[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 196 (Tuesday, October 11, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62835-62838]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-26182]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

 National Park Service

[2253-665]


Notice of Inventory Completion: Fort Lewis College, Durango, CO

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Fort Lewis College has completed an inventory of human 
remains and associated funerary objects, in consultation with the 
appropriate Indian tribes, and has determined that there is a cultural 
affiliation between the human remains and associated funerary objects 
and present-day Indian tribes. Representatives of any Indian tribe that 
believes itself to be culturally affiliated with the human remains and 
associated funerary objects may contact Fort Lewis College. 
Repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects to 
the Indian tribes stated below may occur if no additional claimants 
come forward.

DATES: Representatives of any Indian tribe that believes it has a 
cultural affiliation with the human remains and associated funerary 
objects should contact the Fort Lewis College at the address below by 
November 10, 2011.

ADDRESSES: Dawn Mulhern, Department of Anthropology, Fort Lewis 
College, 1000 Rim Dr., Durango, CO 81301, telephone (970) 247-7500.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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 Fort Lewis College, 
Durango, CO. The human remains and associated funerary objects were 
removed from Archuleta, La Plata, and Montezuma Counties, CO.
    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.

Consultation

    A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by Fort Lewis 
College professional staff in consultation with representatives of the 
Hopi Tribe of Arizona; Jicarilla Apache Nation, New Mexico; Navajo 
Nation, Arizona, New Mexico & Utah; Pueblo of Acoma, New Mexico; Pueblo 
of Jemez, New Mexico; Pueblo of Nambe, New Mexico; Pueblo of Pojoaque, 
New Mexico; Pueblo of Santa Clara, New Mexico; Pueblo of Taos, New 
Mexico; Pueblo of Tesuque, New Mexico; Pueblo of Zia, New Mexico; 
Southern Ute Indian Tribe of the Southern Ute Reservation, Utah; Ute 
Indian Tribe of the Uintah & Ouray Reservation, Colorado, New Mexico & 
Utah; Ute Mountain Tribe of the Ute Mountain Reservation, Colorado; and 
the Zuni Tribe of the Zuni Reservation, New Mexico.

History and Description of the Remains

    In the 1970s, human remains representing a minimum of one 
individual were removed from the Arboles area, Archuleta County, CO. 
Dr. Susan Riches, archeologist, reported that Dr. Katherine Hulbert, a 
physical anthropologist at Fort Lewis College in the 1970s, noted that 
the remains are ``10th Century Arboles Area.'' No known individual was 
identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    In the early 1980s, human remains representing a minimum of one 
individual were removed from private land at 6775 County Road 203, West 
Animas Valley, near Durango, La Plata County, CO. This burial was 
recovered as a result of construction in the area. No known individual 
was identified. The 11 associated funerary objects are 1 gray Chapin 
pitcher and 10 sherds of grayware pottery.
    In 1978, human remains representing a minimum of one individual 
were removed from a construction site on Forest Avenue, in Durango, La 
Plata County, CO. The human remains were uncovered by workers from a 
local contracting company and brought to the college in a box. The 
immediate location is destroyed. According to Dr. Riches, the remains 
seem to be an isolated burial and are associated with a grayware jar. 
No known individual was identified. The one associated funerary object 
is a partial ceramic jar.
    In 1958, human remains representing a minimum of three individuals 
were removed from the Crestview area of Durango, La Plata County, CO. 
The remains were found by Pat Murphy and were donated to Fort Lewis 
College by Murphy in October 1995. No known individuals were 
identified. The two associated funerary objects are a pottery bowl and 
pot.
    In 1989, human remains representing a minimum of one individual 
were removed from 5LP 4883, in La Plata County, CO. These remains were 
found along Rim Drive (County Road 239), near the Fort Lewis College 
Campus on City of Durango land. These remains were exposed as the 
result of road construction and subsequent erosion. The control of 
these remains were officially transferred to Fort Lewis College in 
2011. No known individual was identified. The one associated funerary 
object is a reconstructed Chapin grayware pot.
    The associated funerary objects for the above four sites are 
consistent with the Basketmaker III/Pueblo I period (A.D. 650-840).
    In 1984, human remains representing a minimum of one individual 
were removed from 5LP 1421, in La Plata County, CO. The remains were 
found on Rim Road on the Fort Lewis College campus and the site was 
disturbed due to road construction. No known individual was identified. 
The eight associated funerary objects are pottery sherds (one grayware 
jar sherd and seven Rosa black-on-white bowl sherds).
    According to the site form, this site dates to the Basketmaker III/
Pueblo I period (7th or 8th century A.D.) based on ceramic evidence.
    In 1997, human remains representing a minimum of one individual 
were removed from site 5LP 4847, in La Plata County, CO. The remains 
were excavated by archeologists from Fort Lewis College from a burial 
context

