[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 144 (Thursday, July 27, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42669-42670]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-12001]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Inventory Completion: U.S. Department of the Interior, 
National Park Service, Saguaro National Park, 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 possession of the U.S. Department of the Interior, 
National Park Service, Saguaro National Park, Tucson, AZ. The

[[Page 42670]]

human remains and associated funerary objects were removed from two 
separate sites in the Rincon Mountain District of Saguaro National 
Park, Pima County, AZ.
    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 
superintendent, Saguaro National Park.
    A detailed assessment of the human remains and associated funerary 
objects was made by Saguaro National Park 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. The Ak Chin Indian Community of the Maricopa 
(Ak Chin) Indian Reservation, Arizona was contacted, but did not attend 
the consultation meeting and was represented by the Gila River Indian 
Community of the Gila River Indian Reservation, Arizona.
    In 1970, human remains representing a minimum of two individuals 
were removed from the Freeman Site in Pima County, AZ, during legally 
authorized excavations under the direction of Jack R. Zahniser. No 
known individuals were identified. The four associated funerary objects 
are one Tanque Verde red on brown pottery bowl, one large stone flake 
chopper, one worked stone, and one soil sample taken from the area 
encompassing the remains. Saguaro National Park took possession of the 
human remains and associated funerary objects in 1983 and 1984.
    In 1970, human remains representing a minimum of four individuals 
were removed from the Pithouse Village Site in Pima County, AZ, during 
legally authorized excavations under the direction of Jack R. Zahniser. 
No known individuals were identified. No associated funerary objects 
are present. Saguaro National Park took possession of the human remains 
in 1983 and 1984.
    Based on the burial type and location, as well as available 
archeological and historical information, the human remains have been 
identified as Native American. The Freeman Site and the Pithouse 
Village Site are both Tucson Basin Hohokam villages that span the 
Rillito and Rincon phases (A.D. 700-1150).
    The Hohokam were a sedentary agricultural people developing out of 
the local Archaic population. Hohokam settlement pattern was 
predominantly of 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.
    Overall, the archeological (including material culture, 
architectural styles, and burial practices), ethnographic, and 
historical evidence indicate 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, the oral traditions 
of these six tribes support ancestral ties to the Hohokam.
    Officials of Saguaro National Park have determined that, pursuant 
to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (9-10), the human remains and funerary objects 
described above represent the physical remains of six individuals of 
Native American ancestry. Officials of Saguaro National Park also have 
determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (3)(A), the four 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 Saguaro National Park 
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 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 Sarah Craighead, superintendent, Saguaro 
National Park, 3693 South Old Spanish Trail, Tucson, AZ 85730, 
telephone (520) 733-5101, before August 28, 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.
    Saguaro National Park 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: June 20, 2006.
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. E6-12001 Filed 7-26-06; 8:45 am]
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