[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 106 (Monday, June 4, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30823-30825]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-2770]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Inventory Completion: Anthropological Studies Center, 
Archaeological Collections Facility, Sonoma State University, Rohnert 
Park, 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 in the possession and 
control of

[[Page 30824]]

the Anthropological Studies Center, Archaeological Collections 
Facility, Sonoma State University, Rohnert Park, CA. The human remains 
were removed from Marin and Sonoma 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. The National Park Service is not responsible 
for the determinations in this notice.
    A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by the 
Archaeological Collections Facility staff in consultation with 
representatives of the Dry Creek Rancheria of Pomo Indians of 
California; Elem Indian Colony of Pomo Indians of the Sulphur Bank 
Rancheria, California; Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria, 
California; Kashia Band of Pomo Indians of the Stewarts Point 
Rancheria, California; Middletown Rancheria of Pomo Indians of 
California; and Tuolumne Band of the Me-Wuk Indians of the Tuolumne 
Rancheria of California.
    In April of 1977, human remains representing a minimum of one 
individual were removed from CA-SON-290 near Bodega, CA, during 
archaeological testing and mapping conducted prior to construction of a 
housing development. The human remains were accessioned and have been 
housed at the Archaeological Collections Facility since that time 
(accession 77-03). No known individual was identified. No 
associated funerary objects are present.
    Analysis of artifacts found at site CA-SON-290 indicate an 
occupation during the Historic period (A.D. 1579 to present). The 
location of CA-SON-290 corresponds with the historic Miwok village of 
S[uacute]wutene.
    In 1978, human remains representing a minimum of one individual 
were removed from CA-MRN-484 in Peacock Gap, Marin County, CA, during 
test investigations conducted prior to the construction of a housing 
subdivision. The human remains were accessioned by the Archaeological 
Collections Facility accession 78-03). No known individual was 
identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    The human remains date to prehistoric times and are Native 
American; however, the exact age is unknown. The site is within the 
traditional territory of the Coast Miwok.
    In 1979, human remains representing a minimum of one individual 
were removed from CA-SON-1048, Sebastopol, Sonoma County, CA, during an 
excavation by the Anthropological Studies Center, conducted for the 
Sonoma County Department of Public Works. Remains identified as human 
at the time were re-buried on the site at the time of discovery. In 
1997, during a NAGPRA inventory, human remains thought to be associated 
with this individual were identified in museum collections (accession 
79-04). No known individual was identified. No associated 
funerary objects are present.
    The human remains date to prehistoric times and are Native 
American; however, the exact age is unknown. The site is within the 
traditional territory of the Coast Miwok.
    At an unknown time, human remains representing a minimum of two 
individuals were removed from CA-MRN-365, Marin County, CA. The human 
remains were donated to the Archaeological Collections Facility in 1984 
or 1985 by the Marin Museum of the American Indian. It is now known 
when or under what circumstances the donor obtained the collection. No 
known individuals were identified. No associated funerary objects are 
present.
    The human remains date to prehistoric times and are Native 
American; however, the exact age is unknown. The site is within the 
traditional territory of the Coast Miwok.
    At an unknown date, human remains representing a minimum of one 
individual were removed from CA-MRN-502, Novato, Marin County, CA. In 
1992, the human remains were donated to the Archaeological Collections 
Facility by Steve Dietz. It is not known when or under what 
circumstances the donor obtained the collection. The collection has 
been housed at the Archaeological Collections Facility since its 
donation. No known individual was identified. No associated funerary 
objects are present.
    The human remains date to prehistoric times and are Native 
American; however the exact age is unknown. The site is within the 
traditional territory of the Coast Miwok.
    In 1980, human remains representing a minimum of one individual 
were removed from CA-MRN-503, Marin County, CA, during a survey by the 
anthropological Studies Center conducted by Barry Price. The human 
remains have been held at the Archaeological Collections Facility since 
that time, but were not accessioned into the collection. No known 
individual was identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    The presence of bedrock mortars at the site indicates a site 
occupation during the Middle Period (B.C. 3000-B.C. 1000) and Late 
Period (1000 B.C.-A.D. 500). The human remains date to prehistoric 
times based on archeological context, however, the exact age and 
identity is unknown. The site is within the traditional territory of 
the Coast Miwok.
    In 1998, the Archaeological Collections Facility, Sonoma State 
University determine that while there was evidence of a shared group 
identity (cultural affiliation) between the human remains and a 
particular Indian group, the human remains were ``culturally 
unidentifiable'' since the particular Indian group, the Federal Coast 
Miwok, was not recognized as an Indian tribe by the United States at 
that time. The Archaeological Collections Facility requested that the 
Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Review Committee 
recommend disposition of the human remains to the Federated coast 
Miwok. On May 21, 1999, the Review Committee's Designated Federal 
Officer, writing on behalf of the Secretary of the Interior, 
recommended disposition of the human remains to the Federal Coast Miwok 
once concurrence with the proposal was obtained from federally 
recognized Indian tribes that currently resided in the immediate 
vicinity of where the human remains were recovered. Officials of the 
Archaeological Collections Facility, Sonoma State University consulted 
with five federally recognized Indian tribes: Dry Creek Rancheria of 
Pomo Indians of California; Elem Indian Colony of Pomo Indians of the 
Sulphur Bank Rancheria, California; Kashia Band of Pomo Indians of the 
Stewarts Point Rancheria, California; Middletown Rancheria of Pomo 
Indians of California; and Tuolumne Band of the Me-Wuk Indians of the 
Tuolumne Rancheria of California. All five tribes supported the 
Federated Coast Miwok request for disposition. In 2000, the Federated 
Coast Miwok became the federally recognized Federated indians of Graton 
Rancheria, California. Descendants of the Coast Miwok are members of 
the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria, California.
    Officials of the Archaeological Collections Facility, Sonoma State 
University have determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (9-10), the 
human remains described above represent the physical remains of seven 
individuals of Native American ancestry. Officials of the 
Archaeological Collections Facility, Sonoma State University also have 
determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (2), a relationship of 
shared group identity can be reasonably traced between the Native 
American human remains and

[[Page 30825]]

the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria, California.
    Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to 
be culturally affiliated with the human remains should contact Erica 
Gibson, NAGPRA Project Coordinator, Anthropological Studies Center 
Archaeological Collections Facility, Sonoma State University, Rohnert 
Park, CA 94929, telephone (707) 664-2015, before July 5, 2007. 
Repatriation of the human remains to the Federated Indians of Graton 
Rancheria, California may proceed after that date if no additional 
claimants come forward.
    The Archaeological Collections Facility, Sonoma State University is 
responsible for notifying the Dry Creek Rancheria of Pomo Indians of 
California; Elem Indian Colony of Pomo Indians of the Sulphur Bank 
Rancheria, California; Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria, 
California; Kashia Band of Pomo Indians of the Stewarts Point 
Rancheria, California; Middletown Rancheria of Pomo Indians of 
California; and Tuolumne Band of the Me-Wuk Indians of the Tuolumne 
Rancheria of California that this notice has been published.

    Dated: May 9, 2007.
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 07-2770 Filed 6-1-07; 8:45 am]
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