[[Page 62836]]

directly behind the Iron Horse Inn, on the west side of the Animas 
River Valley, north of Durango. No known individual was identified. The 
one associated funerary object is a black-on-white Rosa bowl.
    The bowl is consistent with the Pueblo I period (A.D. 700-840).
    In 1977, human remains representing a minimum of three individuals 
were removed from 5LP 135 (the Hurlbutt Site), in La Plata County, CO. 
The burial was recovered from the floor of an abandoned pit structure 
under the direction of Dr. Riches. No known individuals were 
identified. The 10 associated funerary objects are 1 complete bowl, 1 
reconstructed piece of pottery, 2 smaller reconstructed pieces of 
pottery, and 6 sherds.
    This is a transitional Basketmaker III/Pueblo I site based on 
ceramics. The pit structure has been dated to the Pueblo I period (A.D. 
700s) (Charles MC, Schriever B, 1999. ``The reexcavation of 5LP135, The 
Hurlbutt Site: A Basketmaker III transitional Pueblo I site in La Plata 
County, Colorado'').
    In 1967-1968, human remains representing a minimum of six 
individuals were removed from a site called West Animas 4 (WA4), in La 
Plata County, CO. The remains were excavated by John Ives as part of 
the Fort Lewis College summer field program. The site was on private 
land. No known individuals were identified. No associated funerary 
objects are present.
    Site WA4 is from the Pueblo I period (A.D. 700-840) based on the 
artifactual evidence from this site.
    In 1966, human remains representing a minimum of two individuals 
were removed from site 5LP 245, 456, and 604 (treated as one site), 3 
miles southwest of Durango on private land, in La Plata County, CO. 
This burial was excavated by Homer Root, an amateur archeologist, 
during field school excavations for Fort Lewis College. The land was 
subsequently bought by the Colorado Division of Wildlife and deeded to 
the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation. No known 
individuals were identified. The three associated funerary objects are 
two pottery bowls (one black-on-white interior decorated and one 
grayware storage vessel) and one mortuary slab.
    The burial context is a Basketmaker III (7th century A.D.) 
pithouse, based on architecture, artifacts, and non-cutting dates 
(Duke, p. 52).
    In 1967, human remains representing a minimum of 23 individuals 
were removed from site 5LP 238, also called WA3, in La Plata County, 
CO. These burials were recovered from a site on private land by John 
Ives. No known individuals were identified. No associated funerary 
objects are present.
    Site 5LP 238 is determined to be from the Basketmaker III/Pueblo I 
period (A.D. 650-840) based on the archeological context, including 
architecture and ceramics (Philip G. Duke, 1985, ``Fort Lewis College 
Archaeological Investigations in Ridges Basin, Southwest Colorado: 
1965-1982.'' Robert W. Delaney, editor. Paper No. 4. Occasional Papers 
of the Center of Southwest Studies, Fort Lewis College, p. 143).
    In 1967-1968, human remains representing a minimum of three 
individuals were removed from site WA5, in La Plata County, CO. These 
remains were excavated by Dr. John Ives from a site designated by him 
as WA5 (West Animas 5). The site was on private land and was excavated 
as part of the Fort Lewis College summer field program. No known 
individuals were identified. No associated funerary objects are 
present.
    The temporal context of the site is the Pueblo I period (A.D. 700-
840) based on other artifacts from the site.
    In 1981, human remains representing a minimum of two individuals 
were removed from 5LP630, in La Plata County, CO. These remains were 
