[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 11 (Thursday, January 16, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2880-2881]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-00793]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-14645; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: U.S. Department of Agriculture, 
Forest Service, Coconino National Forest, Flagstaff, AZ, and the 
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 Agriculture, Forest Service, Coconino 
National Forest and the 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 a present-day Indian tribe. 
Lineal descendants or representatives of any Indian tribe not 
identified in this notice that wish to request transfer of control of 
these human remains should submit a written request to the U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southwestern Region. If no 
additional requestors come forward, transfer of control of the human 
remains to the Indian tribes stated in this notice may proceed.

DATES: Lineal descendants or representatives of any Indian tribe not 
identified in this notice that wish to request transfer of control of 
these human remains should submit a written request with information in 
support of the request to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest 
Service, Southwestern Region at the address in this notice by February 
18, 2014.

[[Page 2881]]


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

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 Agriculture, Forest Service, 
Southwestern Region. The human remains were removed from the Big Park 
Ruin in Coconino County, AZ, and a site in the Sycamore Canyon 
Wilderness in the vicinity of Camp Verde, Yavapai 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 and associated funerary objects. 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 U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Coconino National Forest, 
and the Arizona State Museum professional staffs in consultation with 
representatives of the Hopi Tribe of Arizona.

History and Description of the Remains

    In 1927, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual 
were removed from Big Park Ruin (Verde:2:1(GP)), Coconino County, AZ, 
during legally authorized excavations conducted by Gila Pueblo 
Foundation. The remains were transferred to the Arizona State Museum in 
early 1950s at the demise of the Gila Pueblo Foundation. No known 
individual was identified. There are no funerary objects associated 
with these remains.
    In 1994, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual 
were found by hikers at a site in the Sycamore Canyon Wilderness near 
Camp Verde, Yavapai County, AZ, and subsequently removed by the Yavapai 
County Sheriff's Office and curated at Arizona State Museum since 1997. 
No known individual was identified. There are no funerary objects 
associated with these remains.
    Big Park Ruin is a cliff dwelling located in the vicinity of the 
present day Oak Creek, AZ. The characteristics of material culture at 
this site indicate that this cliff dwelling is associated with the 
archeologically defined Southern Sinagua culture of north central 
Arizona. The material culture, architecture, and site organization 
indicate that the site was occupied between A.D. 1050 and 1200.
    The site in the Sycamore Canyon Wilderness near Camp Verde is a 
prehistoric burial location. Prehistoric sites in Sycamore Canyon are 
associated with the archeologically defined Southern Sinagua Culture of 
north central Arizona. These sites were occupied between A.D. 1000 and 
1200.
    The Southern Sinagua culture is considered to be ancestral to the 
Hopi Tribe of Arizona. Oral traditions presented by representatives of 
the Hopi Tribe support cultural affiliation.

Determinations Made by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest 
Service, Southwestern Region

    Officials of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, 
Southwestern Region have determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice represent the physical remains of two 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 Hopi Tribe of Arizona.

Additional Requestors and Disposition

    Lineal descendants or representatives of any Indian tribe not 
identified in this notice that wish to request transfer of control of 
these human remains should submit a written request with information in 
support of the request to Dr. Frank E. Wozniak, NAGPRA Coordinator, 
Southwestern Region, USDA Forest Service, 333 Broadway Blvd. SE., 
Albuquerque, NM 87102, telephone (505) 842-3238, email 
[email protected], by February 18, 2014. After that date, if no 
additional requestors have come forward, transfer of control of the 
human remains to the Hopi Tribe of Arizona may proceed.
    The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southwestern 
Region is responsible for notifying the Hopi Tribe of Arizona that this 
notice has been published.

    Dated: December 12, 2013.
Melanie O'Brien,
Acting Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2014-00793 Filed 1-15-14; 8:45 am]
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