[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 189 (Friday, September 28, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59660-59661]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-23927]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-11224; 2200-1100-665]


Notice of Inventory Completion: Stanford University Archaeology 
Center, Stanford, CA

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Stanford University Archaeology Center 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 
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 the Stanford University 
Archaeology Center. 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 and associated funerary 
objects should contact the Stanford University Archaeology Center at 
the address below by October 29, 2012.

ADDRESSES: Laura Jones, Director, Heritage Services and University 
Archaeologist, Archaeology Center, 488 Escondido Mall, Stanford, CA 
94305, telephone (650) 723-9664.

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 the Stanford 
University Archaeology Center. The human remains were removed from 
Tulare 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 Stanford 
University Archaeology Center professional staff in consultation with 
representatives of the Big Sandy Rancheria of Mono Indians of 
California; Chicken Ranch Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians of California; 
Cold Springs Rancheria of Mono Indians of California; Ione Band of 
Miwok Indians of California; Jackson Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians of 
California; Northfork Rancheria of Mono 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; and the 
Tuolumne Band of Me-Wuk Indians of the Tuolomne Rancheria of California 
(hereafter referred to as ``The Tribes''). Letters of inquiry were sent 
to The Tribes, and two tribes responded: the Tule River Indian Tribe of 
the Tule River Reservation, California, and the

[[Page 59661]]

Santa Rosa Indian community of the Santa Rosa Rancheria, California.

History and Description of the Remains

    Sometime prior to 1905, human remains representing, at minimum, one 
individual were removed from ``Skull Island,'' in the vicinity of the 
town of Alpaugh, in Tulare County, CA. Stanford University's cofounder, 
Mrs. Jane Stanford, donated the human remains, consisting of a human 
cranium, to the Stanford Museum before her death in 1905. No known 
individuals were identified. The two associated funerary objects are a 
stone pestle and a stone pendant.
    In 1959, human remains representing, at minimum, two individuals 
were removed from site CA-TUL-090, in the vicinity of the towns of 
Pixley and Earlimart, in Tulare County, CA, during an excavation led by 
Stanford University faculty member Bert Gerow during legally authorized 
archaeological investigations. The site was on the property of Theodore 
and Charles Off, who gave permission for its excavation to the 
University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) and Stanford University. 
The human remains include a partial skeleton and approximately 500 
fragments of human bone. No known individuals were identified. The 55 
associated funerary objects are 11 stone artifacts and 44 fragments of 
shell collected in association with the human remains. UCLA has 
established that the site was occupied during the Middle Period (3,500-
1,500 B.P.) by ancestors of the modern Yokut tribes.
    The Santa Rosa Indian Community of the Santa Rosa Rancheria, 
California, has provided additional information regarding these human 
remains and associated funerary objects to establish cultural 
affiliation to the Yokut tribes. Based on the site location and in 
accordance with the information received in the consultation process, 
the human remains and associated funerary objects are culturally 
affiliated with the Yokut communities represented by the present-day 
tribes of the Picayune Rancheria of Chukchansi Indians of California; 
Santa Rosa Indian Community of the Santa Rosa Rancheria, California; 
Table Mountain Rancheria of California; and the Tule River Indian Tribe 
of the Tule River Reservation, California.

Determinations Made by the Stanford University Archaeology Center

    Officials of the Stanford University Archaeology Center have 
determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice represent the physical remains of three individuals of 
Native American ancestry.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A), the 57 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), there is a relationship of 
shared group identity that can be reasonably traced between the Native 
American human remains and the Picayune Rancheria of Chukchansi Indians 
of California; Santa Rosa Indian Community of the Santa Rosa Rancheria, 
California; Table Mountain Rancheria of California; and the Tule River 
Indian Tribe of the Tule River Reservation, California.

Additional Requestors and Disposition

    Representatives of any Indian tribe that believes itself to be 
culturally affiliated with the human remains and associated funerary 
objects should contact Laura Jones, Director, Heritage Services and 
University Archaeologist, Archaeology Center, 488 Escondido Mall, 
Stanford, CA 94305, telephone (650) 723-9664 before October 29, 2012. 
Repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects to 
the Picayune Rancheria of Chukchansi Indians of California; Santa Rosa 
Indian Community of the Santa Rosa Rancheria, California; Table 
Mountain Rancheria of California; and the Tule River Indian Tribe of 
the Tule River Reservation, California, may proceed after that date if 
no additional claimants come forward.
    The Stanford University Archaeology Center is responsible for 
notifying the Picayune Rancheria of Chukchansi Indians of California; 
Santa Rosa Indian Community of the Santa Rosa Rancheria, California; 
Table Mountain Rancheria of California; and the Tule River Indian Tribe 
of the Tule River Reservation, California, that this notice has been 
published.

    Dated: September 5, 2012.
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2012-23927 Filed 9-27-12; 8:45 am]
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