[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 104 (Wednesday, June 1, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31515-31518]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-10796]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Inventory Completion: California Department of Parks 
and Recreation, Sacramento, 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 and control of the California Department of 
Parks and Recreation, Sacramento, CA. The human remains and associated 
funerary objects were removed from Kern, Kings, and Tulare Counties, 
CA.
    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 and associated funerary objects. The National 
Park Service is not responsible for the determinations in this notice.
    A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by California 
Department of Parks and Recreation's professional staff in consultation 
with representatives of the Picayune Rancheria of the Chukchansi 
Indians of California; Santa Rosa Indian Community of the Santa Rosa 
Rancheria, California (also known as the Tachi Yokut Tribe); Table 
Mountain Rancheria of California; and Tule River Indian Tribe of the 
Tule River Reservation, California.
    At an unknown date, highly fragmented human remains representing a 
minimum of three individuals were removed from an unknown locality 
(most likely close to CA-KIN-32, also known as the Witt site) on the 
southwest shore of former Tulare Lake, 12 miles southeast of Kettleman 
City, Kings County, CA. The remains were collected by Leonard ``Red'' 
Van Den Enden, a private citizen, of Corcoran, CA. After Mr. Van Den 
Enden's death, his heirs donated the human remains to the California 
Department of Parks and Recreation in 1982. No known individuals were 
identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    While the human remains have no exact provenance, two human cranial 
fragments date to 15,696 years B.P. (+/-370 years) and 11,379 B.P. (+/-
71 years). This is consistent with dates generated from CA-KIN-32/Witt 
site. The California Department of Parks and Recreation Committee on 
Repatriation determined that site CA-KIN-32 cannot be clearly 
identified as Southern Valley Yokuts due to its antiquity. However, it 
determined that the prehistoric occupation of the same site by direct 
ancestors of the historic Southern Valley Yokuts (Tachi, Wowol, and 
Chunut Yokuts Tribes) was sufficient to culturally affiliate this site 
with the groups that are the present-day descendants of the Southern 
Valley Yokuts. Present-day descendants of the Southern Valley Yokuts 
are the Picayune Rancheria of the Chukchansi Indians of California; 
Santa Rosa Indian Community of the Santa Rosa Rancheria, California 
(also known as the Tachi Yokut Tribe); Table Mountain Rancheria of 
California; and Tule River Indian Tribe of the Tule River Reservation, 
California.
    In 1927 and 1928, human remains representing a minimum of 14 
individuals were removed from CA-TUL-16 (also known as the Broder 
Mound, Broder Place, Broeder Ranch, Broeder Area B, Old Broder, GWH 
132, and J-90), 5 miles east of Visalia and 2 miles south of the Kaweah 
River, in Tulare County, CA. The remains and associated funerary items 
were collected by Frank F. Latta on weekends in the course of site 
leveling of the Broder Mound during agricultural activity. Mr. Latta 
donated the items to the California Department of Parks and Recreation 
on July 24, 1988. No known individuals were identified. The 89 funerary 
objects are 32 beads, 16 food remains, 11 soil samples, 6 ornaments, 5 
flakes, 3 projectile points, 2 plant remains, 2 incised bones, 1 quartz 
crystal, 1 piece of ochre, 1 lithic, 1 piece of slag, 1 scraper, 1 fire 
stone, 1 hammerstone, 1 charcoal sample, 1 clay sherd, 1 metal knife, 1 
button, and 1 ceramic sherd.
    The ages of the burials are not directly known, but may be of 
considerable antiquity (4000-2000 B.C.). According to Mr. Latta's field 
notes, some of the burials came from a depth of 11 feet, indicating 
considerable age. Most of the associated funerary objects are 
consistent with an Early Period of occupation. While some associated 
funerary objects date to the historic Late Period, this can be 
explained by the salvage nature of the excavation. The California 
Department of Parks and Recreation Committee on Repatriation determined 
that site CA-TUL-16 cannot be clearly identified as Southern Valley 
Yokuts, due to its antiquity. However, oral history and tradition among 
the contemporary Yokuts tribes confirm that this site was and still is 
sacred to the

[[Page 31516]]

Yokuts. Its destruction is included in the oral history and even now 
ceremonies are held in the general area of what used to be Broder 
Mound. The California Department of Parks and Recreation Committee on 
Repatriation determined that the occupation of site CA-TUL-16 by direct 
ancestors of the historic Southern Valley Yokuts was sufficient to 
culturally affiliate this collection with the groups that are the 
present-day descendants of the Southern Valley Yokuts. Site CA-TUL-16 
is within the historically documented geographic area used by the 
Wolase Yokuts.
