[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 113 (Tuesday, June 12, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34989-34991]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-14306]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-10362; 2200-1100-665]


Notice of Inventory Completion: U.S. Department of the Interior, 
Bureau of Indian Affairs, Washington, DC, and Arizona State Museum, 
University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs, 
and Arizona State Museum, University of Arizona, have completed an 
inventory of human remains, in consultation with the appropriate Indian 
tribes, and have determined that there is a cultural affiliation 
between the human remains and present-day Indian tribes. 
Representatives of any Indian tribe that believes itself to be 
culturally affiliated with the human remains may contact the Arizona 
State Museum, University of Arizona. Repatriation of the human remains 
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 should contact the Arizona 
State Museum, University of Arizona, at the address below by July 12, 
2012.

ADDRESSES: John McClelland, NAGPRA Coordinator, Arizona State Museum, 
University of Arizona, P.O. Box 210026, Tucson, AZ 85721, telephone 
(520) 626-2950.

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 under 
the control of the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian 
Affairs, Washington, DC, and in the physical custody of the Arizona 
State Museum, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ. The human remains were 
removed from archeological sites located in Pinal County, 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.

Consultation

    A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by Arizona 
State Museum professional staff in consultation with representatives of 
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; Salt River Pima-
Maricopa Indian Community of the Salt River Reservation, Arizona; and 
the Tohono O'odham Nation of Arizona. The Gila River Indian Community 
of the Gila River Indian Reservation, Arizona, is acting on behalf of 
the Ak Chin Indian Community of the Maricopa (Ak Chin) Indian 
Reservation, Arizona; Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community of the 
Salt River Reservation, Arizona; Tohono O'odham Nation of Arizona; and 
themselves.

History and Description of the Remains

    In 1963, a surface collection survey was conducted by the Arizona 
State Museum at site AZ T:16:13 (ASM) in Pinal County, AZ. The survey

[[Page 34990]]

