[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 129 (Thursday, July 6, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38413-38415]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-10512]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Inventory Completion: U.S. Department of Agriculture, 
Forest Service, Gila National Forest, Silver City, NM; Correction

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice; correction.

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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 Agriculture, Forest 
Service, Gila National Forest, Silver City, NM; and in the former 
possession of Arizona State Museum, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ; 
Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, IL; Logan Museum of 
Anthropology, Beloit College, Beloit, WI; Maxwell Museum of 
Anthropology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM; Museum of 
Indian Arts and Culture, Museum of New Mexico, Santa Fe, NM; Ohio 
Historical Society, Columbus, OH; Peabody Museum of Archaeology and 
Ethnology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA; University of Texas at 
Austin, Austin, TX; and U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest 
Supervisor's Office, Gila National Forest, Silver City, NM. The human 
remains and associated funerary objects were removed from the Gila 
National Forest, Catron County, NM.
    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.
    This notice corrects and supercedes the number of human remains and 
associated funerary objects reported in three notices: Notice of 
Inventory Completion published in the Federal Register on July 22, 1998 
[FR Doc. 98-19536, pages 39293-39294]; Notice of Inventory Completion 
correction published in the Federal Register on August 3, 2005 [FR Doc. 
05-15316, pages 44686-44687]; and Notice of Inventory Completion 
correction published in the Federal Register on September 27, 2005 [FR 
Doc. 05-19265, pages 56483-56484].
    A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by Arizona 
State Museum, University of Arizona; Field Museum of Natural History; 
Logan Museum of Anthropology, Beloit College; Maxwell Museum of 
Anthropology, University of New Mexico; Museum of Indian Arts and 
Culture, Museum of New Mexico; Ohio Historical Society; Peabody Museum 
of Archaeology and Ethnology, Harvard University; University of Texas 
at Austin; U.S. Department of Agriculture, Gila National Forest; and 
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Supervisor's Office, Gila 
National Forest professional staff in consultation with

[[Page 38414]]

