[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 75 (Thursday, April 17, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20939-20941]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-8291]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Inventory Completion: Denver Museum of Nature & 
Science, Denver, CO

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 Denver Museum of Nature & Science, 
Denver, CO. The human remains and associated funerary objects were 
removed from Mesa County, CO; Navajo County, AZ; San Juan County, NM; 
and an unknown location.
    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 Denver 
Museum of Nature & Science professional staff in consultation with 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; Hualapai Indian Tribe of 
the Hualapai Indian Reservation, Arizona; Navajo Nation, Arizona, New 
Mexico & Utah; Ohkay Owingeh, New Mexico (formerly the Pueblo of San 
Juan); Pueblo of Acoma, New Mexico; Pueblo of Cochiti, New Mexico; 
Pueblo of Isleta, New Mexico; Pueblo of Jemez, New Mexico; Pueblo of 
Laguna, New Mexico; Pueblo of Nambe, New Mexico; Pueblo of Picuris, New 
Mexico; Pueblo of Pojoaque, New Mexico; Pueblo of San Felipe, New 
Mexico; Pueblo of San Ildefonso, New Mexico; Pueblo of Sandia, New 
Mexico; Pueblo of Santa Ana, New Mexico; Pueblo of Santa Clara, New 
Mexico; Pueblo of Santa Domingo, New Mexico; Pueblo of Taos, New 
Mexico; Pueblo of Tesuque, New

[[Page 20940]]

Mexico; Pueblo of Zia, New Mexico; Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian 
Community of the Salt River Reservation, Arizona; Tohono O'odham Nation 
of Arizona; Ysleta del Sur Pueblo of Texas; and Zuni Tribe of the Zuni 
Reservation, New Mexico.
    At an unknown date, human remains representing a minimum of one 
individual were removed from an unspecified location, possibly near 
Grand Junction, Mesa County, CO. At an unknown date, the human remains 
came into the possession of Ed Fover of Grand Junction, CO. In 1952, 
Mr. Fover donated the human remains to the museum (DMNS catalogue 
number A373.1). No known individual was identified. No associated 
funerary objects are present.
    Mr. Fover identified the human remains as ``Basketmaker.'' 
Morphological evidence, such as occipital flattening, supports the 
identification of the human remains as Native American and possibly as 
Ancestral Puebloan. Probable provenience in Western Colorado is within 
the area of Pre-Columbian cultures that archeologists have referred to 
as ``Puebloid,'' which is now incorporated under ``Ancestral 
Puebloan.'' The estimated age of the human remains is 1000 B.C.-A.D. 
750, based on the age of known Basketmaker sites.
    In 1965, human remains representing a minimum of one individual 
were removed from Four Mile Ruin in Taylor, Navajo County, AZ, by 
Francis V. Crane. In 1968, Mr. Crane and his wife, Mary W.A. Crane, 
donated the human remains to the museum (DMNS catalogue number 
AC.8314). No known individual was identified. The 40 associated 
funerary objects are 38 potsherds (2 polychrome, 8 Black on Red, 14 
Black on White, and 14 undecorated) and 2 pieces of chert (DMNS 
catalogue numbers AC.8533A-C).
    The human remains are determined to be Ancestral Puebloan based on 
provenience and consultation with Puebloan tribal groups. The funerary 
objects associated with the human remains are diagnostic of Pre-
Columbian Pueblo culture, specifically a Pueblo IV pottery type. During 
consultation, Puebloan tribal groups indicated Four Mile Ruin, the 
source site, was occupied by their ancestors. The estimated age of the 
human remains based on the Pueblo IV ceramics is A.D. 1300-1600.
    At an unknown date, human remains representing a minimum of one 
individual were removed from an unspecified location by Gerald B. 
Fenstermaker. In 1966, Mary W.A. Crane and Francis V. Crane acquired 
the human remains from Mr. Fenstermaker. In 1983, the Cranes donated 
the human remains to the museum (DMNS catalogue number AC.9570). No 
known individual was identified. No associated funerary objects are 
present.
    Mr. Fenstermaker was a collector of American Indian archeological 
materials. Mr. Fenstermaker identified the human remains as Pre-
Columbian ``Mimbres'' culture, which dates from the Pueblo III period. 
Consultation with modern Puebloan groups indicates that the Mimbres 
archeological culture is deemed to be ancestral Puebloan. Morphological 
indications, such as occipital flattening, also support the 
determination that the human remains are Ancestral Puebloan. The 
estimated age of the human remains is A.D. 1100-1300, based on the age 
of known Mimbres sites.
    At an unknown date, human remains representing a minimum of one 
individual were removed from a kiva on a private ranch near Aztec, San 
Juan County, NM. At an unknown date, Bernice Strawn acquired the human 
remains from an unnamed individual. In 1986, Ms. Strawn donated the 
human remains to the museum (DMNS catalogue number A1990.1). No known 
individual was identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    During consultation, modern Puebloan groups indicated that kivas 
were uniquely built by their ancestors as ceremonial and religious 
structures. Since the human remains were removed from a kiva, they are 
therefore identified as Puebloan.
    Based on geographical, kinship, biological, archeological, 
linguistic, folklore, oral tradition, historical evidence, and expert 
opinion, the officials of the Denver Museum of Nature & Science have 
determined the cultural affiliation of the human remains and associated 
funerary objects described above with present-day Native American 
tribes. Although some oral tradition and scientific studies suggest a 
shared relationship between the Navajo and O'odham with the Ancestral 
Puebloan peoples; and during consultation the Navajo Nation emphasized 
that some clans express a deep affinity with Ancestral Pueblo or 
``Anasazi'' sites, the officials of the Denver Museum of Nature & 
Science have determined that there is not currently a preponderance of 
evidence to support cultural affiliation to the human remains and their 
associated funerary remains with the Navajo and/or O'odham. Officials 
of the Denver Museum of Nature & Science have determined, based on the 
preponderance of the evidence, that the descendants of Ancestral 
Puebloans are members of the Hopi Tribe of Arizona; Ohkay Owingeh, New 
Mexico; Pueblo of Acoma, New Mexico; Pueblo of Cochiti, New Mexico; 
Pueblo of Isleta, New Mexico; Pueblo of Jemez, New Mexico; Pueblo of 
Laguna, New Mexico; Pueblo of Nambe, New Mexico; Pueblo of Picuris, New 
Mexico; Pueblo of Pojoaque, New Mexico; Pueblo of San Felipe, New 
Mexico; Pueblo of San Ildefonso, New Mexico; Pueblo of Sandia, New 
Mexico; Pueblo of Santa Ana, New Mexico; Pueblo of Santa Clara, New 
Mexico; Pueblo of Santa Domingo, New Mexico; Pueblo of Taos, New 
Mexico; Pueblo of Tesuque, New Mexico; Pueblo of Zia, New Mexico; 
Ysleta del Sur Pueblo of Texas; and Zuni Tribe of the Zuni Reservation, 
New Mexico.
    Officials of the Denver Museum of Nature & Science have determined 
that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9-10), the human remains described 
above represent the physical remains of four individuals of Native 
American ancestry. Officials of Denver Museum of Nature & Science also 
have determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A), the 40 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 Denver Museum of 
Nature & Science 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 Hopi Tribe of Arizona; Ohkay Owingeh, New 
Mexico; Pueblo of Acoma, New Mexico; Pueblo of Cochiti, New Mexico; 
Pueblo of Isleta, New Mexico; Pueblo of Jemez, New Mexico; Pueblo of 
Laguna, New Mexico; Pueblo of Nambe, New Mexico; Pueblo of Picuris, New 
Mexico; Pueblo of Pojoaque, New Mexico; Pueblo of San Felipe, New 
Mexico; Pueblo of San Ildefonso, New Mexico; Pueblo of Sandia, New 
Mexico; Pueblo of Santa Ana, New Mexico; Pueblo of Santa Clara, New 
Mexico; Pueblo of Santa Domingo, New Mexico; Pueblo of Taos, New 
Mexico; Pueblo of Tesuque, New Mexico; Pueblo of Zia, New Mexico; 
Ysleta del Sur Pueblo of Texas; 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. Chip Colwell-Chanthaphonh, Denver Museum of 
Nature & Science, 2001 Colorado

