[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 93 (Friday, May 13, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28071-28072]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-11867]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[2253-665]


Notice of Inventory Completion: Colorado Historical Society 
(History Colorado), 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 in the possession and 
control of the Colorado Historical Society (History Colorado), Denver, 
CO. The human remains were removed from Canyon de Chelly, 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 
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 Colorado 
Historical Society (History Colorado) professional staff in 
consultation with representatives of the Hopi Tribe of 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 Ildefonso, New Mexico; Pueblo of Santa Ana, New Mexico; Pueblo 
of Santa Clara, 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. The 
Pueblo of San Felipe, New Mexico; Pueblo of Sandia, New Mexico; and 
Pueblo of Santo Domingo, New Mexico, were contacted for consultation 
purposes, but did not attend the consultation meetings.
    In 1903, human remains representing a minimum of two individuals 
were removed from ``Massacre Cave,'' in Canyon de Chelly, AZ. The 
remains were removed from the cave by collector Charles M. Schenck 
while on a ``tour'' of Canyon de Chelly led by Charles L. Day, who 
operated a nearby trading post. They were donated to the Colorado 
Historical Society sometime between 1903 and 1932 (catalog numbers 
78.98.47 and UHR.1). No known individuals were identified. No 
associated funerary objects are present.
    ``Massacre Cave'' is a site where an historically documented 
massacre of at least 90 Navajo men, women, and children took place in 
1805, perpetrated by the Spanish military and led by Antonio Narbona. 
Victims were reportedly left on the surface of the cave. While 
``Massacre Cave'' also has a documented subsurface Basketmaker II/

[[Page 28072]]

III component, based on the description of the collecting trip in a 
1932 letter from Schenck to the Colorado Historical Society Curator 
George Woodbury, the remains of these two individuals were collected 
from the cave's ground surface, and not excavated from subsurface 
deposits. Osteological analysis indicates that the human remains are 
Native American and show signs of weathering consistent with prolonged 
surface exposure.
    In 1903, human remains representing a minimum of five individuals 
were removed from ``Sentinel Ruin,'' in Canyon de Chelly, AZ, by 
Charles M. Schenck while on a ``tour'' of Canyon de Chelly led by 
Charles L. Day. The individuals were donated to the Colorado Historical 
Society sometime between 1903 and 1932 (catalog numbers UHR.2.A, and 
UHR.2.B/UHR.108/UHR.122). UHR.2.A represents two individuals and 
UHR.2.B/UHR.108/UHR.122 represents three individuals. No known 
individuals were identified. No associated funerary objects are 
present.
    ``Sentinel Ruin'' is a documented multi-component site with 
prehistoric occupations from Basketmaker II to Pueblo III, and an 
historic Navajo occupation in the 1700s and 1800s. The surface 
component is the historic Navajo component. Schenck collected only from 
the surface. Archeological documentation after Schenck's visit 
indicates ``Sentinel Ruin'' was undisturbed. Osteological analysis 
identified the remains as Native American, and two individuals show 
signs of weathering consistent with prolonged surface exposure.
    Officials of the Colorado Historical Society have determined, 
pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), that the human remains described above 
represent the physical remains of seven individuals of Native American 
ancestry. Lastly, officials of the Colorado Historical Society have 
determined, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(2), that there is a relationship 
of shared group identity that can be reasonably traced between the 
Native American human remains and the Navajo Nation, Arizona, New 
Mexico & Utah.
    Representatives of any other Indian Tribe that believes itself to 
be culturally affiliated with the human remains should contact Bridget 
Ambler, Curator of Material Culture, Colorado Historical Society, 1560 
Broadway, Suite 400, Denver, CO 80202, telephone (303) 866-2303, before 
June 13, 2011. Repatriation of the human remains to the Navajo Nation, 
Arizona, New Mexico & Utah may proceed after that date if no additional 
claimants come forward.
    The Colorado Historical Society is responsible for notifying the 
Hopi Tribe of 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 Santo 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, that this notice has been published.

    Dated: May 9, 2011.
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2011-11867 Filed 5-12-11; 8:45 am]
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