[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 105 (Thursday, June 1, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31204-31205]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-8447]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Inventory Completion: Department of Anthropology Museum 
at the University of California, Davis, Davis, 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 the Department of Anthropology Museum at 
the University of California, Davis, Davis, CA. The human remains and 
associated funerary objects were removed from Modoc County, 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 the 
Department of Anthropology Museum at the University of California, 
Davis professional staff in consultation with representatives of the 
Alturas Indian Rancheria, California; Confederated Tribes of the Grand 
Ronde Community of Oregon; Confederated Tribes of the Siletz 
Reservation, Oregon; Pit River Tribe, California; Quartz Valley Indian 
Community of the Quartz Valley Reservation of California; Redding 
Rancheria, California; Round Valley Indian Tribes of the Round Valley 
Reservation, California; and Susanville Indian Rancheria, California.
    In 1960, human remains representing a minimum of 14 individuals 
were removed from site CA-MOD-250, Modoc County, CA, by Professor 
Martin Baumhoff, University of California, Davis, during archeological 
fieldwork sponsored by the University of California. The collection was 
accessioned by the Department of Anthropology Museum at the University 
of California, Davis in 1960. No known individuals were identified. The 
81 associated funerary objects are 2 metates, 1 mortar, 1 pipe blank, 1 
charm stone blank, 1 leather burial shroud, 1 dog skeleton, 7 Haliotis 
sp. ornament fragments, 52 Olivella sp. beads, 3 Dentaliumsp. beads, 6 
glass beads, 1 decorated bone spatula, 1 pestle, 1 baked clay pipe, 1 
burial pit lining (mat), and 2 manos.
    Based on burial context and site characteristics, the human remains 
described above from Modoc County are determined to be Native American 
in origin. The associated funerary objects are consistent with other 
artifacts documented as associated with the indigenous inhabitants of 
the Modoc County area. Three radiocarbon dates of 510 70, 1,47080, and 
3,31090 indicate an age for this site of approximately 1350 B.C. - A.D. 
1450. Glottochronological evidence indicates that the differentiation 
between the two Pit River languages, Achumawi and

[[Page 31205]]

Atsugewi, occurred between 3,500 to 3,100 years ago, or 1500 - 1100 
B.C., indicating that Pit River speakers have been in the area at least 
this long. Based on geographical location, age of the site, and 
archeological evidence, the human remains and associated funerary 
objects are culturally affiliated with descendants of the Pit River 
Indians.
    In 1970, human remains representing a minimum of one individual 
were removed from site CA-MOD-419, Modoc County, CA, by L. Harris, 
Modoc County Sherriff-Coroner, after they had been uncovered during the 
construction of an irrigation ditch. Sherriff-Coroner Harris 
subsequently donated the human remains and some of the associated 
funerary objects for study to the University of California, Davis. In 
1970, the human remains and associated funerary objects were 
accessioned by the Department of Anthropology Museum at the University 
of California, Davis. No known individual was identified. The three 
associated funerary objects are one sage grouse (Centrocerus 
urophasianus) skeleton and two buttons.
    Glass beads were also reported to have been found with the human 
remains, but these funerary objects were not donated to the museum. The 
presence of glass beads and buttons found in association with the human 
remains clearly indicate that this burial dates to the historic period 
and that the human remains probably date to no earlier than A.D. 1830. 
Based on the manner of burial, the human remains described above from 
Modoc County are determined to be Native American in origin. 
Glottochronology indicates that the differentiation between the two Pit 
River languages, Achumawi and Atsugewi, occurred between approximately 
1500 - 1100 B.C., indicating that Pit River speakers have been in this 
area for at least 3,100 years. No other Indian groups were known to 
have frequented this area during the historic period. Based on 
geographical location and age of the associated funerary objects, the 
human remains are culturally affiliated with descendants of the Pit 
River Indians.
    The present-day descendants of the Pit River Indians are the 
Alturas Indian Rancheria, California; Pit River Tribe, California; 
Redding Rancheria, California; Round Valley Indian Tribes of the Round 
Valley Reservation, California; and Susanville Indian Rancheria, 
California.
    The Pit River Tribe, California has submitted a written claim to 
the Department of Anthropology Museum at the University of California, 
Davis for repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary 
objects.
    Officials of the Department of Anthropology Museum at the 
University of California, Davis have determined that, pursuant to 25 
U.S.C. 3001 (9-10), the human remains described above represent the 
physical remains of 15 individuals of Native American ancestry. 
Officials of the Department of Anthropology Museum at the University of 
California, Davis also have determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 
(3)(A), the 84 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 Department of Anthropology Museum at the University of California, 
Davis 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 Alturas Indian Rancheria, California; Pit River Tribe, 
California; Redding Rancheria, California; Round Valley Indian Tribes 
of the Round Valley Reservation, California; and Susanville Indian 
Rancheria, California.
    Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to 
be culturally affiliated with the human remains and associated funerary 
objects should contact Elizabeth Guerra, Department of Anthropology 
Museum, 330 Young Hall, One Shields Avenue, University of California, 
Davis, Davis, CA 95616, telephone (530) 754-6280, before July 3, 2006. 
Repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects to 
the Pit River Tribe, California may proceed after that date if no 
additional claimants come forward.
    The Department of Anthropology Museum at the University of 
California, Davis is responsible for notifying the Alturas Indian 
Rancheria, California; Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community 
of Oregon; Confederated Tribes of the Siletz Reservation, Oregon; Pit 
River Tribe, Quartz Valley Indian Community of the Quartz Valley 
Reservation of California; Redding Rancheria, California; Round Valley 
Indian Tribes of the Round Valley Reservation, California; and 
Susanville Indian Rancheria, California that this notice has been 
published.

    Dated: May 3, 2006
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. E6-8447 Filed 5-31-06; 8:45 am]
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