[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 56 (Monday, March 24, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16039-16040]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-06271]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-15090;PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Intent To Repatriate Cultural Items: U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, Forest Service, Coconino National Forest, Flagstaff, AZ

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Forest Service, 
Coconino National Forest, in consultation with the appropriate Indian 
tribes, has determined that the cultural items listed in this notice 
meet the definition of unassociated funerary objects. Representatives 
of any Indian tribe not identified in this notice that wish to claim 
these cultural items should submit a written request to the USDA Forest 
Service, Southwestern Region. If no additional claimants come forward, 
transfer of control of the cultural items to the Indian tribes stated 
in this notice may proceed.

DATES: Representatives of any Indian tribe not identified in this 
notice that wish to claim these cultural items should submit a written 
request with information in support of the claim to the USDA Forest 
Service, Southwestern Region, at the address in this notice by April 
23, 2014.

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 hereby given in accordance with 
the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), 25 
U.S.C. 3005, of the intent to repatriate cultural items under the 
control of the USDA Forest Service, Coconino National Forest, 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 Item(s)

    All cultural items described below were removed from lands 
administered by the USDA Forest Service in Coconino County, AZ, between 
1934 and 1955. These items were collected by private individuals 
without permission or knowledge of the USDA Forest Service. Records 
kept by the individuals provide substantive evidence that the items 
were recovered in association with human remains from prehistoric 
archeological sites. The human remains were not collected, so these 
items are considered unassociated funerary objects. In 1981, these 
items were donated to a private museum, where they are currently 
housed, with the USDA Forest Service retaining legal control of the 
items. The site names listed below were used by the private individuals 
and are not official Forest Service site designations, except where 
noted.
    In 1934, one ceramic vessel was removed from Big Ruin and one 
ceramic vessel was removed from Blind Ruin. In 1935, 10 ceramic vessels 
were removed from Dead Robin and one turquoise bead and one turquoise 
pendant were removed from Top of Hill. In 1936, five ceramic vessels, 
two shells and one painted conus shell were removed from an unnamed 
site. In 1937, one ceramic vessel and one bone awl were removed from an 
unnamed site. In 1938, five ceramic vessels were removed from an 
unnamed site and one ceramic vessel and one shell bracelet were removed 
from Two Handles. In 1939, one ceramic vessel was removed from Cold 
Banana, three ceramic vessels were moved from Big Tub, and two ceramic 
vessels were removed from Saddle (known as New Caves Hill by the USDA 
Forest Service).

[[Page 16040]]

In 1940, 15 ceramic vessels were removed from 53 Ruin and nine ceramic 
vessels were removed from L.F. 1. In 1941, nine ceramic vessels, one 
shell necklace, and one projectile point were removed from Broken Fence 
and one shell object was removed from Keaster 1. In 1942, two 
ceramic vessels were removed from Cremation Ruin. In 1945, two ceramic 
vessels were removed from Mikes Mortuary. In 1946, 12 ceramic vessels 
were removed from 3/29/36 Ruin and one ceramic vessel was removed from 
Mikes Mortuary. In 1950, two ceramic vessels were removed from Old 
Caves Hill (the USDA Forest Service site name). In 1951, eight ceramic 
vessels were removed from Lost Plate. In 1952, 69 unassociated funerary 
objects were removed from an unnamed site; these consist of five 
ceramic vessels, four carved or worked bone items, 18 turquoise 
pendants, four shell necklaces, two strands of turquoise and argillite 
beads, five turquoise tesserae, four carved shell medallions, one stone 
medallion, one copper bead, three mosaic pieces, three stone or shell 
beads, three nose plugs, six crystals, two shells, one projectile 
point, one painted bark wand, and six unmodified rocks. In 1955, two 
ceramic vessels were removed from Stone Crusher and one ceramic vessel 
was removed from Big Ruin.
    The USDA Forest Service completed a cultural affiliation assessment 
in 1996 for prehistoric archeological remains in the Coconino County, 
AZ, region. The unassociated funerary objects listed in this notice 
were removed from sites related to the Northern Sinagua archeological 
culture. Based on evidence relevant to archeological, anthropological, 
biological, geographical, oral traditions/folklore and kinship, the 
USDA Forest Service established that the Northern Sinagua were most 
closely affiliated with the modern Hopi Tribe of Arizona.

Determinations Made by the USDA Forest Service

    Officials of the USDA Forest Service have determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(B), the 172 cultural items 
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 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 the Hopi Tribe of Arizona.

Additional Requestors and Disposition

    Representatives of any Indian tribe not identified in this notice 
that wish to claim these cultural items should submit a written request 
with information in support of the claim 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 April 23, 2014. After that date, if no 
additional claimants have come forward, transfer of control of the 
unassociated funerary objects to the Hopi Tribe of Arizona may proceed.
    The USDA Forest Service is responsible for notifying the Hopi Tribe 
of Arizona and the Zuni Tribe of the Zuni Reservation, New Mexico, that 
this notice has been published.

    Dated: February 20, 2014.
Melanie O'Brien,
Acting Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2014-06271 Filed 3-21-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-50-P