recovered during the excavation of a pithouse located in Ridges Basin, 
approximately 3 miles southwest of Durango. The excavation was part of 
the 1981 archeological field program run by Fort Lewis College and 
directed by Philip Duke. At the time of excavation, the land was owned 
by the Colorado Division of Wildlife, but which has subsequently been 
deeded to the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation. 
In 2011, the Colorado Division of Wildlife officially transferred the 
remains to Fort Lewis College. No known individuals were identified. 
The three associated funerary objects are two ceramic black-on-gray 
interior decorated bowls and the tip of a bone awl.
    These burials are from a Pueblo I (late 8th century A.D.) pithouse 
based on archaeomagnetic dating (Duke, pp. 147-148).
    In 1985, human remains representing a minimum of four individuals 
were removed from site 5LP 483, in La Plata County, CO. These burials 
were recovered during excavations of sites in Bodo Canyon, 
approximately 3 miles southwest of Durango. This project was funded by 
the government as part of the Uranium Mill Tailings Remedial Action 
Project. No known individuals were identified. The two associated 
funerary objects are the tip of a bone awl and a Chapin gray jar.
    These burials are from a late Basketmaker III-Pueblo I pithouse 
based on ceramics and tree-ring dates, giving a range of dates from 
A.D. 650 through the early A.D. 800s (Steven L. Fuller, 1988, 
``Archaeological Investigations in the Bodo Canyon Area, La Plata 
County, CO. UMTRA Archaeological Report 25,'' p. 198). The date and 
geographic location of this site are consistent with Ancestral Puebloan 
burials.
    In 1985, human remains representing a minimum of eight individuals 
were removed from site 5LP 481, in La Plata County, CO. These burials 
were recovered during excavations of sites in Bodo Canyon, 
approximately 3 miles southwest of Durango. This project was funded by 
the government as part of the Uranium Mill Tailings Remedial Action 
Project. No known individuals were identified. The 66 associated 
funerary objects are 1 Chapin gray jar, 1 Chapin black-on-white bowl, 
55 grayware sherds, 1 quartzite flake, and 8 artifacts (which possibly 
represents a medicine pouch).
    These burials are from a late Basketmaker III-Pueblo I (8th century 
A.D.) pithouse based on ceramics and architecture (Fuller, 1988; p. 
117, 158-159).
    In 1978, human remains representing a minimum of 11 individuals 
were removed from site 5LP 117, in La Plata County, CO. These burials 
were recovered by Dr. Riches in the Bodo Industrial Park just south of 
Durango along the Animas River. Salvage excavations were carried out as 
part of the Fort Lewis College summer field school. The site was on 
private land. No known individuals were identified. The 36 associated 
funerary objects are 32 grayware sherds, 2 Olivella shells, 1 chert 
biface, and 1 lithic point.
    These burials are from the Pueblo I period (A.D. 700-840) based on 
the artifactual evidence from the site (Charles, MC, 1996. ``The 
Emergency Excavations of Three Human Burials in Bodo Industrial 
Ranches, La Plata County, CO'').
    In 1978, human remains representing a minimum of one individual 
were removed from site 5LP 119, in La Plata County, CO. This burial was 
recovered from the surface of site 5LP 119 on the Bodo Industrial Park 
south of Durango on the Animas River. The site was on private land. No 
known individual was identified. No associated funerary objects are 
present.
    The archeological context of this site was determined to be 
Basketmaker III/Pueblo I (A.D. 650-840) (Charles, MC, 1994. ``A 
Cultural Resource Inventory of

[[Page 62837]]