collections were brought to the museum, but were not formally 
accessioned. In 2010, a search through the survey collection led to the 
discovery of human bone fragments representing, at minimum, one 
individual. No associated funerary objects are present.
    Site AZ T:16:13 (ASM) is an historic Pima-Maricopa village, dating 
to about A.D. 1850. An earlier Hohokam Classic Period occupation, 
dating to A.D. 1150-1450 is also indicated, based on ceramic artifacts.
    In 1973, a surface collection survey was conducted by the Arizona 
State Museum at site AZ U:13:9 (ASM) in Pinal County, AZ. The survey 
collections were brought to the museum, but were not formally 
accessioned. In 2007, a search through the survey collection led to the 
discovery of three human bone fragments representing, at minimum, one 
individual. No associated funerary objects are present. Other human 
remains from this site were published in a Notice of Inventory 
Completion in the Federal Register (65 FR 83080, December 29, 2000).
    Based upon architecture, portable material culture, and site 
organization, site AZ U:13:9 (ASM) is recorded as a village site with 
occupation spanning the Pre-classic and Classic Hohokam periods from 
about A.D. 500-1400.
    At an unknown date prior to 1979, a surface collection survey was 
conducted by the Arizona State Museum at site AZ U:13:10 (ASM) in Pinal 
County, AZ. The survey collections were brought to the museum, but were 
not formally accessioned. In 2010, a search through the survey 
collection led to the discovery of one human bone fragment 
representing, at minimum, one individual. No associated funerary 
objects are present.
    Site AZ U:13:10 (ASM) is recorded as a multicomponent site with 
artifacts representing the Hohokam period (A.D. 500-1540) as well as an 
historic Akimel O'odham occupation (A.D. 1500-1950).
    In 1970, a surface collection survey was conducted by the Arizona 
State Museum under the direction of Don Wood at site AZ U:13:60 (ASM) 
in Pinal County, AZ. The survey collections were brought to the museum, 
but were not formally accessioned. In 2010, a search through the survey 
collections led to the discovery of several human bone fragments 
representing, at minimum, one individual. No associated funerary 
objects are present.
    Site AZ U:13:60 (ASM) is recorded as a Hohokam village site with 
ceramic, groundstone, and lithic artifacts. Historic house remnants 
were also present. Based on material culture and the mortuary program, 
occupation spanned the Hohokam to historic period, approximately A.D. 
500-1900.
    In 1970, a surface collection survey was conducted by the Arizona 
State Museum under the direction of Don Wood at site AZ U:13:118 (ASM) 
in Pinal County, AZ. The survey collections were brought to the museum, 
but were not formally accessioned. In 2010, a search through the survey 
collections led to the discovery of several human bone fragments 
representing, at minimum, one individual. No associated funerary 
objects are present.
    Site AZ U:13:118 (ASM) is recorded as a Hohokam village site on the 
basis of the artifact assemblage. The site may be dated to the period 
A.D. 500-1450.
    In 1970, a surface collection survey was conducted by the Arizona 
State Museum under the direction of Don Wood at site AZ U:13:171 (ASM) 
in Pinal County, AZ. The survey collections were brought to the museum, 
but were not formally accessioned. In 2010, a search through the survey 
collections led to the discovery of several human bone fragments 
representing, at minimum, one individual. No associated funerary 
objects are present.
    Site AZ U:13:171 (ASM) is recorded as a sherd and cremation area. 
Other prehistoric and historic artifacts were also reported. Occupation 
spanning the Hohokam period to historic times, A.D. 500-1900 is 
indicated by the artifact assemblage.
    In 1970, a surface collection survey was conducted by the Arizona 
State Museum under the direction of Don Wood at site AZ U:14:18 (ASM) 
in Pinal County, AZ. The survey collections were brought to the museum, 
but were not formally accessioned. In 2010, a search through the survey 
collections led to the discovery of several human bone fragments 
representing, at minimum, one individual. No associated funerary 
objects are present.
    Site AZ U:14:18 (ASM) is recorded as a large multicomponent Hohokam 
village. Based on the ceramic assemblage, occupation spanned the Pre-
classic and Classic Hohokam periods, A.D. 500-1450.
    In 1970, a surface collection survey was conducted by the Arizona 
State Museum under the direction of Don Wood at site AZ U:14:20 (ASM) 
in Pinal County, AZ. The survey collections were brought to the museum, 
but were not formally accessioned. In 2010, a search through the survey 
collections led to the discovery of several human bone fragments 
representing, at minimum, one individual. No associated funerary 
objects are present.
    Site AZ U:14:20 (ASM) is recorded as a having several large 
artifact concentrations. The ceramic assemblage is consistent with 
occupation spanning the Pre-Classic and Classic Hohokam periods from 
A.D. 500-1450.
    Continuities of mortuary practices, ethnographic materials, and 
technology indicate affiliation of Hohokam settlements with present-day 
O'odham (Piman) and Puebloan cultures. Documentation submitted by 
representatives of the Gila River Indian Community of the Gila River 
Indian Reservation, Arizona, on April 13, 2011, addresses continuities 
between the Hohokam and the O'odham tribes. Furthermore, oral 
traditions that are documented for 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; Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community of the Salt River 
Reservation, Arizona; and the Tohono O'odham Nation of Arizona support 
affiliation with Hohokam sites in central Arizona.

Determinations Made by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of 
Indian Affairs, Washington, DC, and the Arizona State Museum, 
University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ

    Officials of the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Arizona State 
Museum have determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice represent the physical remains of eight individuals of 
Native American ancestry.
     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 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; Salt 
River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community of the Salt River Reservation, 
Arizona; and the Tohono O'odham Nation of Arizona.

Additional Requestors and Disposition

    Representatives of any Indian tribe that believes itself to be 
culturally affiliated with the human remains should contact John 
McClelland, NAGPRA Coordinator, Arizona State Museum, University of 
Arizona, P.O. Box 210026, Tucson, AZ 85721; telephone (520) 626-2950 
before July 12, 2012. Repatriation of the human

[[Page 34991]]

remains to 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; Salt River 
Pima-Maricopa Indian Community of the Salt River Reservation, Arizona; 
and the Tohono O'odham Nation of Arizona may proceed after that date if 
no additional claimants come forward.
    The Arizona State Museum 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; Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian 
Community of the Salt River Reservation, Arizona; and the Tohono 
O'odham Nation of Arizona that this notice has been published.

    Dated: June 7, 2012.
David Tarler,
Acting Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2012-14306 Filed 6-11-12; 8:45 am]
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