[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 80 (Wednesday, April 26, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24750-24752]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-6261]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Inventory Completion: U.S. Department of the Interior, 
National Park Service, Western Archeological and Conservation Center, 
Tucson, AZ

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 control of the U.S. Department of the Interior, National 
Park Service, Western Archeological and Conservation Center, Tucson, 
AZ. The human remains and cultural items were removed from various 
sites 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 
Chief, Museum Collections Repository, Western Archeological and 
Conservation Center.
    A detailed assessment of the human remains and associated funerary 
objects was made by Western Archeological and Conservation Center 
professional staff in consultation with representatives of the Gila 
River Indian Community of the Gila River Indian Reservation, Arizona; 
Hopi Tribe of Arizona; Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community of the 
Salt River Reservation, Arizona; Tohono O'odham Nation of Arizona; and 
Zuni Tribe of the Zuni Reservation, New Mexico. Members of the Ak Chin 
Indian Community of the Maricopa (Ak Chin) Indian Reservation, Arizona 
were contacted, but did not attend the consultation meeting and were 
represented by members of the Gila River Indian Community of the Gila 
River Indian Reservation, Arizona.
    In 1956, human remains representing a minimum of one individual 
were donated to the National Park Service by Dr. Cyril M. Cron. The 
cremated remains were found near Bylas in Graham County, AZ. No known 
individuals were identified. The two associated funerary objects are 
one Gila Red bowl and one Gila Red jar. The jar and bowl date the 
cremation to the Classic period of the Hohokam or Salado cultural 
tradition (A.D. 1200-1450).
    In 1956, human remains representing a minimum of two individuals 
were donated to the National Park Service by Dr. Cyril M. Cron. The 
cremated

[[Page 24751]]

