[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 62 (Wednesday, April 1, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17477-17479]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-07394]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-17701; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: U.S. Department of the Interior, 
National Park Service, Montezuma Castle National Monument, Camp Verde, 
AZ

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, 
Montezuma Castle National Monument 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

[[Page 17478]]

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 
Montezuma Castle National Monument. 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 Montezuma Castle National Monument at the 
address in this notice by May 1, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Dorothy FireCloud, Superintendent, PO Box 219, Camp Verde, 
AZ 86322, telephone (928) 567-5276, 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 and 
associated funerary objects under the control of the U.S. Department of 
the Interior, National Park Service, Montezuma Castle National 
Monument, Camp Verde, AZ. The human remains and associated funerary 
objects were removed from multiple sites in 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 
Superintendent, Montezuma Castle National Monument.

Consultation

    A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by Montezuma 
Castle National Monument professional staff in consultation with 
representatives of the Ak Chin Indian Community of the Maricopa (Ak 
Chin) Indian Reservation, Arizona; Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation, 
Arizona; Gila River Indian Community of the Gila River Indian 
Reservation, Arizona; Hopi Tribe of Arizona; Salt River Pima-Maricopa 
Indian Community of the Salt River Reservation, Arizona; Tohono O'odham 
Nation of Arizona; Yavapai-Prescott Indian Tribe (previously listed as 
the Yavapai-Prescott Tribe of the Yavapai Reservation, Arizona); and 
Zuni Tribe of the Zuni Reservation, New Mexico (hereafter referred to 
as ``The Tribes'').

History and Description of the Remains

    At an unknown date, human remains representing, at minimum, two 
individuals were removed from an unnamed site near the Langdon Ranch in 
Yavapai County, AZ. The remains were donated to Montezuma Castle 
National Monument prior to 1933. No known individuals were identified. 
No associated funerary objects are present.
    At an unknown date, human remains representing, at minimum, two 
individuals were removed from an unnamed site on the Jackson Homestead 
in Yavapai County, AZ. The remains were donated to Montezuma Castle 
National Monument in 1933. No known individuals were identified. The 32 
associated funerary objects are 8 shell bracelets, 10 beads, 2 ceramic 
bowls, 3 bound sticks, 1 wooden cradleboard, 1 wooden bow, 1 miniature 
ceramic jar, 1 pendant, 1 wooden atlatl dart shaft, 1 worked stone 
artifact, 1 length of cordage, 1 piece of textile, and 1 stone mosaic 
pendant.
    At an unknown date, human remains representing, at minimum, two 
individuals were removed from the Montezuma Well Cave site in Yavapai 
County, AZ, during unauthorized excavations. In 1959 the remains were 
confiscated from W.K. Duffy by the National Park Service. No known 
individuals were identified. No associated funerary objects are 
present.
    At an unknown date, human remains representing, at minimum, one 
individual were removed from the Montezuma Well area in Yavapai County, 
AZ, by unidentified boys. The boys gave the remains to a Mrs. Hallet 
who passed them along to someone named Stenhouse who in turn gave them 
to Montezuma Castle National Monument staff. In 1978 the remains were 
forwarded to the Museum of Northern Arizona and in 1997 they were 
returned to Montezuma Castle National Monument. No known individuals 
were identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    At an unknown date, human remains representing, at minimum, one 
individual were removed from Montezuma Castle in Yavapai County, AZ, by 
National Park Service employees conducting preservation work. No known 
individuals were identified. The two associated funerary objects are 
one piece of textile and one length of cordage.
    At unknown dates, human remains representing, at minimum, two 
individuals were removed from Montezuma Castle by unknown park 
visitors. No known individuals were identified. No associated funerary 
objects are present.
    Between 1894 and 1896, human remains representing, at minimum, 
eight individuals were removed from Montezuma Castle in Yavapai County, 
AZ, by S.L Palmer. In 1971 the remains and funerary objects were 
donated to Montezuma Castle National Monument by Gaylord L. Palmer. No 
known individuals were identified. The 14 associated funerary objects 
are 9 pieces of textile, 1 bowl, 1 wooden bow, 1 arrow, and 2 arrow 
mainshafts.
    In 1909, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual 
were removed from Montezuma Castle in Yavapai County, AZ, by Frank P. 
Turner. The remains were donated to Fort Verde State Historic Park by 
Mr. Turner's daughter and in 1998 they were returned to Montezuma 
Castle National Monument by Arizona State Parks. No known individuals 
were identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    In 1927, human remains representing, at minimum, 10 individuals 
were removed from Castle A in Yavapai County, AZ, by the National Park 
Service. No known individuals were identified. The two associated 
funerary objects are one basketry bowl and one piece of cotton textile.
    Between 1929 and 1940, human remains representing, at minimum, 19 
individuals were removed from the Montezuma Well area in Yavapai 
County, AZ, by the William Back family, former owners of Montezuma 
Well. The human remains were transferred to the National Park Service 
when the property was purchased in 1947. No known individuals were 
identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    Between 1933 and 1934, human remains representing, at minimum, 68 
individuals were removed from Castle A in Yavapai County, AZ, during a 
Civil Works Administration project. No known individuals were 
identified. The 23 associated funerary objects are 9 pendants, 4 beads, 
4 shell tinklers, 3 ceramic bowls, 2 shell bracelets, and 1 worked 
shell.
    In the 1950s, human remains representing, at minimum, one 
individual were removed from Castle A in Yavapai County, AZ, by unknown 
visitors. No known individuals were identified. No associated funerary 
objects are present.

