[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 175 (Wednesday, September 10, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53771-53773]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-21473]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-16414; 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 no cultural affiliation 
between the human remains and associated funerary objects and present-
day Indian tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations. 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 Indian tribes or Native Hawaiian 
organizations stated in this notice may proceed.

DATES: 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) and 
43 CFR 10.11(d). 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 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; San Carlos Apache 
Tribe of the San Carlos Reservation, Arizona; Tohono O'odham Nation of 
Arizona; Tonto Apache Tribe of Arizona; White Mountain Apache Tribe of 
the Fort Apache Reservation, Arizona; and Yavapai-Apache Nation of the 
Camp Verde Indian Reservation, Arizona.

History and Description of the Remains

    In 1995, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual 
were removed from an unrecorded site, AZ BB:10:--in Pima County, AZ. 
The human remains were exposed by erosion in a wash and reported to the 
Pima County Sheriff's Department. The Sheriff's Department collected 
the human remains, assigned a case number, and brought them to their 
offices where the medical examiner determined that the human remains 
were prehistoric. The human remains were transferred to ASM in August 
1995, but were not assigned an accession number. No known individuals 
were identified. No associated funerary objects are present. Based on 
dental wear and other biological indications, the human remains likely 
date to the prehistoric or early historical period (9000 BC-AD 1850).
    In 1999, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual 
were removed from private land at an unrecorded site, AZ BB:13:--South 
Fontana, in Tucson, AZ. The landowner reported the find to the Tucson 
Police Department. The police department assigned a case number and 
consulted with forensic anthropologist Dr. Walter Birkby, who 
determined that the remains were likely prehistoric. The human remains 
were subsequently transferred to ASM and were assigned an accession 
number. No known individuals were identified. No associated funerary 
objects are present.
    In 2007, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual 
were removed from the Barrio Libre Site, AZ BB:13:495(ASM), in Tucson, 
AZ. The human remains were inadvertently found in a city-owned right-
of-way during the construction of a residence. The legally authorized 
excavation was conducted by Desert Archaeology, Inc. under the 
direction of Homer Thiel. When the excavations were concluded, the 
archeological collections were brought to ASM and assigned an accession 
number. No known individuals were identified. The 13 associated 
funerary objects are 1 hematite fragment and 12 pieces of chipped 
stone. The Barrio Libre site is part of an area of known protohistoric 
and historical occupation of people of O'odham, Apache, and/or Hispanic 
descent. Based on the site dates, the human remains likely date to the 
early historical period (A.D. 1600-1800). The flexed position of the 
human remains, absence of any indications of a container, and the 
presence of hematite are consistent with a prehistoric or early 
historical period Native American burial.
    In 1973, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual 
were removed by a boy from an unrecorded site, AZ BB:9:--Catalina 
vicinity, in Pima County, AZ. In 1987, the boy reburied the remains in 
a wooden box. In 1991, the box was re-exposed and the discovery was 
reported to the Pima County Sheriff's Office. A note found in the box 
described the original discovery

[[Page 53772]]