remains were found near Phoenix in Maricopa County, AZ. No known 
individuals were identified. The two associated funerary objects are 
one Gila Red bowl and one Gila Red jar. The jar and bowl date the 
cremation to the Classic period of the Hohokam or Salado cultural 
tradition (A.D. 1200-1450).
    In 1956, human remains and associated funerary objects from Tonto 
National Monument's Upper Ruin site in Gila County, AZ, were donated to 
the National Park Service by Cyril M. Cron. The human remains and 
associated funerary objects appear in Tonto National Monument's Notice 
of Inventory Completion published in the Federal Register on Wednesday, 
February 22, 2006 (FR Doc. E6-2477, pages 9152-9154).
    In 1956, human remains representing a minimum of two individuals 
were removed from two separate sites in Gila County, AZ, during a 
legally authorized survey under the direction of National Park Service 
archeologist Raymond S. Brandes. The locations or descriptions of the 
sites were not included in the survey report. No known individuals were 
identified. No associated funerary objects are present. Based on 
diagnostic artifacts found at the sites the human remains are 
attributed to the Classic Period, Salado cultural tradition (A.D. 1200-
1450).
    In 1958, human remains representing a minimum of seven individuals 
were removed from the Gila Pueblo site in Gila County, AZ, during 
legally authorized excavations under the direction of National Park 
Service archeologist Joel Shiner. The Gila Pueblo site was acquired by 
the National Park Service in 1952 and remained under National Park 
Service control until 1972 when it was transferred to Eastern Arizona 
College. No known individuals were identified. The two associated 
funerary objects are one Classic Period Salado miniature bowl and one 
copper bell. Based on the funerary objects as well as artifacts found 
elsewhere on the site, the human remains are attributed to the Gila 
phase of the Classic Period, Salado cultural tradition (A.D. 1300-
1450).
    In 1968, human remains representing two individuals were removed 
from the Togetzoge site in Pinal County, AZ. No known individuals were 
identified. No associated funerary objects are present. Based on 
diagnostic artifacts from the site the human remains are attributed to 
the Classic Period, Salado cultural tradition (A.D. 1200-1450). The 
Togetzoge site is located on private property. Records do not indicate 
how the human remains came into the possession of the National Park 
Service.
    In 1970, human remains representing a minimum of two individuals 
were removed from the Hagen site in Gila County, AZ, during legally 
authorized excavations under the direction of National Park Service 
archeologist Jon N. Young. No known individuals were identified. No 
associated funerary objects are present. Based on diagnostic artifacts 
recovered from the site the human remains are attributed to the Gila 
phase of the Classic Period, Salado cultural tradition (A.D. 1300-
1450).
    In 1990, cremated human remains representing a minimum of one 
individual were discovered in the collections storage area. No 
documentation has been located regarding the location or description of 
the site from which the human remains were removed. No known 
individuals were identified. The 159 associated funerary objects are 
148 beads and 1 bag of beads, 9 bone rings, and 1 bird claw. 
Similarities between the human remains and associated funerary objects 
and other items in the collection indicate that, more likely than not, 
they were removed from a site in central Arizona and are related to the 
Hohokam or Salado cultural tradition.
    The Hohokam were a sedentary agricultural people developing out of 
the local Archaic population. Hohokam settlement pattern was 
predominantly of the rancheria type, with pithouse or house-in-pit 
architecture. Ballcourts are often found at Hohokam sites. Pit or urn 
cremations were the predominant burial practice prior to A.D. 1100. 
Extended supine inhumations then became more prevalent, completely 
replacing cremations by A.D. 1300. There was a pronounced, though far 
from complete, decline in population after about A.D. 1350.
    The ``Salado cultural tradition'' or ``Salado phenomenon,'' as 
defined by recent archeological research, is a term that has invoked 
archeological debate since the 1930s. For purposes of this notice, a 
primary geographic area of the Salado is located between the desert-
dwelling Hohokam in southern Arizona and puebloan groups of the 
mountain areas to the north and east. However, evidence of Salado 
ceramic traditions have been discovered throughout the Southwest and as 
far south as Mexico. Salado sites often contain a variety of 
architectural styles and material culture that represent both the 
Hohokam and ancestral Puebloan traditions. For example, both 
architectural styles have been found within single sites in the Tonto 
Basin, suggesting close mixing between the two groups. Recent research 
suggests that the intermixing of these two groups may have occurred in 
the late 13th century to the middle part of the 15th century.
    Overall, the archeological evidence, including material culture, 
architectural styles, and burial practices, indicates affiliation with 
a number of contemporary indigenous groups including the Ak Chin Indian 
Community of the Maricopa (Ak Chin) Indian Reservation, Arizona; Gila 
River Indian Community of the Gila River Indian Reservation, Arizona; 
Hopi Tribe of Arizona; Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community of the 
Salt River Reservation, Arizona; Tohono O'odham Nation of Arizona; and 
Zuni Tribe of the Zuni Reservation, New Mexico. In addition to the 
archeological evidence, oral traditions of these six tribes support 
ancestral ties to these cultural traditions.
    In 1990, representatives of 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 issued a joint policy statement 
claiming ancestral ties to the Hohokam and Salado cultural traditions. 
In 1994, representatives of the Hopi Tribe of Arizona issued a 
statement claiming cultural affiliation with Hohokam and Salado 
cultural traditions. In 1995, representatives of the Zuni Tribe of the 
Zuni Reservation, New Mexico issued a statement claiming cultural 
affiliation with the Hohokam and Salado cultural traditions.
    Officials of the Western Archeological and Conservation Center have 
determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (9-10), the human remains 
described above represent the physical remains of 17 individuals of 
Native American ancestry. Officials of the Western Archeological and 
Conservation Center also have determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 
3001 (3)(A), the 165 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 Western Archeological and Conservation Center 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 Ak Chin 
Indian Community of the Maricopa (Ak Chin) Indian

[[Page 24752]]

Reservation, Arizona; Gila River Indian Community of the Gila River 
Indian Reservation, Arizona; Hopi Tribe of Arizona; Salt River Pima-
Maricopa Indian Community of the Salt River Reservation, Arizona; 
Tohono O'odham Nation of Arizona; and Zuni Tribe of the Zuni 
Reservation, New Mexico.
    Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to 
be culturally affiliated with the human remains and associated funerary 
objects should contact Dr. Stephanie H. Rodeffer, Chief, Museum 
Collections Repository, Western Archeological and Conservation Center, 
255 N. Commerce Park Loop, Tucson, AZ 85745, telephone (520) 670-6501, 
before May 26, 2006. Repatriation of the human remains and associated 
funerary objects 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; Hopi Tribe of Arizona; Salt 
River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community of the Salt River Reservation, 
Arizona; Tohono O'odham Nation of Arizona; and Zuni Tribe of the Zuni 
Reservation, New Mexico may proceed after that date if no additional 
claimants come forward.
    The Western Archeological and Conservation Center 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; Hopi Tribe of Arizona; Salt River 
Pima-Maricopa Indian Community of the Salt River Reservation, Arizona; 
Tohono O'odham Nation of Arizona; and Zuni Tribe of the Zuni 
Reservation, New Mexico that this notice has been published.
    Dated: March 14, 2006.
    Sherry Hutt,
    Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. E6-6261 Filed 4-25-06; 8:45 am]
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