[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 118 (Monday, June 21, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34400-34401]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-13925]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Inventory Completion: Peabody Museum of Archaeology and 
Ethnology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA

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 in the possession of the 
Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, Harvard University, 
Cambridge, MA. The human remains were removed from the Gila Valley 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 in this notice are the sole responsibility of the 
museum, institution, or Federal agency that has control of the Native 
American human remains. The National Park Service is not responsible 
for the determinations in this notice.
    A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by Peabody 
Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology professional staff in consultation 
with representatives of 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 1934, human remains representing a minimum of three individuals 
were removed from the Gila Valley in Arizona, by Dr. George Woodbury 
and others. The human remains were donated to the Peabody Museum of 
Archaeology and Ethnology by the Gila Pueblo Foundation through Dr. 
Woodbury in the same year. No known individuals were identified. No 
associated funerary objects are present.
    Osteological characteristics indicate that the individuals are 
Native American. Museum documentation describes the human remains as 
``modern Papago,'' the group that is known today as the O'odham people.

[[Page 34401]]

Given such a specific cultural designation, the interments likely date 
to the Historic or contemporary period, from the late 17th to the early 
20th century. Oral tradition and historical documentation indicate that 
the Gila Valley in Arizona is within the aboriginal and historic 
homeland of the O'odham people during the Historic period. The present-
day groups representing the O'odham people are 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.
    Officials of the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology have 
determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (9-10), the human remains 
described above represent the physical remains of three individuals of 
Native American ancestry. Officials of the Peabody Museum of 
Archaeology and Ethnology, 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 
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.
    Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to 
be culturally affiliated with the human remains should contact Patricia 
Capone, Repatriation Coordinator, Peabody Museum of Archaeology and 
Ethnology, Harvard University, 11 Divinity Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138, 
telephone (617) 496-3702, before July 21, 2004. Repatriation of the 
human remains 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; Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian 
Community of the Salt River Reservation, Arizona; and Tohono O'odham 
Nation of Arizona may proceed after that date if no additional 
claimants come forward.
    The Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology 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; Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community 
of the Salt River Reservation, Arizona; and Tohono O'Odham Nation of 
Arizona that this notice has been published.

    Dated: May 11, 2004
John Robbins,
Assistant Director, Cultural Resources.
[FR Doc. 04-13925 Filed 6-18-04; 8:45 am]
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