[[Page 17479]]

    Between 1952 and 1953, human remains representing, at minimum, two 
individuals were removed from Castle A in Yavapai County, AZ, by the 
National Park Service. No known individuals were identified. No 
associated funerary objects are present.
    In 1960, human remains representing, at minimum, eight individuals 
were removed from Swallet Cave in Yavapai County, AZ, during a salvage 
project by the National Park Service. No known individuals were 
identified. The one associated funerary object is a Tuzigoot red 
ceramic bowl.
    In 1986, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual 
were removed from Montezuma Castle in Yavapai County, AZ, by National 
Park Service archeologists. No known individuals were identified. The 
nine associated funerary objects are four pieces of matting, one piece 
of textile, two sherds, one flake tool, and one length of cordage.
    The sites from which the human remains and associated funerary 
objects were removed are located in the Verde Valley of Arizona. Most 
are multi-room masonry-walled pueblos or cliff dwellings and all are 
classified as southern Sinagua. With one exception, Swallet Cave, all 
are dated to A.D. 1125-1425. Swallet Cave, one of the pueblos on the 
inside cliff wall of Montezuma Well, a natural limestone sink hole with 
a lake fed by underground springs, is dated to A.D. 1125-1300.
    The Ak Chin Indian Community of Maricopa (Ak Chin) Reservation, 
Arizona; Gila River Indian Community of the Gila River Indian 
Reservation, Arizona; Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community of the 
Salt River Reservation; and Tohono O'odham Nation of Arizona comprise 
one cultural group known as the O'odham. Archeological artifacts found 
at the sites, including plain woven textiles, coiled basketry, and 
twill matting, are similar to items made and used by historic O'odham 
people.
    The Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation, Arizona and the Yavapai-Prescott 
Indian Tribe (previously listed as the Yavapai-Prescott Tribe of the 
Yavapai Reservation, Arizona) trace their ancestry to Yavapai bands 
once living in the Verde Valley. Continuity between the people of the 
Verde Valley during A.D. 1125-1425 and the Fort McDowell Yavapai and 
Yavapai-Prescott tribes is demonstrated by geographic, linguistic, 
folkloric, oral tradition, and historical evidence. For example, there 
are specific Yavapai ancestral names for Montezuma Well, and living 
tribal members curate oral traditions about ancestral people living at 
the sites.
    The Hopi Tribe of Arizona considers all of Arizona to be within 
traditional Hopi lands or within areas where Hopi clans migrated in the 
past. Evidence demonstrating continuity between the people of the Verde 
Valley during A.D. 1125-1425 and the Hopi Tribe includes archeological, 
anthropological, linguistic, folkloric, and oral traditions. Ceramic 
vessels made only on the Hopi mesas are found at the sites and are 
similar to items made by historic and modern Hopi people. Additionally, 
plain woven and painted textiles, coiled basketry, and woven matting 
are similar to items made and used by modern Hopi people. Living Hopi 
clan members also have ancestral names and traditional stories about 
specific events and people at each site.
    The Zuni Tribe of the Zuni Reservation, New Mexico considers the 
Verde Valley to be within the migration path of ancestral Zuni people. 
Archeological evidence, including similarities in ceramic designs, 
textiles, and woven basketry, demonstrates continuity between the 
people of the Verde Valley during A.D. 1125-1425 and the people of 
Zuni.

Determinations Made by Montezuma Castle National Monument

    Officials of Montezuma Castle National Monument have determined 
that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice represent the physical remains of 128 individuals of 
Native American ancestry.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A), the 83 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 The Tribes.

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 Dorothy FireCloud, Superintendent, Montezuma 
Castle National Monument, PO Box 219, Camp Verde, AZ 86322, telephone 
(928) 567-5276, email [email protected], by May 1, 2015. After 
that date, if no additional requestors have come forward, transfer of 
control of the human remains and associated funerary objects to The 
Tribes may proceed.
    Montezuma Castle National Monument is responsible for notifying The 
Tribes that this notice has been published.

    Dated: February 17, 2015.
Melanie O'Brien,
Acting Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2015-07394 Filed 3-31-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-50-P