[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 149 (Thursday, August 2, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46114-46115]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-18927]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-10774; 2200-1100-665]


Notice of Intent to Repatriate Cultural Items: Maxwell Museum of 
Anthropology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Maxwell Museum of Anthropology, in consultation with the 
Pueblo of Santa Ana, New Mexico, has determined that a collection of 
cultural items from the Paa-ko Pueblo site meets the definition of 
unassociated funerary objects. Repatriation to the Pueblo of Santa Ana 
may occur if no additional claimants come forward. Representatives of 
any Indian tribe that believes itself to be culturally affiliated with 
the unaffiliated funerary objects may contact the Maxwell Museum.

DATES: Representatives of any Indian tribe that believes it has a 
cultural affiliation with the cultural items should contact the Maxwell 
Museum of Anthropology at the address below by September 4, 2012.

ADDRESSES: David Phillips, Curator of Archaeology, Maxwell Museum of 
Anthropology, MSC01 1050, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 
87131, telephone (505) 277-9229.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice is hereby given in accordance with 
the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), 25 
U.S.C. 2005, of the intent to repatriate cultural items in possession 
of the Maxwell Museum of Anthropology, University of New Mexico, 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 1949, the University of New Mexico (UNM) conducted an 
archaeological field school at the Paa-ko Pueblo site (LA 162), a 
village occupied in late prehistoric and early historical times. 
Catalogue No. 2006.30.1 comprises three bowl fragments found

[[Page 46115]]

with a burial probably exposed during the 1949 field school. Catalogue 
No. 2010.44.1 is a bowl from a looted burial. The bowl was surrendered 
to the Maxwell Museum of Anthropology. The location of the human 
remains from these burials is unknown.
    The Pueblo of Santa Ana, New Mexico, claims ties of direct descent 
from villagers who resided at the Paa-ko Pueblo site and is seeking 
repatriation of funerary objects from the site. After repatriation, the 
funerary objects will be reburied at the Paa-ko site. Repatriation and 
reburial of the unassociated funerary objects described in this notice 
will be coordinated with repatriation and reburial of human remains 
from this site, which will be described in a separate Notice of 
Inventory Completion.

Determination Made by the Maxwell Museum of Anthropology

    The Collections and Research Committee of the Maxwell Museum of 
Anthropology has determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(B), the four unassociated 
funerary 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 a 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 Pueblo of Santa Ana, New Mexico.

Additional Representations and Disposition

    Representatives of any Indian tribe that believes itself to be 
culturally affiliated with the unassociated funerary objects should 
contact David Phillips, Curator of Archaeology, Maxwell Museum of 
Anthropology, MSC01 1050, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 
87131, telephone (505) 277-9229, before September 4, 2012. Repatriation 
of the unassociated funerary objects to the Pueblo of Santa Ana, New 
Mexico, may proceed after that date if no additional claimants come 
forward.
    The Maxwell Museum is responsible for notifying the Pueblo of Santa 
Ana, New Mexico, that this notice has been published.

    Dated: July 5, 2012.
Mariah Soriano,
Acting Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2012-18927 Filed 8-1-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-50-P