[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 175 (Wednesday, September 10, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53751-53752]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-21469]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-16415; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: Arizona State Museum, University 
of Arizona, Tucson, AZ

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Arizona State Museum, University of Arizona, has completed 
an inventory of human remains and associated funerary objects, in 
consultation with the appropriate Indian tribes or Native Hawaiian 
organizations, and has determined that there is a cultural affiliation 
between the human remains and associated funerary objects and present-
day Indian tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations. Lineal descendants 
or representatives of any Indian tribe or Native Hawaiian organization 
not identified in this notice that wish to request transfer of control 
of these human remains and associated funerary objects should submit a 
written request to the Arizona State Museum, University of Arizona. If 
no additional requestors come forward, transfer of control of the human 
remains and associated funerary objects to the lineal descendants, 
Indian tribes, or Native Hawaiian organizations stated in this notice 
may proceed.

DATES: Lineal descendants or representatives of any Indian tribe or 
Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice that wish to 
request transfer of control of these human remains and associated 
funerary objects should submit a written request with information in 
support of the request to the Arizona State Museum at the address in 
this notice by October 10, 2014.

ADDRESSES: John McClelland, NAGPRA Coordinator, P.O. Box 210026, 
Arizona State Museum, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, 
telephone (520) 626-2950.

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 under the control of the Arizona State 
Museum, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ. The human remains and 
associated funerary objects were removed from Pima 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 Arizona 
State Museum (ASM) professional staff in consultation with 
representatives of the Ak Chin Indian Community of the

[[Page 53752]]

Maricopa (Ak Chin) Indian Reservation, Arizona; Gila River Indian 
Community of the Gila River Indian Reservation; Salt River Pima-
Maricopa Indian Community of the Salt River Reservation, Arizona; and 
Tohono O'odham Nation of Arizona.

History and Description of the Remains

    In 1975, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual 
were removed from the Bechtel Burial site, AZ AA:12:98(ASM), in Pima 
County, AZ. The legally authorized excavation of an inadvertently 
discovered human burial was conducted by ASM under the direction of 
Valetta Reid. At the end of excavation, the archeological collection 
was brought to the museum and assigned an accession number. No known 
individuals were identified. The 39 associated artifacts are 1 chipped 
stone core, 17 chipped stone flakes, 1 chipped stone knife, 2 chipped 
stone scrapers, 1 mineral, 13 stone bifaces, and 4 stone projectile 
points. The objects in association with this individual have been 
interpreted by archaeologists as a toolkit for the manufacture of stone 
projectile points. The projectile points are classified as Sobaipuri or 
Upper Piman types, suggesting a chronological range of A.D. 1500 to 
1800 for this burial.
    In 1985, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual 
were removed from private property at an unnamed site, AZ BB:13:-- 
Ramada, in Tucson, Pima County, AZ. The human remains were 
inadvertently found by Carl Harshman of the Hook Crane Service at the 
Ramada Inn while excavating a hole for a palm tree. The human remains 
and associated artifacts were brought to the museum and assigned an 
accession number. No known individuals were identified. The 17 
associated funerary objects are 1 antler artifact, 1 bone artifact, 3 
bone awls, 2 ceramic jars, 7 chipped stone flakes, 2 stone artifacts, 
and 1 stone projectile point preform. The archeological context of the 
discovery is unknown, but the artifact assemblage, especially including 
the ceramic types, suggests that the inhumation is likely from the 
proto-historical or historical period (A.D. 1450-1750). The assemblage 
has been interpreted by archeologists as including a flint-knapping 
toolkit.
    Ethnographic accounts of the Upper Piman inhabitants of Southern 
Arizona record that burials during the historical period were often 
accompanied by the decedent's personal possessions. These notably 
included weaponry and toolkits for the manufacture of weaponry in the 
case of male burials. The term Piman was used by the Spanish to refer 
to the O'odham people, who are the present-day inhabitants of the 
region.
    In 1949, human remains representing, at minimum, 63 individuals 
were removed from Sections A and B of the San Agust[igrave]n de Tucson 
Mission site, AZ BB:13:6(ASM), in Tucson, Pima County, AZ. The legally 
authorized excavations were conducted by the University of Arizona 
under the direction of Terah L Smiley. The human remains and associated 
artifacts were collected prior to clay mining activities of the Tucson 
Pressed Brick Company. At the end of excavations, the archeological 
collections were brought ASM and assigned accession numbers. No known 
individuals were identified. The 13 associated funerary objects are 6 
lots of glass beads, 2 metal artifacts, 3 metal crucifixes, 1 lot of 
shell beads, and 1 stone projectile point.
    AZ BB:13:6(ASM) is a multicomponent habitation and agricultural 
site. In the 1690s, Father Eusebio Kino traveled through southern 
Arizona and reported the presence of a Piman village on the west bank 
of the Santa Cruz River near Sentinel Peak. He named this village San 
Cosme de Tucson after Chuk-son, the Piman name for the village. By the 
early years of the 18th century, a visita was established at San Cosme 
as an extension of the mission of San Xavier del Bac, located a few 
miles to the south. Priests from San Xavier would come to the visita 
occasionally to conduct baptisms and other rites for the village 
inhabitants. Beginning in the early 1770's construction began on more 
permanent facilities. The mission complex, renamed San Agust[igrave]n, 
eventually included a chapel, a two-story convent building, an orchard, 
a granary, and a cemetery for the Native American population. The 
mission was in use until the middle of the 19th century. Historical 
records indicate that Sections A and B of the cemetery were used for 
the interment of baptized Native Americans who were the inhabitants of 
the O'odham village. The O'odham people today are comprised of the Ak 
Chin Indian Community of the Maricopa (Ak Chin) Indian Reservation, 
Arizona; Gila River Indian Community of the Gila River Indian 
Reservation; Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community of the Salt 
River Reservation, Arizona; and Tohono O'odham Nation of Arizona.

Determinations Made by the Arizona State Museum

    Officials of the ASM have determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice represent the physical remains of 65 individuals of 
Native American ancestry.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A), the 69 objects described 
in this notice 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 associated funerary objects and Ak Chin 
Indian Community of the Maricopa (Ak Chin) Indian Reservation, Arizona; 
Gila River Indian Community of the Gila River Indian Reservation; Salt 
River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community of the Salt River Reservation, 
Arizona; and Tohono O'odham Nation of Arizona.

Additional Requestors and Disposition

    Lineal descendants or representatives of any Indian tribe or Native 
Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice that wish to 
request transfer of control of these human remains and associated 
funerary objects should submit a written request with information in 
support of the request to John McClelland, NAGPRA Coordinator, P.O. Box 
210026, Arizona State Museum, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, 
telephone (520) 626-2950, by October 10, 2014. After that date, if no 
additional requestors have come forward, transfer of control of the 
human remains and associated funerary objects to Ak Chin Indian 
Community of the Maricopa (Ak Chin) Indian Reservation, Arizona; Gila 
River Indian Community of the Gila River Indian Reservation; Salt River 
Pima-Maricopa Indian Community of the Salt River Reservation, Arizona; 
and Tohono O'odham Nation of Arizona may proceed.
    The ASM is responsible for notifying the Ak Chin Indian Community 
of the Maricopa (Ak Chin) Indian Reservation, Arizona; Gila River 
Indian Community of the Gila River Indian Reservation; Salt River Pima-
Maricopa Indian Community of the Salt River Reservation, Arizona; and 
Tohono O'odham Nation of Arizona that this notice has been published.

    Dated: August 1, 2014.
Melanie O'Brien,
Acting Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2014-21469 Filed 9-9-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-50-P