[[Page 20941]]

Boulevard, Denver, CO 80205, telephone (303) 370-6378, before May 19, 
2008. Repatriation to the Hopi Tribe of Arizona; Ohkay Owingeh, New 
Mexico; Pueblo of Acoma, New Mexico; Pueblo of Cochiti, New Mexico; 
Pueblo of Isleta, New Mexico; Pueblo of Jemez, New Mexico; Pueblo of 
Laguna, New Mexico; Pueblo of Nambe, New Mexico; Pueblo of Picuris, New 
Mexico; Pueblo of Pojoaque, New Mexico; Pueblo of San Felipe, New 
Mexico; Pueblo of San Ildefonso, New Mexico; Pueblo of Sandia, New 
Mexico; Pueblo of Santa Ana, New Mexico; Pueblo of Santa Clara, New 
Mexico; Pueblo of Santa Domingo, New Mexico; Pueblo of Taos, New 
Mexico; Pueblo of Tesuque, New Mexico; Pueblo of Zia, New Mexico; 
Ysleta del Sur Pueblo of Texas; and Zuni Tribe of the Zuni Reservation, 
New Mexico may proceed after that date if no additional claimants come 
forward.
    The Denver Museum of Nature & Science 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; Hualapai Indian 
Tribe of the Hualapai Indian Reservation, Arizona; Navajo Nation, 
Arizona, New Mexico, & Utah; Ohkay Owingeh, New Mexico; Pueblo of 
Acoma, New Mexico; Pueblo of Cochiti, New Mexico; Pueblo of Isleta, New 
Mexico; Pueblo of Jemez, New Mexico; Pueblo of Laguna, New Mexico; 
Pueblo of Nambe, New Mexico; Pueblo of Picuris, New Mexico; Pueblo of 
Pojoaque, New Mexico; Pueblo of San Felipe, New Mexico; Pueblo of San 
Ildefonso, New Mexico; Pueblo of Sandia, New Mexico; Pueblo of Santa 
Ana, New Mexico; Pueblo of Santa Clara, New Mexico; Pueblo of Santa 
Domingo, New Mexico; Pueblo of Taos, New Mexico; Pueblo of Tesuque, New 
Mexico; Pueblo of Zia, New Mexico; Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian 
Community of the Salt River Reservation, Arizona; Tohono O'odham Nation 
of Arizona; Ysleta del Sur Pueblo of Texas; and Zuni Tribe of the Zuni 
Reservation, New Mexico that this notice has been published.

    Dated: March 10, 2008.
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. E8-8291 Filed 4-16-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-50-S