representatives of the Hopi Tribe of Arizona; Pueblo of Acoma, New 
Mexico; and Zuni Tribe of the Zuni Reservation, New Mexico.
    In August 2005, the Field Museum of Natural Historiy, Chicago, IL, 
re-examined the human remains and associated funerary objects taken 
from nine sites in the Gila National Forest, Catron County, NM. In 
2005, Gila National Forest, Silver City, NM, also re-examined the human 
remains and associated funerary objects taken from all sites in the 
Gila National Forest, Catron County, NM. In light of the findings from 
re-examination, the original Notice of Inventory Completion and 
previously corrected Notices of Inventory Completion are superceded by 
this notice.
    In 1935 and 1936, human remains representing a minimum of 51 
individuals were removed from Starkweather Ruin in Gila National 
Forest, Catron County, NM, during legally authorized excavations by 
Paul H. Nesbitt of Beloit College, Beloit, WI. The human remains were 
curated at the Logan Museum of Anthropology, Beloit College, Beloit, 
WI, until 2005 when they were transferred to Gila National Forest. No 
known individuals were identified. The 139 associated funerary objects 
are ceramic vessels and sherds, shell and stone jewelry, and a 
projectile point.
    Based on material culture, architecture, and site organization, the 
Starkweather Ruin has been identified as an Upland Mogollon pithouse 
village and pueblo occupied between A.D. 500-1300.
    Between 1935 and 1955, human remains representing a minimum of 79 
individuals were removed from SU site, Oak Springs Pueblo, Tularosa 
Cave, Apache Creek Pueblo, Turkey Foot Ridge site, Wet Leggett Pueblo, 
Three Pines Pueblo, and South Leggett Pueblo in Catron County, NM, by 
Dr. Paul Martin of the Field Museum, Chicago, IL. The human remains 
were curated at the Field Museum, Chicago, IL, until 2005 when they 
were transferred to Gila National Forest. No known individuals were 
identified. The 56 associated funerary objects include ceramic vessels 
and sherds, stone and shell jewelry, stone and bone tools, and 
projectile points.
    Based on material culture, architecture, and site organization, the 
eight sites listed in the preceding paragraph have been identified as 
Upland Mogollon cave, pithouse village, and pueblos occupied between 
A.D. 300 and A.D. 1300.
    In 1955, human remains representing 22 individuals were removed 
from Apache Creek Pueblo (LA 2949), Catron County, NM, during legally 
authorized excavations and collections conducted by Stewart Peckham of 
the Museum of New Mexico as part of a New Mexico Highways Department 
project. The human remains were curated at the Museum of New Mexico 
until 2005 when they were transferred to Gila National Forest. No known 
individuals were identified. The 41 associated funerary objects include 
ceramic vessels and shell and stone jewelry.
    Based on material culture, architecture, and site organization, 
Apache Creek Pueblo site has been identified as an Upland Mogollon 
masonry pueblo with pithouses occupied circa A.D. 1100-1350.
    In 1987 and 1988, human remains representing a minimum of four 
individuals were removed from the SU site (LA 64931) and Brown site (LA 
68924), Catron County, NM, during legally authorized excavations 
conducted by Dr. Chip Wills of the University of New Mexico as part of 
a field school. The human remains were curated at the Maxwell Museum of 
Anthropology, University of New Mexico until 2005 when they were 
transferred to Gila National Forest. No known individuals were 
identified. The 34 associated funerary objects include stone tools and 
animal bone.
    Based on material culture, architecture, and site organization, the 
SU site (LA 64931) and Brown site (LA 689924) have been identified as 
an Upland Mogollon village and masonry roomblock occupied circa A.D. 
600-1100.
    Between 1979 - 1986, human remains representing a minimum of one 
individual were removed from the WS Ranch site, Catron County, NM, 
during legally authorized excavations and collections conducted by Dr. 
James A. Neely of the University of Texas at Austin. The human remains 
were curated at the University of Texas at Austin until 2005 when they 
were transferred to Gila National Forest. No known individual was 
identified. The seven associated funerary objects include lithics, 
sherds, and ceramic jars. The two ceramic jars were curated at the 
Forest Supervisor's Office, Gila National Forest, Silver City, NM, 
until 2005 when they were transferred to Gila National Forest.
    Based on material culture, architecture, and site organization, the 
WS Ranch site has been identified as an Upland Mogollon masonry pueblo 
occupied between A.D. 1150-1300.
    In 1933, human remains representing a minimum of three individuals 
from Mogollon Village, Catron County, NM, during legally authorized 
excavations and collections conducted by Dr. Emil Haury of the Gila 
Pueblo Foundation. The human remains were curated at the Peabody 
Museum, Harvard University and the Arizona State Museum, University of 
Arizona until 2005 when they were transferred to Gila National Forest. 
No known individuals were identified. The eight associated funerary 
objects include beads and a projectile point fragment.
    Based on material culture, architecture, and site organization, the 
Mogollon Village site has been identified as an Upland Mogollon 
pithouse village occupied between A.D. 600-1050.
    Between 1947 and 1949, human remains representing a minimum of 
seven individuals were removed from the Jewett Gap site, Catron County, 
NM, during legally authorized excavations and collections by the Gila 
Pueblo Foundation. The human remains were curated by the Arizona State 
Museum, University of Arizona, until 2005 when they were transferred to 
Gila National Forest. No known individuals were identified. The 18 
associated funerary objects include ceramic vessels.
    Based on material culture, architecture, and site organization, the 
Jewett Gap site has been identified as an Upland Mogollon pueblo 
occupied circa A.D. 1000-1150.
    In 1986, human remains representing a minimum of one individual 
were removed from the Eva Faust site, Catron County, NM, during legally 
authorized excavations and collections conducted by Dr. James Neely, 
University of Texas at Austin. The human remains were curated at the 
Forest Supervisor's Office, Gila National Forest, Silver City, NM. No 
known individual was identified. No associated funerary objects are 
present.
    Based on material culture, architecture, and site organization, the 
Eva Faust site has been identified as an Upland Mogollon pithouse 
village with surface rooms occupied circa A.D. 600-1100.
    In 1955, human remains representing a minimum of two individuals 
were removed from site LA 2948, Catron County, NM, during legally 
authorized excavations and collections conducted by Edwin N. Ferdon of 
the Museum of New Mexico. The human remains were curated at the Museum 
of New Mexico until 2005 when they were transferred to Gila National 
Forest. No known individuals were identified. The one associated 
funerary object is a ceramic vessel.
    Based on material culture, architecture, and site organization, the

