[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 139 (Thursday, July 19, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42508-42509]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-17646]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-10742; 2200-1100-665]


Notice of Inventory Completion: New York University College of 
Dentistry, New York, NY

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The New York University College of Dentistry has completed an 
inventory of human remains, in consultation with the appropriate Indian 
tribes, and has 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 New York University College of Dentistry. 
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 New York 
University College of Dentistry at the address below by August 20, 
2012.

ADDRESSES: Dr. Louis Terracio, New York University College of 
Dentistry, 345 East 24th St, New York, NY 10010, telephone (212) 998-
9917.

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 in the 
possession of the New York University College of Dentistry. The human 
remains were removed from San Joaquin County, CA.
    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 the New York 
University College of Dentistry professional staff in consultation with 
representatives of the Buena Vista Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians of 
California; California Valley Miwok Tribe, California; Chicken Ranch 
Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians of California; Federated Indians of Graton 
Rancheria, California; Ione Band of Miwok Indians of California; 
Jackson Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians of California; Picayune Rancheria 
of Chukchansi Indians of California; Santa Rosa Indian Community of the 
Santa Rosa Rancheria, California; Shingle Springs Band of Miwok 
Indians, Shingle Springs Rancheria (Verona Tract), California; Table 
Mountain Rancheria of California; Tule River Indian Tribe of the Tule 
River Reservation, California; Tuolumne Band of Me-Wuk Indians of the 
Tuolumne Rancheria of California; and the United Auburn Indian 
Community of the Auburn Rancheria of California (hereafter referred to 
as ``The Tribes'').

History and Description of the Remains

    At an unknown date, human remains representing, at minimum, two 
individuals were removed from Rhoads Mound in San Joaquin County, CA. 
At an unknown date, they became part of the collection of H.K. Deisher, 
which was sold in 1905. In 1916, the remains were catalogued into the 
collection of the Department of Physical Anthropology, Museum of the 
American Indian. In 1956, the remains were transferred to Dr. Theodore 
Kazamiroff, New York University College of Dentistry. No known 
individuals were identified. No associated funerary objects are 
present.
    Rhoads Mound is a protohistoric site (A.D. 1500-1770) located on 
Roberts Island in the San Joaquin-Sacramento River delta. The island 
lies at the southern edge of aboriginal territory of the Eastern (Bay 
and Plains) Miwok and the northern edge of aboriginal territory of the 
Northern Valley Yokut.
    At an unknown date, human remains representing, at minimum, two 
individuals were removed from Walkers Slough Mound in San Joaquin 
County, CA. At an unknown date, they became part of the collection of 
H.K. Deisher, which was sold in 1905. In 1916, the remains were 
catalogued into the collection of the Department of Physical 
Anthropology, Museum of the American Indian. In 1956, the remains were 
transferred to Dr. Theodore Kazamiroff, New York University College of 
Dentistry. No known individuals were identified. No associated funerary 
objects are present.
    The Walkers Slough Mound is a historic site (A.D. 1770-1850) 
located near Stockton, in the area of the San Joaquin River Valley. The 
mound lies at the southern edge of aboriginal territory of the Eastern 
(Bay and Plains) Miwok and the northern edge of aboriginal territory of 
the Northern Valley Yokut.
    The territorial divisions within the aboriginal lands of the 
Eastern (Bay and Plains) Miwok and the Northern Valley Yokut was 
diffuse and shifted through time. During consultation, tribal 
representatives stated that the early anthropological studies of the 
Yokuts and Miwok incorrectly divided these groups into discrete 
tribelets and overemphasized linguistic differences. Tribal 
representatives explained that although different dialects were spoken, 
the Miwok spoke a mutually intelligible language. The Yokuts also spoke 
a mutually intelligible language with regional dialects. Tribal 
representatives indicated that high population mobility and frequent 
intermarriage between groups during the historic period has resulting 
in a relationship of shared group identity for all Miwok tribes. 
Similarly, tribal representatives indicated that the Yokuts are all 
interrelated due to high population mobility and frequent intermarriage 
between groups.
    Tribal representatives identified the descendants of the Eastern 
Miwok among the members of the Federally-recognized Miwok communities, 
including the Buena Vista Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians of California; 
California Valley Miwok Tribe, California; Chicken Ranch Rancheria of 
Me-Wuk Indians of California; Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria, 
California; Ione Band of Miwok Indians

[[Page 42509]]

of California; Jackson Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians of California; 
Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians, Shingle Springs Rancheria 
(Verona Tract), California; Tuolumne Band of Me-Wuk Indians of the 
Tuolumne Rancheria of California; and the United Auburn Indian 
Community of the Auburn Rancheria of California. Tribal representatives 
identified the descendants of the Northern Valley Yokut among the 
Federally recognized Yokut tribes, including the Picayune Rancheria of 
Chukchansi Indians of California; Santa Rosa Indian Community of the 
Santa Rosa Rancheria, California; Table Mountain Rancheria of 
California; Tule River Indian Tribe of the Tule River Reservation, 
California; and the Tuolumne Band of Me-Wuk Indians of the Tuolumne 
Rancheria of California.

Determinations Made by the New York University College of Dentistry

    Officials of the New York University College of Dentistry have 
determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice represent the physical remains of four 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 Tribes.

Additional Requestors and Disposition

    Representatives of any Indian tribe that believes itself to be 
culturally affiliated with the human remains should contact Dr. Louis 
Terracio, New York University College of Dentistry, 345 East 24th St, 
New York, NY 10010, telephone (212) 998-9917, before August 20, 2012. 
Repatriation of the human remains to The Tribes may proceed after that 
date if no additional claimants come forward.
    The New York University College of Dentistry is responsible for 
notifying The Tribes that this notice has been published.

    Dated: June 28, 2012.
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2012-17646 Filed 7-18-12; 8:45 am]
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