[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 24 (Monday, February 6, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5838-5839]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-2530]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[2253-665]


Notice of Intent To Repatriate Cultural Items: USDA Forest 
Service, Coconino National Forest, Flagstaff, AZ

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The USDA Forest Service, Coconino NF, in consultation with the 
appropriate Indian tribe, has determined that the cultural items meet 
the definition of unassociated funerary objects and repatriation to the 
Indian tribe stated below may occur if no additional claimants come 
forward. Representatives of any Indian tribe that believes itself to be 
culturally affiliated with the cultural items may contact the USDA 
Forest Service, Southwestern Region.

DATES: Representatives of any Indian tribe that believes it has a 
cultural affiliation with the cultural items should contact the USDA 
Forest Service, Southwestern Region at the address below by March 7, 
2012.

ADDRESSES: Dr. Frank E. Wozniak, NAGPRA Coordinator, Southwestern 
Region, USDA Forest Service, 333 Broadway Blvd. SE., Albuquerque, NM 
87102, telephone (505) 842-3238.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice is here given in accordance with the 
Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), 25 
U.S.C. 3005, of the intent to repatriate cultural items under the 
control of the Coconino National Forest that meet the definition of 
unassociated funerary objects under 25 U.S.C. 3001.
    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 cultural items. The National Park Service is not responsible 
for the determinations in this notice.

History and Description of the Cultural Items

    In the early 1930s, 12 unassociated funerary objects were removed 
from San Francisco Mt:11:2(GP) in the Coconino National Forest, 
Coconino County, AZ, during archeological excavations conducted by the 
Gila Pueblo Foundation (a private archeological research facility 
formerly located in Globe, AZ). In the early 1950s, the Gila Pueblo 
Foundation closed and the collection became in the physical custody of 
the Arizona State Museum (ASM), Tucson, AZ. The 12 unassociated 
funerary objects are: 7 projectile points, 4 bone whistles and 1 
spindle whorl.
    Based on the ceramic collection, San Francisco Mt:11:2(GP) has been 
identified as a small Northern Sinagua residential site. The ceramic 
seriation suggests the site was occupied in the 11th and/or 12th 
centuries. Records at ASM indicate that these 12 cultural items were 
removed from a burial context and that the human remains were either 
left in the ground or are not locatable at the present time.
    In the early 1930s, one unassociated funerary object, a miniature 
bowl, was removed from the Coconino National Forest at the Picture 
Canyon Site [San Francisco Mt:14:1(GP)] in Coconino County, AZ, during 
archeological excavations conducted by the Gila Pueblo Foundation. 
Since the early 1950s, the object has been in the physical custody of 
ASM.
    Based on the ceramic collection, Picture Canyon Site has been 
identified as a small Northern Sinagua residential site. The ceramic 
seriation suggests the site was occupied in the 11th and/or 12th 
centuries. Records at ASM indicate that the single cultural item was 
removed from a burial context and that the human remains were either 
left in the ground or are not locatable at the present time.
    In the early 1930s, 909 unassociated funerary objects were removed 
from the Coconino National Forest at the New Caves Site [San Francisco 
Mt:14:5(GP)] in Coconino County, AZ, during archeological excavations 
conducted by the Gila Pueblo Foundation. Since the early 1950s, the 
objects have been in the physical custody of ASM. The 909 unassociated 
funerary objects are: 1 shell bracelet; 1 shell necklace; 1 shell 
trumpet; 862 shell beads; 2 ceramic pitchers; 2 ceramic ladles; 1 
ceramic canteen; 21 ceramic bowls; 7 ceramic jars; 1 sherd disc; 1 
stone disc; 5 projectile points; 3 stone artifacts and 1 bone awl.
    Based on the ceramic collection, material culture and architecture, 
the New Caves Site has been identified as a large Northern Sinagua 
residential site. The ceramic seriation suggests the site was occupied 
between the 13th and 14th centuries A.D. Records at ASM indicate that 
the 909 cultural items were removed from a burial context and that the 
human remains were either left in the ground or are not locatable at 
the present time.
    In 1928 and 1929, 812 unassociated funerary objects were removed 
from the Coconino National Forest at the Turkey Hill Pueblo Site [AZ 
I:14:1 (ASM)] during archeological excavations conducted by Dr. Byron 
Cummings of the University of Arizona. Since removal, this collection 
has been stored at ASM. The 812 unassociated funerary objects are: 24 
ceramic jars; 91 ceramic bowls; 8 ceramic pitchers; 9 ceramic ladles; 1 
ceramic mug; 1 ceramic rattle; 1 ceramic scoop; 1 ceramic dipper; 1 
ceramic boot pot; 1 ceramic sherd; 11 pendants; 639 beads; 1 button; 4 
awls; 1 piece of petrified wood; 1 piece of pigment; 1 turquoise 
necklace; 2 shell necklaces; 1 shell bracelet; 1 shell trumpet; 1 shell 
artifact; 1 bone needle; 1 bone hairpin; 1 bone knife; 5 stone knives; 
1 stone hammer; and 2 macaw bones.
    Based on the ceramic collections, material culture and 
architecture, the Turkey Hill Site has been identified as a large 
Northern Sinagua Pueblo Site. Ceramic seriation suggests the Site was 
occupied between the 13th and 14th centuries A.D. The records at ASM 
indicate that the 812 cultural items were removed from a burial context 
and that the human remains were either left in the ground or are not 
locatable at the present time.
    In 1928 or 1929, one unassociated funerary object, a piece of 
azurite, was removed from an unidentified archeological site in the 
Coconino National Forest near the Turkey Hill Pueblo in Coconino 
County, AZ. The azurite was removed during archeological excavations 
conducted by Dr. Byron Cummings of the University of Arizona and was 
curated at ASM.
    Based on the ceramic items from the site (none of which are 
funerary objects), the site has been identified as Northern Sinagua. 
Ceramic seriation suggests the site was occupied in the 13th and/or 
14th centuries. The records at ASM indicate that the single cultural 
item was removed from a burial context and that the human remains were 
either left in the ground or are not locatable at the present time.
    In 1928 or 1929, three unassociated funerary objects were removed 
from an