but gave no further information about the location of the original 
burial. The Sheriff's Office collected the human remains, brought them 
to their offices, and assigned a case number. Forensic anthropologists 
from the Human Identification Laboratory, University of Arizona, 
examined the remains at the sheriff's office and determined that the 
human remains were likely archeological in nature. Morphological traits 
of the dentition and the presence of cranial deformation caused by 
cradleboarding are consistent with Native American ancestry. The human 
remains were subsequently transferred to ASM but were not assigned an 
accession number. No known individuals were identified. The five 
associated funerary objects are animal bones.
    In 1973, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual 
were removed from an unrecorded site, AZ BB:9:--ME-115-73 in Pima 
County, AZ. The burial was exposed by erosion in a wash. No other 
contextual information about the discovery has been found. A detective 
from the Pima County Sheriff's Office collected the remains, assigned a 
case number, and delivered them to Dr. Walter Birkby of the Human 
Identification Lab, University of Arizona. Dr. Birkby determined the 
human remains to be prehistoric and likely of Native American ancestry. 
They were later transferred to ASM, but were not assigned an accession 
number. No known individuals were identified. No associated funerary 
objects are present.
    In 1969, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual 
were removed from an unrecorded site, AZ BB:9:--Tucson Site 16 in 
Tucson, AZ. The burial was discovered on private land on the east side 
of the Santa Cruz River. At the request of the landowner, James Ayres 
and Walter Birkby of ASM conducted the excavation. The burial was found 
in disturbed sediments and no further information regarding the 
archeological context is available. The human remains were subsequently 
brought to ASM, but were not assigned an accession number. Based on 
physical attributes the human remains were determined to be consistent 
with Native American ancestry. No known individuals were identified. No 
associated funerary objects are present.
    In 1973, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual 
were removed from site AZ BB:9:65(ASM) in Pima County, AZ. The burial 
was found inadvertently by a construction company in the course of 
excavating a sewer trench along the channel of an unnamed wash. At the 
request of the landowner, excavations were conducted by ASM under the 
direction of Bruce Huckell. The human remains were subsequently brought 
to the museum and assigned an accession number. No known individuals 
were identified. No associated funerary objects are present. Site AZ 
BB:9:65(ASM) consists of single human burial. Other than a hearth that 
was not associated with the burial, no other cultural features were 
found at the site. Physical attributes of the human remains are 
consistent with a prehistoric Native American burial.

Determinations Made by the Arizona State Museum

    Officials of ASM have determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice are Native American based on the physical 
characteristics of the remains and/or the burial context.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice represent the physical remains of 7 individuals of 
Native American ancestry.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A), the 18 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), a relationship of shared 
group identity cannot be reasonably traced between the Native American 
human remains and associated funerary objects and any present-day 
Indian tribe.
     According to final judgments of the Indian Claims 
Commission or the Court of Federal Claims, the land from which the 
Native American human remains and associated funerary objects were 
removed is the aboriginal land of the Tohono O'odham Nation of Arizona.
     Treaties, Acts of Congress, or Executive Orders, indicate 
that the land from which the Native American human remains and 
associated funerary objects were removed is the aboriginal land 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; San Carlos Apache Tribe of the San Carlos 
Reservation, Arizona; Tohono O'odham Nation of Arizona; Tonto Apache 
Tribe of Arizona; White Mountain Apache Tribe of the Fort Apache 
Reservation, Arizona; and Yavapai-Apache Nation of the Camp Verde 
Indian Reservation, Arizona.
     Pursuant to 43 CFR 10.11(c)(1), the disposition of the 
human remains and associated funerary objects may be to 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; San Carlos Apache Tribe of the San Carlos Reservation, 
Arizona; Tohono O'odham Nation of Arizona; Tonto Apache Tribe of 
Arizona; White Mountain Apache Tribe of the Fort Apache Reservation, 
Arizona; and Yavapai-Apache Nation of the Camp Verde Indian 
Reservation, Arizona.

Additional Requestors and Disposition

    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 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; San Carlos Apache 
Tribe of the San Carlos Reservation, Arizona; Tohono O'odham Nation of 
Arizona; Tonto Apache Tribe of Arizona; White Mountain Apache Tribe of 
the Fort Apache Reservation, Arizona; and Yavapai-Apache Nation of the 
Camp Verde Indian Reservation, Arizona, may proceed.
    The Arizona State Museum 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; San Carlos Apache Tribe of the San Carlos Reservation, 
Arizona; Tohono O'odham Nation of Arizona; Tonto Apache Tribe of 
Arizona; White Mountain Apache Tribe of the Fort Apache Reservation, 
Arizona; and Yavapai-Apache Nation of the Camp Verde Indian 
Reservation, Arizona, that this notice has been published.


[[Page 53773]]


    Dated: August 1, 2014.
Melanie O'Brien,
Acting Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2014-21473 Filed 9-9-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-50-P