[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 133 (Tuesday, July 12, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45176-45177]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-16374]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-21382; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: Museum of the American Indian, 
Novato, CA

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Museum of the American Indian has completed an inventory 
of human remains, in consultation with the appropriate Indian tribe, 
and has determined that there is a cultural affiliation between the 
human remains and a present-day Indian tribe. 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 the Museum of 
the American Indian. If no additional requestors come forward, transfer 
of control of the human remains to the Indian tribe 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 the 
Museum of the American at the address in this notice by August 11, 
2016.

ADDRESSES: Colleen Hicks, Museum of the American Indian, P.O. Box 864, 
Novato, CA 94948, telephone (415) 897-4064, fax (415) 892-7804, 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 Museum of the American Indian. The human remains 
were removed from Marin County, CA.
    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

[[Page 45177]]

agency that has control of the Native American human remains. 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 Museum 
of the American Indian professional staff in consultation with 
representatives of the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria, 
California.

History and Description of the Remains

    Between 1966 and 1967, human remains representing, at minimum, five 
individuals were removed from site CA-MRN-365, in Novato, Marin County, 
CA, during field school projects at the Miwok Park. The human remains 
are eight small fragments that were mixed with faunal collections from 
the site. During the excavations, several house floors were uncovered 
and multiple burials were removed. The human remains from these burials 
were repatriated and reinterred prior to the passage of NAGPRA. The 
faunal collection was donated to the Museum of the American Indian, and 
the additional human remains discussed in this notice were discovered 
during a reevaluation of the faunal collection between 2012 and 2014. 
No known individuals were identified. No associated funerary objects 
are present.
    In 2007, human remains representing, at minimum, five individuals 
were removed from site CA-MRN-365, in Novato, Marin County, CA, during 
archeological evaluations for a building project at the Miwok Park by 
Tom Origer and Associates. The human remains are seven small fragments 
that were mixed with faunal collections from the site. The human 
remains were discovered during a reevaluation of the faunal collection 
between 2012 and 2014. No known individuals were identified. No 
associated funerary objects are present.
    Site CA-MRN-365 is within the traditional area of the Coast Miwok 
Indians. It is estimated that the Miwok occupied the site for over 3000 
years, though perhaps not continuously. The economy of the area was 
based on marsh resources with hunting and gathering in this North Coast 
Range area. The semi-permanent village usually had several family 
groups that migrated to other seasonal camps throughout the growing 
season. It is a multi-component site, first documented by Al Elsasser 
in 1961, with artifact assemblages indicating an occupation from 3000 
to 500 years from present date. The site is located along a creek bed 
and extends about 100 feet along the bank. The site was greatly 
disturbed by grading for a housing project and the equipment storage 
area.
    In 1966, human remains representing, at minimum, three individuals 
were removed from site CA-MRN-26, in Tiburon, Marin County, CA, during 
a salvage project by archeologist John McBeth. The human remains are 17 
fragments found in an isolated box. In the 1970s, most of the human 
remains from this site were transferred to San Francisco State 
University. The additional human remains discussed in this notice were 
discovered during the evaluation of the archeological collection 
between 2012 and 2014. No known individuals were identified. No 
associated funerary objects are present.
    Site CA-MRN-26 is within the traditional area of the Coast Miwok 
Indians. It is estimated that the Miwok occupied the area for over 3000 
years, though perhaps not continuously. The economy of the area was 
based on marsh resources with hunting and gathering in this North Coast 
Range area
    Prior to 1967, human remains representing, at minimum, one 
individual were removed from site CA-MRN-366, in Novato, Marin County, 
CA, in an eroded area of the creek. The human remains are a small skull 
fragment donated to the museum in 1967. No known individuals are 
present. No associated funerary objects are present.
    Site CA-MRN-366 is within the traditional area of the Coast Miwok 
Indians. It is estimated that the Miwok occupied the area for over 3000 
years, though perhaps not continuously. The economy of the area was 
based on marsh resources with hunting and gathering in this North Coast 
Range area. The semi-permanent village usually had several family 
groups that migrated to other seasonal camps throughout the growing 
season.
    Prior to 1967, human remains representing, at minimum, one 
individual were removed from the Old Post Office site in Novato, Marin 
County, CA. The human remains are two fragments donated to the museum 
in 1967. No known individuals are present. No associated funerary 
objects are present.
    The Old Post Office site is within the traditional area of the 
Coast Miwok Indians. It is estimated that the Miwok occupied the area 
for over 3000 years, though perhaps not continuously. The economy of 
the area was based on marsh resources with hunting and gathering in 
this North Coast Range area.
    The Coast Miwok Indians are represented today by the Federated 
Indians of Graton Rancheria, California.

Determinations Made by the Museum of the American Indian

    Officials of the Museum of the American Indian have determined 
that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice represent the physical remains of 15 individuals 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 Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria, 
California.

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 Colleen 
Hicks, Museum of the American Indian, P.O. Box 864, Novato, CA 94948, 
telephone (415) 897-4064, fax (415) 892-7804, email 
[email protected], by August 11, 2016. After that date, if no 
additional requestors have come forward, transfer of control of the 
human remains to the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria, California, 
may proceed.
    The Museum of the American Indian is responsible for notifying the 
Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria, California, that this notice has 
been published.

    Dated: June 24, 2016.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2016-16374 Filed 7-11-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4312-50-P