    Between 1927 and 1932, human remains representing a minimum of one 
individual were removed from an unknown location in northwestern Kern 
County, CA, by Frank F. Latta. Museum records identify the locality as 
``the gypsum at Lost Hills,'' west of Wasco, the I-5 highway, and Buena 
Vista Slough. Mr. Latta donated the human remains to the California 
Department of Parks and Recreation in 1988. No known individual was 
identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    The age of the burial is unknown. The general locality is within 
the historically documented geographic area used by the Southern Valley 
Yokuts (Tachi and Wowol Tribes). Both of these tribes are mentioned in 
Alfred Kroeber's Handbook of the Indians of California(1976). Mr. 
Latta's research and collection activity was in the historical 
geographic territory of the Yokuts. The ``Lost Hills'' location is 
shown on his map of the Southern Valley Yokuts territory in his book 
The Handbook of Yokuts Indians (1977).
    Between 1927 and 1932, human remains representing a minimum of one 
individual were removed from an unknown location in Tulare County, CA, 
by Frank F. Latta. The site may be near the mouth of the Tule River 
where it discharged into former Tulare Lake, north of Blanco. Mr. Latta 
donated the human remains to the California Department of Parks and 
Recreation on July 24, 1988. No known individual was identified. No 
associated funerary objects are present.
    The age of the burial is unknown. This site is within the 
historically documented geographic area used by the Southern Valley 
Yokuts (Choynok and Wolase Tribes). Both of these tribes are mentioned 
in Alfred Kroeber's Handbook of the Indians in California (1976). Mr. 
Latta's research and collection activity was in the historical 
geographic territory of the Yokuts.
    Between 1927 and 1932, human remains representing a minimum of one 
individual were removed from an unknown location in or near Alpaugh 
(formerly Atwell's Island and the Southern Valley Yokuts' village of 
Chawlowin), in Tulare County, CA, by Frank F. Latta. Mr. Latta donated 
the human remains to the California Department of Parks and Recreation 
in 1988. No known individual was identified. No associated funerary 
objects are present.
    The age of the burial is unknown. This site is within the 
historically documented geographic area used by the Southern Valley 
Yokuts (Wolwol and Chunut Tribes). Oral histories among the present-day 
Yokuts of the Santa Rosa Indian Community of the Santa Rosa Rancheria 
attest to the fact that Alpaugh/Atwell's Island was a Yokuts' village 
called Chawlowin. Oral history also confirms that the site has been 
well known to pillagers, collectors and archeologists over the years. A 
representative for the Santa Rosa Indian Community of the Santa Rosa 
Rancheria claims that many private collections in the Lemoore area 
(location of the Santa Rosa Rancheria) were taken from Alpaugh.
    In 1928, human remains representing a minimum of 10 individuals 
were removed from an unknown location along Grizzly Gulch, a tributary 
of the White River, on the Vincent Ranch, 20 miles east of Delano, Kern 
County, CA, by Frank F. Latta. Mr. Latta donated the human remains to 
the California Department of Parks and Recreation in 1988. No known 
individuals were identified. The 2,873 funerary objects are 1,903 
beads, 291 flakes, 275 food remains, 116 ornaments, 61 quartz crystals, 
47 projectile points, 36 rocks, 33 scrapers, 19 pieces of baked clay, 
15 bifaces, 12 pieces of ochre/pigment samples, 9 pieces of asphaltum, 
7 ceramic sherds, 6 soil samples, 6 plant samples, 4 charcoal samples, 
4 blades, 2 drills, 2 bark strippers, 1 piece of ammunition, 1 
hammerstone, 1 chopper, 1 core, 1 gaming stone, and 20 unknown items.
