[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 175 (Wednesday, September 10, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53778-53779]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-21490]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-16417; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Intent To Repatriate Cultural Items: Arizona State 
Museum, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Arizona State Museum, in consultation with the appropriate 
Indian tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations, has determined that the 
cultural items listed in this notice meet the definition of 
unassociated funerary objects. Lineal descendants or representatives of 
any Indian tribe or Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this 
notice that wish to claim these cultural items should submit a written 
request to the Arizona State Museum. If no additional claimants come 
forward, transfer of control of the cultural items 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 
claim these cultural items should submit a written request with 
information in support of the claim 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. 3005, of the intent to repatriate cultural items under the 
control of Arizona State Museum, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 
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 Items

    In 1976-1978, 68 cultural items were removed from the Hardy Site, 
AZ BB:9:14(ASM), in Pima County, AZ. The legally authorized excavations 
were conducted by the University of Arizona and Arizona State Museum 
(ASM) under the direction of Linda Gregonis and Karl Reinhard as part 
of a field school. At the end of excavations, the archeological 
collections were brought to ASM and assigned an accession number. The 
68 unassociated funerary objects are 1 ceramic bowl, 1 ceramic jar, 58 
ceramic sherds, 1chipped stone fragment, 1 chipped stone knife, 1 shell 
artifact, 1 shell artifact fragment, 1 shell bracelet fragment, 1 shell 
disk, and 2 stone projectile points. The Hardy Site is a multi-
component site with occupations in the historical period associated 
with Fort Lowell, as well as prehistoric components from the Early 
Ceramic and Hohokam cultural periods. Based on ceramic typologies, the 
cultural items likely date to a major occupation during the Canada del 
Oro phase of the Hohokam Colonial Period (A.D. 750-900).
    In 1931-1940, 29 cultural items were removed from University Indian 
Ruin, AZ BB:9:33 (ASM), in Pima County, AZ. Legally authorized 
excavations in the years 1931 to 1939 were conducted by the University 
of Arizona and ASM under the direction Byron Cummings and Emil Haury. 
In a separate project in 1940, legally authorized excavations were 
conducted by the Civilian Conservation Corps under the direction of 
Julian D. Hayden. At the end of each excavation, the archeological 
collections were brought to ASM and assigned accession numbers. The 29 
unassociated funerary objects are 2 bone artifacts, 2 bone awls, 2 
ceramic bowls, 3 ceramic bowl fragments, 1 ceramic disk, 5 ceramic 
jars, 3 ceramic jar fragments, 5 crystals, 4 stones, 1 stone artifact, 
and 1 stone pendant. The University Indian Ruin site consists of 
surface remains, sub-surface dwellings, a platform mound, possible 
smaller mounds, and adobe room blocks. Temporally diagnostic ceramics 
recovered from the site indicate that it was occupied during the Tanque 
Verde and Tucson phases of the Hohokam Classic period (A.D. 1100-1450).
    In 1968-1969, 169 cultural items were removed from Whiptail Ruin, 
BB:10:3(ASM), in Pima County, AZ. The legally authorized excavations 
were conducted by the Arizona Archaeological and Historical Society, 
the University of Arizona, and Pima Community College under the 
direction of Linda Gregonis, Gayle Hartmann, and Sharon Urban. At the 
end of excavations, the archeological collections were brought to ASM 
and assigned accession numbers. The 169 unassociated funerary objects 
are 127 ceramic sherds and 42 chipped stones. Whiptail Ruin is a multi-
component village site with Late Archaic (1500 B.C.-A.D. 200), Hohokam 
(A.D. 500-1300), and historical components (A.D. 1800-1950). The 
cultural items come from Hohokam period features that date to the 
Hohokam Classic period from A.D. 1200-1300.
    In 1982-1983, 2 cultural items were removed from the Rincon 
Community at Valencia Site, AZ BB:13:74(ASM), in Pima County, AZ. The 
legally authorized excavations were conducted by Complete 
Archaeological Services Associates under the direction of Bruce A. 
Bradley for the City of Tucson. At the end of the excavations, the 
archeological collections were brought to ASM and assigned an accession 
number. The 2 unassociated funerary objects are 1 ceramic pendant and 1 
ceramic vessel. The Rincon Community at Valencia Site is a 
multicomponent site with several Late Archaic and Hohokam pithouses. 
Based on ceramic typologies, the cultural items date to the Hohokam 
Classic Period during the Tanque Verde phase (A.D. 1150-1300).
    In 1927, 2 cultural items were removed from the Tanque Verde Ruin 
site, AZ BB:14:1(ASM), in Pima County, AZ. The legally authorized 
excavations were conducted by the University of Arizona under the 
direction of Edward John Hands. At the end of the excavations, the 
archeological collections were brought ASM and assigned an accession 
number. The 2 unassociated funerary objects are 1 ceramic jar and 1 
stone pendant. Tanque Verde Ruin was a Hohokam pit house village on a 
flat-topped ridge and is

