. Site CA-
SDI-4530 was excavated for Pacific Bay Homes in 1996-1997 by Brian F. 
Smith & Associates. Native American consultant Clarence Brown monitored 
the excavation. A partial copy of the site report indicates that the 
site was excavated at an earlier unknown date by ERC, an environmental 
company. The collection of archeological materials excavated in 1996-
1997 was accessioned by the San Diego Archaeological Center in August 
1999. No other items subject to NAGPRA were found in the collection. No 
known individuals were identified. No associated funerary objects are 
present.

    Archeological evidence, including artifacts typical of the late 
Prehistoric and early Historic periods (1500 B.C. to

[[Page 15378]]

circa A.D. 1700), indicates that the sites described above were either 
burial or habitation sites of Native Americans. Some of the human 
remains show evidence of cremation, which was typical of the burial 
practices during this cultural period. The human remains were likely 
interred before the arrival of Europeans in the area. Archeological and 
historical literature, and oral historical evidence presented during 
consultation, confirm 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 (9-10), the human remains listed above 
represent the physical remains of a minimum of seven individuals of 
Native American ancestry. Officials of the San Diego Archaeological 
Center also have determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (3)(A), 
the 26 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 
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 Native American human remains 
and associated funerary 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 human remains and associated funerary 
objects should contact Cindy Stankowski, Director, San Diego 
Archaeological Center, 16666 San Pasqual Valley Road, Escondido, CA 
92027, telephone (760) 291-0370, before April 26, 2004.
    Repatriation of the human remains 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; Cuyapaipe Community of Diegueno Mission Indians of the 
Cuyapaipe Reservation, 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; Cuyapaipe Community of Diegueno Mission Indians of the 
Cuyapaipe Reservation, 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 29, 2004.
John Robbins,
Assistant Director, Cultural Resources.
[FR Doc. 04-6648 Filed 3-24-04; 8:45 am]
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