    Based on the presence of historic items among the associated 
funerary objects, this site has been dated to the Late Period (A.D. 
500-1900). Non-burial pottery sherds, which are a Late Period Yokuts 
phenomena, also date this site to Late Period Yokuts occupation. The 
associated funerary objects are consistent with burial practices of the 
Southern Valley Yokuts. This site is within the historically documented 
geographic area used by the Southern Valley Yokuts (the Yawelamani, 
Palewyami, and Kumaches Tribes) and the Bankalachi people. The 
Bankalachi were an off shoot of the Shoshonean-speaking Tubatulabal 
Tribe that lived among the Penutian-speaking Yokuts. There are no known 
living descendants of the Tubatulabal or Bankalachi.
    On June 10, 1928, human remains representing a minimum of one 
individual were removed from an unknown location along Deer Creek, 
Tulare County, CA, by Frank F. Latta. Mr. Latta donated the human 
remains to the California Department of Parks and Recreation on July 
24, 1988. No known individual was identified. The 41 associated 
funerary objects are 19 steatite beads, 7 basket fragments, 4 haliotis 
ornaments, 3 obsidian projectile points, 2 olivella beads, 2 pieces of 
shell, 2 tivella beads, 1 obsidian flake, and 1 glass bead.
    Based on the presence of historic items among the associated 
funerary objects, this site has been dated to the Late Period (A.D. 
500-1900). The projectile points are variants of the Cottonwood 
Triangular and also the Desert Side Notched; these are both consistent 
with the Late Period of Yokuts occupation. The associated funerary 
objects are consistent with burial practices of the Southern Valley 
Yokuts or Foothill Yokuts. Tulare County is within the historically 
documented geographic areas used by the Southern Valley and Foothill 
Yokuts (Bokinuwad (Hoeynche), Yawdanchi or Koyeti Tribes). All of these 
villages or triblets are mentioned in Alfred Kroeber's Handbook of the 
Indians of California (1976).
    In 1928, human remains representing a minimum of one individual 
were removed from an unknown location at Wilson Flats, Tule River in 
Tulare County, CA, by Frank F. Latta. Mr. Latta donated the human 
remains to the California Department of Parks and Recreation on July 
24, 1988. No known individual was identified. No funerary objects are 
present.
    Non-funerary items associated with the remains are indicative of 
Late Period (A.D. 500-1900) occupation. This site is within the 
historically documented geographic area used by the Central Foothill 
Yokuts (Yawdanchi Tribe).
    In 1928, highly fragmented human remains representing a minimum of 
six individuals were removed from the Weukeena site (also known as 
Sweet Weukena, Waukena, Sweet Mound, Sweet Slaughterhouse Mound, and 
Buzzard's Roost), in Tulare County, CA, by Frank F. Latta. The precise 
location of the site is unknown; museum records indicate that it is 
situated on or near the northeast shore of former Tulare Lake, 4 miles 
south of Waukena and 10 miles southwest of Tulare, along State Highway 
137. Mr. Latta donated the human remains to the California

[[Page 31517]]

Department of Parks and Recreation on July 24, 1988. No known 
individuals were identified. The 112 associated funerary objects are 30 
beads, 22 projectile points, 21 ornaments, 10 food remains, 6 flakes, 4 
scrapers, 3 plant samples, 2 lithics, 2 clay sherds, 2 soil samples, 1 
piece of ochre, 1 metal button, 1 shale blade, 1 gaming stone, 1 
steatite bowl, 1 ceramic sherd, 1 drill, and 3 unknown items.
    Based on the presence of historical and diagnostic items, the 
remains have been dated to a Late Period (A.D. 500-1900) occupation. 
This site is within the historically documented geographic area used by 
the Southern Valley Yokuts (Chunut Tribe). The associated funerary 
objects are consistent with the burial practices of the Southern Valley 
Yokuts.