Lot 7B, Bodo Ranches, La Plata County, CO (Volume 1)'' and 
``Archaeological Test Evaluations, Lot 7B, Bodo Industrial Ranches, La 
Plata County, CO (Volume 2),'' on file at the Colorado Historical 
Society, Denver, CO).
    In 1978, human remains representing a minimum of two individuals 
were removed from site 5LP 138, in La Plata County, CO. This burial was 
recovered from the surface of the site, on private land, in Bodo 
Industrial Park, south of Durango, CO, by students undertaking survey 
and salvage excavations under the direction of Dr. Riches. No known 
individuals were identified. The three associated funerary objects are 
one partial bear mandible, one dog vertebra, and one bone awl.
    These burials were determined to be from the Basketmaker III/Pueblo 
I period based on artifactual evidence from the site.
    In 1975, human remains representing a minimum of five individuals 
were removed from site 5LP 115, in La Plata County, CO. These remains 
were recovered by Jeff Wharton and Barry Hibbets on private land in the 
Bodo Industrial Park under the direction of John Ives and Dr. Riches. 
The site, a pit structure, had been partially removed by road 
construction. No known individuals were identified. No associated 
funerary objects are present.
    The site dates to the Pueblo I-III period (A.D. 700-1300) according 
to the Colorado Historical Society Office of Archaeology and Historic 
Preservation Compass Database, an online cultural resource database.
    In 1980, human remains representing a minimum of one individual 
were removed from site 5LP 425, in La Plata County, CO. The burial was 
recovered as part of salvage excavations under the direction of Jamie 
Carlson during a summer field program at Fort Lewis College. No known 
individual was identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    The archeological context of this site was determined to be Pueblo 
I (A.D. 700-840) based on ceramics (Charles MC, 2005. ``A report on the 
archaeological excavations at site 5LP425, the Seven Dog Site: A Pueblo 
I habitation site, La Plata County, CO'').
    In the 1970s, human remains representing a minimum of five 
individuals were removed from the Mancos River Area, Montezuma County, 
CO. No known individuals were identified. No associated funerary 
objects are present.
    Dr. Riches reported that a note by Katherine Hulbert, physical 
anthropologist at Fort Lewis College in the 1970s, indicates that the 
remains were recovered from the Mancos River Area. Further 
documentation by Katherine Hulbert indicates that the remains date to 
approximately A.D. 1070 (Pueblo II period). One cranium exhibits 
posterior cranial flattening due to cradleboarding, a cultural practice 
consistent with this time period.
    In 1978, human remains representing a minimum of one individual 
were removed from a site on private land identified by John Ives as 
``Treptow'' near Mancos, in Montezuma County, CO. No known individual 
was identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    Without associated funerary objects present the exact date of the 
remains is uncertain. However, the presence of posterior cranial 
flattening due to cradleboarding and location of this site are 
consistent with an Ancestral Puebloan burial, no earlier than the 
Pueblo I period (beginning A.D. 700).
    In 1977-78, human remains representing a minimum of one individual 
were removed from site MT 4037, in Montezuma County, CO. The site was 
excavated by Metropolitan State College of Denver. No known individual 
was identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    The archeological context of this site was determined to be Pueblo 
I-III (A.D. 650-1250) based on the Colorado Historical Society Office 
of Archaeology and Historic Preservation Compass Database.
    In the 1990s, human remains representing a minimum of four 
individuals were removed from site 5MT 4802 (the Pigg site), in 
Montezuma County, CO, excavated by Jim Judge. No known individuals were 
identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    Based on architectural and artifactual evidence, the archeological 
context of this site was determined to be Pueblo II/III (A.D. 1150-
1250).
    In summary, the human remains and associated funerary objects all 
are from Ancestral Puebloan sites (Basketmaker and/or Pueblo periods). 
The preponderance of geographical, kinship, biological, archeological, 
linguistic, folklore, oral tradition and historic evidence, as well as 
expert opinion, suggests that Ancestral Puebloan sites are culturally 
affiliated with the 21 modern Puebloan tribes: The Hopi Tribe of 
Arizona; Kewa Pueblo, New Mexico; Ohkay Owingeh, New Mexico; Pueblo of 
Acoma, New Mexico; Pueblo of Cochiti, New Mexico; Pueblo of Jemez, New 
Mexico; Pueblo of Isleta, 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 Taos, New 
Mexico; Pueblo of Tesuque, New Mexico; Pueblo of Zia, New Mexico; 
Ysleta Del Sur Pueblo of Texas; and the Zuni Tribe of the Zuni 
Reservation, New Mexico (hereinafter referred to as ``The Tribes'').
    Aspects of a shared group identity between the Athapaskan speaking 
tribes of the Southwest-Navajo and Jicarilla Apache and Ancestral 
Puebloans, as well as the Ute tribes and Ancestral Puebloans were also 
considered, but cultural affiliation was not supported by a 
preponderance of evidence. The Athapaskan speaking tribes of the 
Southwest have geographic, folklore, oral traditional, ethnohistorical, 
and/or historical ties to the Durango area. Cross-cultural influences 
and intermarriage with Puebloans also support a relationship of shared 
group identity between Athapaskan and Puebloan groups. However, current 
archeological evidence does not support a common Athapaskan and 
Puebloan origin prior to about A.D. 1500. Thus, from an archeological 
perspective, the evidence does not support cultural affiliation for the 
Navajo Nation and Jicarilla Apache with the predominantly Basketmaker 
and Pueblo I human remains and associated funerary objects described in 
this Notice of Inventory Completion.
    The Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, Southern Ute Indian Tribe, and Ute 
Indian Tribe of the Uintah & Ouray Reservation have geographic, 
ethnohistorical, and/or historical ties to the Durango area and 
linguistic ties to the Hopi tribe. Intermarriage with Puebloan peoples 
is also recognized as a potential link between these groups. However, 
the body of evidence does not collectively support a common Ute and 
Puebloan origin. Therefore, a preponderance of evidence does not 
support cultural affiliation for the contemporary Ute tribes with the 
predominantly Basketmaker and Pueblo I period human remains and 
associated funerary objects described in this Notice of Inventory 
Completion.