[[Page 5839]]

unidentified archeological site in the Coconino National Forest near 
the Winona Village complex [AZ 1:15:1 (ASM)] in Coconino County, AZ. 
These items were removed during archeological excavations conducted by 
Dr. Byron Cummings of the University of Arizona and curated at ASM. The 
three unassociated funerary objects are ceramic bowls.
    Based on the ceramic items from the site and its association with 
the Winona Village complex (pithouse villages), the site has been 
identified as Northern Sinagua. Ceramic seriation suggests the site was 
occupied in the late 11th and/or early 12th centuries. The records at 
ASM indicate that the three cultural items were removed from a burial 
context and that the human remains were either left in the ground or 
are not locatable at the present time.
    In the early 1930s, one unassociated funerary object, a ceramic 
bowl, was removed from the Coconino National Forest near San Francisco 
Mt:15:4(GP) in Coconino County, AZ, during archeological excavations 
conducted by the Gila Pueblo Foundation. Since the early 1950s, the 
object has been in the physical custody of ASM.
    Based on the ceramic collection, San Francisco Mt: 15:4(GP) has 
been identified as a small Northern Sinagua residential site. The 
ceramic seriation suggest the site was occupied in the 11th and/or 12th 
centuries. Records at ASM indicate that the one cultural item was 
removed from a burial context and that the human remains were either 
left in the ground or are not locatable at the present time.
    Based on archeological evidence and material culture, the sites 
listed above have been identified as Northern Sinagua sites. 
Continuities of ethnographic materials indicate the affiliation of 
Northern Sinagua sites in the Flagstaff area of north central Arizona 
with the Hopi Tribe, Arizona. Oral traditions presented by 
representatives of the Hopi Tribe support their claims of cultural 
affiliation with Northern Sinagua sites in this portion of north 
central Arizona.

Determinations Made by the USDA Forest Service, Southwestern Region

    Officials of the USDA Forest Service, Southwestern Region and the 
Coconino National Forest have determined that
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(B), the 1,739 cultural items 
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 and are believed, by a preponderance of the 
evidence, to have been removed from a specific burial site of a Native 
American individual.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(2), there is a relationship of 
shared group identity that can be reasonably traced between the 
unassociated funerary objects and the Hopi Tribe, Arizona.

Additional Requestors and Disposition

    Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to 
be culturally affiliated with the unassociated funerary objects should 
contact Dr. Frank E. Wozniak, NAGPRA Coordinator, Southwestern Region, 
USDA Forest Service, 333 Broadway Blvd. SE., Albuquerque, NM 87102, 
telephone (505) 842-3238 before March 7, 2012. Repatriation of the 
unassociated funerary objects to the Hopi Tribe, Arizona may proceed 
after that date if no additional claimants come forward.
    The Coconino National Forest is responsible for notifying the Hopi 
Tribe, Arizona that this notice has been published.

    Dated: January 31, 2012.
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2012-2530 Filed 2-3-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-50-P