    In 1928, human remains representing a minimum of one individual 
were removed from an unknown location on the Old Vincent Ranch at 
Woodeville in Tulare County, CA, by Frank F. Latta. Mr. Latta donated 
the human remains to the California Department of Parks and Recreation 
on July 24, 1988. No known individual was identified. No funerary 
objects are present.
    The age of the human remains is unknown. Mr. Latta's research and 
collection activity was in the historical geographic territory of the 
Yokuts and this site is within the historically documented geographic 
area used by the Southern Valley Yokuts (Koyeti Tribe).
    In 1932, human remains representing a minimum of three individuals 
were removed from site CA-KER-152 (also known as the Alamo Solo site 
and Sunflower 4), in Kern County, CA, by Frank F. Latta. The 
human remains were removed from near Dagany Gap east of Sunflower 
Valley, 16 miles south of Avenal, northwestern Kern County. In 1988, 
Mr. Latta donated the human remains to the California Department of 
Parks and Recreation. No known individuals were identified. The 116 
associated funerary objects are 21 projectile points, 20 scrapers, 12 
beads, 10 bifaces, 7 flakes, 4 blades, 4 soil samples, 4 food remains, 
3 plant samples, 2 ornaments, 2 pieces of fabric, 2 haliotis ornaments, 
2 ammunition remains, 2 choppers, 2 drills, 2 bark scrapers, 1 
charmstone, 1 asphaltum, 1 cobble, 1 steatite bowl, 1 weaving shuttle, 
1 ceramic sherd, 1 quartz crystal, 1 nail, 1 charcoal sample, 1 piece 
of slag, 1 willow stripper, 1 awl, 1 bone tool, 1 lithic, 1 piece of 
baked clay, and 2 unidentified items.
    Based on the presence of historic items among the associated 
funerary objects, CA-KER-152 has been dated to the Late Period (A.D. 
500-1900). Diagnostic analysis of beads and projectile points, as well 
as the style and nature of the associated funerary objects are 
consistent with burial practices of the Southern Valley Yokuts (Tachi 
Tribe). Site CA-KER-152 is within the historically documented 
geographic area used by the Tachi Yokuts who are anthropologically 
considered part of the Southern Valley Yokuts.
    In 1964 and 1965, human remains representing a minimum of 78 
individuals were removed from site CA-KER-116 (also known as Buena 
Vista Lake site, KER-39, KER-39A, KER-43, and KER-60), in southwestern 
Kern County, CA. The human remains were removed from the southwest 
shoreline of the former Buena Vista Lake, along the California 
Aqueduct, where Buena Vista Valley meets Buena Vista Hills. The site 
was excavated in 1964 by Sonoma State University under the direction of 
David A. Fredrickson and in 1965 under the direction of J.M. Grossman 
and John Waller of San Jose State College, under a contract with the 
Division of Beaches and Parks, which is now the California Department 
of Parks and Recreation. The Department of Water Resources provided 
funding for the excavations prior to the construction of the California 
Aqueduct. The bulk of the collection was processed at Sonoma State 
University until it was transferred to California Department of Parks 
and Recreation on April 3, 2003. No known individuals were identified. 
The 2,840 associated funerary objects are 1,016 flakes or lithics, 909 
food remains, 177 beads, 147 flake stone tools, 137 projectile points, 
122 fire rocks, 100 unidentified items, 63 ground stone implements, 49 
stone blades, 35 botanical samples, 35 asphaltum pieces, 20 bone tools, 
18 ornaments, 10 pigment samples, 1 basket, and 1 whistle.
    Components from the burials in the possession of California 
Department of Parks and Recreation from CA-KER-116 date to the Early 
Horizon/Early Period (4000-2000 B.C.). Due to the antiquity of the 
site, the California Department of Parks and Recreation Committee on 
Repatriation determined that site CA-KER-116 could not be clearly 
identified as Southern Valley Yokuts. This site is within the 
historically documented geographic area used by the Southern Valley 
Yokuts (Tulumne Tribe). However, the committee determined that the 
continuous occupation of site CA-KER-116 by direct ancestors of the 
historic Southern Valley Yokuts was sufficient to culturally affiliate 
with present-day descendants of the Southern Valley Yokuts.
