[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 105 (Friday, June 2, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25618-25619]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-11454]



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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-23210; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: U.S. Department of the Interior, 
National Park Service, Lava Beds National Monument, Tulelake, CA

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, 
Lava Beds 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 
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 Lava 
Beds 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 Lava Beds National Monument at the address in 
this notice by July 3, 2017.

ADDRESSES: Lawrence J. Whalon Jr., Superintendent, Lava Beds National 
Monument, P.O. Box 1240, Tulelake, CA 96134, telephone (530) 677-8101, 
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, Lava Beds National Monument, 
Tulelake, CA, and in the physical custody of the Phoebe A. Hearst 
Museum of Anthropology, University of California, Berkeley, CA. The 
human remains and associated funerary objects were removed from within 
the boundaries of Lava Beds National Monument, Modoc and Siskiyou 
Counties, 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 
Superintendent, Lava Beds National Monument.

Consultation

    A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by Lava Beds 
National Monument professional staff in consultation with 
representatives of the Klamath Tribes and The Modoc Tribe of Oklahoma.

History and Description of the Remains

    In 1952, human remains representing, at minimum, two individuals 
were removed from site CA-SIS-0142 in Siskiyou County, CA, during 
legally authorized excavations by Robert J. Squier and Gordon L. 
Grosscup under the auspices of the Department of Anthropology, 
University of California, Berkeley, CA. No known individuals were 
identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    In 1952, human remains representing, at minimum, two individuals 
were removed from site CA-MOD-0048 in Modoc County, CA, during legally 
authorized excavations by Robert J. Squier and Gordon L. Grosscup under 
the auspices of the Department of Anthropology, University of 
California, Berkeley, CA. No known individuals were identified. No 
associated funerary objects are present.
    In 1952, human remains representing, at minimum, 14 individuals 
were removed from site CA-MOD-0049 in Modoc County, CA, during legally 
authorized excavations by Robert J. Squier and Gordon L. Grosscup under 
the auspices of the Department of Anthropology, University of 
California, Berkeley, CA. No known individuals were identified. The 15 
associated funerary objects are 3 cordage fragments, 1 projectile point 
fragment, 2 scrapers, 3 basketry fragments, 1 charcoal fragment, and 5 
matting fragments.
    Based on burial type and location, as well as available 
archeological and historical information, it is likely that the remains 
are Native American. Artifacts found near the burial locations suggest 
a late prehistoric age and are characteristic of prehistoric Modoc 
funerary practices in this region. In addition, ethnographic and 
archeological evidence, including archeological site context and types 
of funerary objects, indicates that all three sites were occupied by 
ancestral Modoc peoples.
    During consultation, representatives from associated tribes stated 
that their oral traditions indicate affiliation with the Modoc. The 
Modoc have been identified as aboriginal to the area where the three 
sites are located by the U.S. Indian Claims Commission. Geographical, 
archeological, linguistic, folklore, oral tradition, and historical 
evidence support that association. Today, contemporary descendants of 
the Modoc are members of both the Klamath Tribes and The Modoc Tribe of 
Oklahoma.

Determinations Made by Lava Beds National Monument

    Officials of Lava Beds 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 18 individuals of 
Native American ancestry.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A), the 15 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 Klamath 
Tribes and The Modoc Tribe of Oklahoma.

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 Lawrence J. Whalon Jr., Superintendent, Lava 
Beds National Monument, P.O. Box 1240, Tulelake, CA 96134, telephone 
(530) 677-8101, email [email protected], by July 3, 2017. After that 
date, if no additional requestors have come forward, transfer of 
control of the human remains and associated funerary objects to the 
Klamath Tribes and The Modoc Tribe of Oklahoma may proceed.
    Lava Beds National Monument is responsible for notifying the 
Klamath Tribes and The Modoc Tribe of Oklahoma that this notice has 
been published.


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    Dated: April 3, 2017.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2017-11454 Filed 6-1-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4312-52-P