[[Page 53779]]

located in the Rincon Valley of the Tucson Basin. Based on ceramic 
typologies of the associated funerary vessels, these cultural items 
likely date to the Hohokam Classic period during the Tanque Verde phase 
(A.D. 1150-1300).
    In 1960, 2 cultural items were removed from the 49ers Country Club 
Sewer Line site, AZ BB:14:17(ASM), in Pima County, AZ. Construction of 
a sewer line resulted in the inadvertent discovery of human cremation 
burials. The construction workers removed vessels associated with the 
burials, but did not retain the human remains. In 1964, the workers 
donated two of the items to ASM. The 2 unassociated funerary objects 
are 2 ceramic jars. AZ BB:14:17(ASM) is a multi-component site with a 
long history of human occupation from the Late Archaic period through 
historical times. Based on the ceramic typology, the cultural items 
likely belong to the Hohokam cultural period (A.D. 500-1450).
    In 1965, 2 cultural items were removed from the Fenster Ranch 
School site, AZ BB:14:24(ASM), in Pima County, AZ. The excavations were 
conducted by Jack L. Zahniser and the Fenster Ranch School students on 
private land with the permission of the owner. Several cremations and 
inhumations were discovered, but there is no record of the human 
remains being collected. The archeological collections were donated to 
ASM in 1965. The 2 unassociated funerary objects are 2 ceramic jars. 
The Fenster Ranch School site is a large village complex that includes 
slab-lined pithouses, dense midden deposits, and bedrock mortars. Based 
on ceramic typologies, the site was primarily occupied during the 
Hohokam Classic period (A.D. 1150-1450).
    Prehistoric settlements in the Tucson Basin of southern Arizona are 
characterized by archeologists as belonging to two distinctive and 
consecutive cultural traditions beginning with the Late Archaic/Early 
Agricultural period and concluding with the Hohokam period. Recent 
archeological investigations have added support to the hypothesis that 
the Hohokam tradition arose from the earlier horizon, based on 
continuities in settlement pattern, architectural technologies, 
irrigation technologies, subsistence patterns, and material culture. It 
has been difficult for archeologists to date the beginning of the 
Hohokam period because the appearance of its distinctive cultural 
traits, including ceramic technologies and mortuary patterns was a 
gradual process spanning several hundred years. This adds further 
support to the hypothesis that the Hohokam tradition evolved in place 
from earlier Late Archaic traditions. Linguistic evidence furthermore 
suggests that the Hohokam tradition was multiethnic in nature.
    Cultural continuity between these prehistoric occupants of the 
Tucson Basin and present day O'odham peoples is supported by 
continuities in settlement pattern, architectural technologies, 
basketry, textiles, ceramic technology, and ritual practices. Oral 
traditions that are documented for the Ak Chin Indian Community of the 
Maricopa (Ak Chin) Indian Reservation, Arizona; Gila River Indian 
Community of the Gila River Indian Reservation, Arizona; Salt River 
Pima-Maricopa Indian Community of the Salt River Reservation, Arizona; 
and the Tohono O'odham Nation of Arizona support cultural affiliation 
with Late Archaic/Early Agricultural period and Hohokam sites in 
southern Arizona.
    Oral traditions that are documented for the Hopi Tribe also support 
cultural affiliation with Late Archaic/Early Agricultural period and 
Hohokam sites in the region. Several Hopi clans and religious societies 
are derived from ancestors who migrated from the south and likely 
identified with the Hohokam tradition.
    Oral traditions of medicine societies and kiva groups of the Zuni 
Tribe recount migration from distant portions of the Southwest to 
present day Zuni and supports affiliation with Hohokam and Late Archaic 
traditions. Historical linguistic analysis also suggests interaction 
between ancestral Zuni and Uto-Aztecan speakers during the late Hohokam 
period.

Determinations Made by the Arizona State Museum

    Officials of the ASM have determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(B), the 274 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 Ak Chin Indian Community of the 
Maricopa (Ak Chin) Indian Reservation, Arizona; Gila River Indian 
Community of the Gila River Indian Reservation; Hopi Tribe of Arizona; 
Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community of the Salt River 
Reservation, Arizona; Tohono O'odham Nation of Arizona; and Zuni Tribe 
of the Zuni Reservation, New Mexico.

Additional Requestors and Disposition

    Lineal descendants or representatives of any Indian tribe or Native 
Hawaiian organization 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 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 claimants have come forward, transfer of control of 
the unassociated 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; Hopi Tribe of Arizona; 
Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community of the Salt River 
Reservation, Arizona; Tohono O'odham Nation of Arizona; and Zuni Tribe 
of the Zuni Reservation, New Mexico, 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; Hopi 
Tribe of Arizona; Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community of the Salt 
River Reservation, Arizona; Tohono O'odham Nation of Arizona; and Zuni 
Tribe of the Zuni Reservation, New Mexico, that this notice has been 
published.

    Dated: August 1, 2014.
Melanie O'Brien,
Acting Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2014-21490 Filed 9-9-14; 8:45 am]
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