    At an unknown time but most likely in 1964, human remains 
representing a minimum of one individual were removed from the Pelican 
Island site in Kern County, CA. The person who collected the items was 
not documented. The island was located in the former Buena Vista Lake, 
Kern County, CA. No known individual was identified. No funerary 
objects are present.
    The age of the burial is unknown. Notes indicate that the items 
were surface collected. The Pelican Island site is within the 
historically documented geographic area used by the Southern Valley 
Yokuts (Tulumne Tribe).
    At an unknown date but probably after 1965, human remains 
representing a minimum of one individual were removed from either the 
Kern Pumping plant or the Buena Vista Pumping Plant in Kern County, CA. 
The person who collected the items was not documented. No known 
individual was identified. The one associated funerary object is a soil 
sample.
    The age of the human remains is unknown. Because the site's 
location is only generally known, the California Department of Parks 
and Recreation Committee on Repatriation has determined that the human 
remains and associated funerary objects were not clearly identifiable 
as Southern Valley Yokuts, but are most likely to be identified as 
Southern Valley Yokuts (Tulumne Tribe).
    All of the sites described above lie within Yokuts' territory. 
Archeologists believe that the Penutian-speaking Yokuts are descended 
from the Windmiller people who occupied the Central Valley and Sierra 
Nevada foothills of California from 4,000 to 3,000 years ago. The 
Yokuts territory was the largest territory of prehistoric tribes in 
California and included almost the entire Central Valley, bounded on 
the north by where the San Joaquin River empties into the Sacramento 
River, and on the south by the foothills of the Tehachepi Mountains. 
The Yokuts comprised over 200 villages or communities, each with its 
own subsistence strategy and distinct dialect group. The Yokuts are 
anthropologically represented today by three living areas: the Northern 
Valley Yokuts, Southern Valley Yokuts, and Foothill Yokuts. 
Archeological, ethnographical, historical, and oral historical evidence 
link the Southern Valley Yokuts and Foothill Yokuts to the present-day 
federally recognized Picayune Rancheria of the Chukchansi Indians of 
California; Santa Rosa Indian Community of the Santa Rosa Rancheria, 
California (also known as the Tachi Yokut Tribe); Table Mountain

[[Page 31518]]

Rancheria of California; and Tule River Indian Tribe of the Tule River 
Reservation, California.
    Officials of the California Department of Parks and Recreation have 
determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (9-10), the human remains 
described above represent the physical remains of a minimum of 122 
individuals of Native American ancestry. Officials of the California 
Department of Parks and Recreation also have determined that, pursuant 
to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (3)(A), the 6,072 objects listed 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 California Department of Parks and Recreation 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 Picayune Rancheria of the Chukchansi Indians of 
California; Santa Rosa Indian Community of the Santa Rosa Rancheria, 
California (also known as the Tachi Yokut Tribe); Table Mountain 
Rancheria of California; and Tule River Indian Tribe of the Tule River 
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 Paulette Hennum, NAGPRA Coordinator, California 
State Parks, Cultural Resources Division, 1416 9th Street, Room 902, 
Sacramento, CA 95814, telephone (916) 653-7976, before July 1, 2005. 
Repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects to 
the Picayune Rancheria of the Chukchansi Indians of California; Santa 
Rosa Indian Community of the Santa Rosa Rancheria, California (also 
known as the Tachi Yokut Tribe); Table Mountain Rancheria of 
California; and Tule River Indian Tribe of the Tule River Reservation, 
California may proceed after that date if no additional claimants come 
forward.
    The California Department of Parks and Recreation is responsible 
for notifying the Picayune Rancheria of the Chukchansi Indians of 
California; Santa Rosa Indian Community of the Santa Rosa Rancheria, 
California (also known as the Tachi Yokut Tribe); Table Mountain 
Rancheria of California; and Tule River Indian Tribe of the Tule River 
Reservation, California that this notice has been published.

    Dated: May 20, 2005
Paul Hoffman,
Deputy Assistant Secretary, Fish and Wildlife and Parks
[FR Doc. 05-10796 Filed 5-31-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-50-S