[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 218 (Friday, November 13, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58651-58652]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-27238]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Inventory Completion: U.S. Department of the Interior, 
National Park Service, Pecos National Historical Park, Pecos, NM

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 of the 
U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Pecos National 
Historical Park, Pecos, NM. The human remains were removed from within 
the boundaries of Pecos National Historical Park, San Miguel 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 
superintendent, Pecos National Historical Park.
    A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by Pecos 
National Historical Park professional staff in consultation with 
representatives of the Comanche Nation, Oklahoma; Fort Sill Apache 
Tribe of Oklahoma; Hopi Tribe of Arizona; Jicarilla Apache Nation, New 
Mexico; Kiowa Indian Tribe of Oklahoma; Mescalero Apache Tribe of the 
Mescalero Reservation, New Mexico; Navajo Nation, Arizona, New Mexico & 
Utah; Ohkay Owingeh, New Mexico (formerly the Pueblo of San Juan); 
Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma; 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 San Ildefonso, New Mexico; 
Pueblo of Sandia, New Mexico; Pueblo of Santa Ana, New Mexico; Pueblo 
of Santa Clara, New Mexico; Pueblo of Santo Domingo, New Mexico; Pueblo 
of Tesuque, New Mexico; Pueblo of Zia, New Mexico; Wichita and 
Affiliated Tribes (Wichita, Keechi, Waco & Tawakonie), Oklahoma; and 
Zuni Tribe of the Zuni Reservation, New Mexico. The Apache Tribe of 
Oklahoma; Pueblo of Pojoaque, New Mexico; Pueblo of San Felipe, New 
Mexico; Pueblo of Taos, New Mexico; and Ysleta Del Sur Pueblo of Texas 
were contacted for consultations but did not respond.
    Between 1965 and 1980, human remains representing a minimum of 46 
individuals were removed from Site LA 625 (Pecos Pueblo and the Pecos 
Mission Church and Convento Complex), in San Miguel County, NM, by park 
visitors. The human remains were picked up along the main trail through 
the site at various times and turned in to park staff at the Pecos 
National Historical Park Visitor Center. No known individuals were 
identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    Between 1966 and 1970, human remains representing a minimum of 78 
individuals were removed from Site LA 625 in San Miguel County, NM, by 
National Park Service archeologists Jean Pinkly and Alden Hayes. No 
known individuals were identified. No associated funerary objects are 
present.
    Between 1969 and 1970, human remains representing a minimum of one 
individual were removed from Site LA 625 in San Miguel County, NM, by 
University of Nebraska archeologist James Gunnerson. No known 
individual was identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    Between 1972 and 1976, human remains representing a minimum of 
eight individuals were removed from Site LA 625 in San Miguel County, 
NM, by National Park Service stabilization crews. No known individuals 
were identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    In 1977, human remains representing a minimum of 16 individuals 
were removed from Site LA 625 in San Miguel County, NM, by National 
Park Service archeologist Larry Nordby. The human remains were 
discovered in the back-dirt from the Pecos Mission 18th century church 
floor excavations. No known individuals were identified. No associated 
funerary objects are present.
    In 1983, human remains representing a minimum of two individuals 
were removed from Site LA 625 in San Miguel County, NM, by National 
Park Service archeologist Larry Nordby during the visitor trail 
construction project. No known individuals were identified. No 
associated funerary objects are present.
    In 1985, human remains representing a minimum of one individual 
were removed from Site LA 625 in San Miguel County, NM, by National 
Park Service archeologist Gary Matlock. The remains were discovered 
protruding from the wall in a passageway in the Pecos Mission Convento. 
No known individual was identified. No associated funerary objects are 
present.
    The main occupation period of Pecos Pueblo is between A.D. 1325 and 
1700. In 1838, the few remaining Pecos Pueblo residents emigrated from 
the pueblo to the Pueblo of Jemez, New Mexico. The Mission Church and 
Convento Complex was in use between A.D. 1625 and 1829. The last 
documented use of the church was in 1829.
    In 1976, human remains representing a minimum of one individual 
were removed from Site LA 14154 (Hoagland's Haven) in San Miguel 
County, NM, by National Park Service archeologist Larry Nordby. Site LA 
14154 was occupied A.D. 1475-1700, and is comprised of two one-room 
structures of which only the wide masonry foundations remain. No known 
individual was identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    Officials of Pecos National Historical Park have determined that, 
pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (9-10), the human remains described above 
represent the physical remains of 153 individuals of Native American 
ancestry. Because the biological evidence is inconclusive for most of 
the individuals, the determination is based on multiple lines of 
evidence, including physical anthropology, provenience of the remains, 
history of the site, tribal consultation, and oral history. Lastly, 
officials of Pecos National Historical Park have determined that, 
pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (2), a relationship of shared group identity 
cannot reasonably

[[Page 58652]]

be traced between the Native American human remains and any present-day 
Indian tribe.
    The Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Review 
Committee (Review Committee) is responsible for recommending specific 
actions for disposition of culturally unidentifiable human remains. In 
January 2009, Pecos National Historical Park requested that the Review 
Committee recommend disposition of the 153 culturally unidentifiable 
human remains to the Pueblo of Jemez, New Mexico, because the human 
remains were found within the tribe's aboriginal and historical 
territory. The Review Committee considered the proposal at its May 23 - 
24, 2009 meeting, and recommended disposition of the human remains to 
the Pueblo of Jemez, New Mexico.
    A September 16, 2009, letter from the Designated Federal Officer, 
writing on behalf of the Secretary of the Interior, transmitted the 
authorization for the park to effect disposition of the physical 
remains of the culturally unidentifiable individuals to the Pueblo of 
Jemez, New Mexico, contingent on the publication of a Notice of 
Inventory Completion in the Federal Register. This notice fulfills that 
requirement.
    Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to 
be culturally affiliated with the human remains should contact Kathy 
Billings, superintendent, Pecos National Historical Park, PO Box 418, 
Pecos, NM 87552, telephone (505) 757-7201, before December 14, 2009. 
Disposition of the human remains to the Pueblo of Jemez, New Mexico may 
proceed after that date if no additional claimants come forward.
    Pecos National Historical Park is responsible for notifying the 
Apache Tribe of Oklahoma; Comanche Nation, Oklahoma; Fort Sill Apache 
Tribe of Oklahoma; Hopi Tribe of Arizona; Jicarilla Apache Nation, New 
Mexico; Kiowa Indian Tribe of Oklahoma; Mescalero Apache Tribe of the 
Mescalero Reservation, New Mexico; Navajo Nation, Arizona, New Mexico & 
Utah; Ohkay Owingeh, New Mexico (formerly the Pueblo of San Juan); 
Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma; 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 Santo Domingo, New Mexico; Pueblo of Taos, 
New Mexico; Pueblo of Tesuque, New Mexico; Pueblo of Zia, New Mexico; 
Wichita and Affiliated Tribes (Wichita, Keechi, Waco & Tawakonie), 
Oklahoma; Ysleta del Sur Pueblo of Texas; and Zuni Tribe of the Zuni 
Reservation, New Mexico that this notice has been published.

    Dated: October 22, 2009.
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. E9-27238 Filed 11-12-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-50-S