[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 17 (Wednesday, January 27, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Page 4662]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-01589]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-19978; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: U.S. Department of the Interior, 
National Park Service, Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Boulder 
City, NV

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, 
Lake Mead National Recreation Area has completed an inventory of human 
remains, 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 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 
should submit a written request to Lake Mead National Recreation Area. 
If no additional requestors come forward, transfer of control of the 
human remains 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 should submit a 
written request with information in support of the request to Lake Mead 
National Recreation Area at the address in this notice by February 26, 
2016.

ADDRESSES: Lizette Richardson, Superintendent, Lake Mead National 
Recreation Area, 601 Nevada Highway, Boulder City, NV 89005, telephone 
(702) 293-8920, 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 under 
the control of the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park 
Service, Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Boulder City, NV. The 
human remains were removed from site X:8:7, Yuma 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, Lake Mead National Recreation Area.

Consultation

    A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by Lake Mead 
National Recreation Area 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, Arizona; Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian 
Community of the Salt River Reservation, Arizona; and Tohono O'odham 
Nation of Arizona (hereafter referred to as ``The Tribes'').

History and Description of the Remains

    In March 1951, human remains representing, at minimum, one 
individual were removed from site X:8:7 on private land in Yuma County, 
AZ. National Park Service archeologist Albert H. Schroeder collected 
the fragmentary cremation with the permission of the landowner during 
an archeological survey of the Lower Colorado River. Three artifacts--
two three-quarter groove, double-bitted polished axes and one small 
triangular obsidian point--may also have been removed, but their 
location is unknown. The cremation has been in the possession of Lake 
Mead National Recreation Area since its removal. No known individuals 
were identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    Mr. Schroeder's 1952 report identified the cremation as a 
prehistoric Native American individual of unspecified gender, likely 
Hohokam. All available lines of evidence support the archeological 
identification of the remains as Hohokam. 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 Tohono O'odham Nation of Arizona are known to be 
descendants of the Hohokam people. During consultation, representatives 
from each of these tribes stated that their oral traditions show 
cultural affiliation with the Hohokam. The ethnographic, archeological, 
and historical evidence supports that affiliation.

Determinations Made by Lake Mead National Recreation Area

    Officials of Lake Mead National Recreation Area have determined 
that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice represent the physical remains of one individual of 
Native American ancestry.
     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 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 should submit a 
written request with information in support of the request to Lizette 
Richardson, Superintendent, Lake Mead National Recreation Area, 601 
Nevada Highway, Boulder City, NV 89005, telephone (702) 293-8920, email 
[email protected], by February 26, 2016. After that date, if 
no additional requestors have come forward, transfer of control of the 
human remains to The Tribes may proceed.
    Lake Mead National Recreation Area is responsible for notifying The 
Tribes that this notice has been published.

    Dated: December 10, 2015.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2016-01589 Filed 1-26-16; 8:45 am]
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