Determinations Made by the Fort Lewis College

    Officials of Fort Lewis College have determined that
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
above represent the physical remains of 91 individuals of Native 
American ancestry.

[[Page 62838]]

     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A), the 147 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.
     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 associated funerary 
objects and The Tribes.

Additional Requestors and Disposition

    Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to 
be culturally affiliated with the human remains and/or associated 
funerary objects should contact Dawn Mulhern, Department of 
Anthropology, Fort Lewis College, 1000 Rim Dr., Durango, CO 81301, 
telephone (970) 247-7500, before November 10, 2011. Repatriation of the 
human remains and/or associated funerary objects to The Tribes may 
proceed after that date if no additional claimants come forward.
    Fort Lewis College is responsible for notifying the Hopi Tribe of 
Arizona; Jicarilla Apache Nation, New Mexico; Kewa Pueblo, New Mexico; 
Navajo Nation, Arizona, New Mexico & Utah; Ohkay Owingeh, New Mexico; 
Pueblo of Acoma, New Mexico; Pueblo of Cochiti, New Mexico; Pueblo of 
Jemez, New Mexico; Pueblo of Isleta, 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 Taos, New Mexico; Pueblo of Tesuque, New Mexico; Pueblo of 
Zia, New Mexico; Southern Ute Indian Tribe of the Southern Ute 
Reservation, Utah; Ute Indian Tribe of the Uintah & Ouray Reservation, 
Colorado, New Mexico & Utah; Ute Mountain Tribe of the Ute Mountain 
Reservation, Colorado; Ysleta Del Sur Pueblo of Texas; and the Zuni 
Tribe of the Zuni Reservation, New Mexico, that this notice has been 
published.

    Dated: October 3, 2011.
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2011-26182 Filed 10-7-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-50-P