[[Page 38415]]

sites LA 2947 and LA 2948 have been identified as two Upland Mogollon 
pithouses occupied between A.D. 200-1000.
    In 1971 and 1972, human remains representing a minimum of 34 
individuals were removed from sites LA 4988, LA 6082, and LA 6083, 
Catron County, NM, during legally authorized excavations and 
collections conducted by David W. Kayser of the Museum of New Mexico. 
The human remains were curated at the Museum of New Mexico until 2005 
when they were transferred to Gila National Forest. No known 
individuals were identified. The 53 associated funerary objects include 
ceramic vessels, a stone bowl, and stone tools.
    Based on material culture, architecture, and site organization, the 
sites LA 4988, LA6082, and LA6083 have been identified as Upland 
Mogollon pueblos and a pithouse occupied circa A.D. 1150-1300.
    In 1973, human remains representing a minimum of six individuals 
were removed without a permit from an unnamed site northwest of Apache 
Creek by Mr. Brad Triplehorn. Mr. Triplehorn then donated the human 
remains to the Ohio Historical Society where they were curated until 
2005. The human remains then were transferred to Gila National Forest. 
No known individuals were identified. The 12 associated funerary 
objects include ceramic sherds and animal bone.
    Upland Mogollon villages had pithouses or pueblo-style houses. Most 
archeological evidence linking Upland Mogollon to present-day Indian 
tribes relies on ceramics. Continuities of ethnographic materials, 
technology, and architecture indicate affiliation of the Upland 
Mogollon with historic and present-day Puebloan cultures. Present-day 
descendants of the Upland Mogollon are the Hopi Tribe of Arizona; 
Pueblo of Acoma, New Mexico; and Zuni Tribe of the Zuni Reservation, 
New Mexico.
    Furthermore, the territory of the Upland Mogollon stretched from 
south-central Arizona to south-central New Mexico. Today, the Upland 
Mogollon territories are claimed, currently inhabited, or used by the 
Hopi Tribe of Arizona; Pueblo of Acoma, New Mexico; and Zuni Tribe of 
the Zuni Reservation, New Mexico. Oral traditions presented by 
representatives of the Hopi Tribe of Arizona; Pueblo of Acoma, New 
Mexico; and Zuni Tribe of the Zuni Reservation, New Mexico support 
cultural affiliation with the Upland Mogollon sites described above in 
this portion of southwestern New Mexico.
    Officials of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, 
Gila National Forest have determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 
(9-10), the human remains described above represent the physical 
remains of 210 individuals of Native American ancestry. Officials of 
the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Gila National 
Forest have also determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (3)(A), 
the 369 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 
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Gila National Forest 
have determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (2), there is a shared 
group identity that can be reasonably traced between the Native 
American human remains and the associated funerary objects and the Hopi 
Tribe of Arizona; Pueblo of Acoma, New Mexico; 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. Frank E. Wozniak, NAGPRA Coordinator, 
Southwestern Region, USDA Forest Service, 333 Broadway Blvd., S.E., 
Albuquerque, NM 87102; telephone (505) 842-3238, before August 7, 2006. 
Repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects may 
proceed after that date if no additional claimants come forward.
    The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Gila National 
Forest is responsible for notifying the Hopi Tribe of Arizona; Pueblo 
of Acoma, New Mexico; and Zuni Tribe of the Zuni Reservation, New 
Mexico that this notice has been published.

    Dated: May 25, 2006.
C. Timothy McKeown,
Acting Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. E6-10512 Filed 7-5-06; 8:45 am]
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