[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 107 (Tuesday, June 4, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25824-25825]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-11540]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0027959; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: U.S. Department of Agriculture, 
Forest Service, Cibola National Forest, Albuquerque, NM

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Cibola 
National Forest 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 the 
Cibola National Forest. 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 the Cibola National Forest at the address in 
this notice by July 5, 2019.

ADDRESSES: Forest Supervisor, Steve Hattenbach, Cibola National Forest 
and Grasslands, 2113 Osuna Road NE, Albuquerque, NM 87113, telephone 
(505) 346-3804, 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 
Agriculture, Forest Service, Cibola National Forest, Albuquerque, NM. 
The human remains and associated funerary objects were removed from 
site AR-03-03-02-536 (LA79663), Mt. Taylor Ranger District, Cibola 
National Forest and National Grasslands, Cibola County, NM.
    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 human remains and associated funerary objects. 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 Cibola 
National Forest professional staff in consultation with representatives 
of the Hopi Tribe of Arizona; Navajo Nation, Arizona, New Mexico & 
Utah; Pueblo of Acoma, New Mexico; Pueblo of Laguna, New Mexico; and 
the Zuni Tribe of the Zuni Reservation, New Mexico (hereafter referred 
to as ``The Tribes'').

History and Description of the Remains

    Between 1980 and 1991, human remains representing, at minimum, two 
individuals were removed from site AR-03-03-02-536 (LA79663) in Cibola 
County, NM. Based on reports, site forms, and other notes found in the 
Forest's heritage resource files, the site experienced several episodes 
of rodent damage and vandalism (pot hunting) over a period of 11 years 
(1980-1991). The initial damage to the site was noted in July 1980. At 
that time, 18 human bones or fragments of bones were observed in two 
midden features, and were collected by Forest Service archeological 
staff. The site form from that time indicates that the bones were 
likely brought to the surface as a result of rodent activity. The 
skeletal remains consist of four long bones, six ribs or rib fragments, 
seven vertebrae, and one sacrum, and represent the partial skeletons of 
two Native American individuals of unknown sex and age. No known 
individuals were identified.
    Damage to site AR-03-03-02-536 (LA79663) from pot hunting was noted 
in 199l, and the site was subsequently monitored more frequently, until 
an individual was discovered digging within a room block at the site, 
resulting in an investigation in September 1991. During the course of 
the investigation, 12 artifacts collected by the individual were seized 
by a Forest Service Law Enforcement officer. In June 2008, evidence of 
new disturbance (pot hunting) was observed at the site. As part of the 
damage assessment, the Forest Service archeologist screened soil from 
two holes, and recovered additional items (ceramic sherds, flaked 
stone, small pieces of charcoal and adobe, and seven small pieces of 
faunal bone). The 63 associated funerary objects are 19 ceramic sherds, 
13 pieces of flaked stone, 10 pieces of charcoal, 14 pieces of adobe, 
and seven small fragments of faunal remains.
    Site AR-03-03-02-536 (LA79663) is a small masonry pueblo that is 
estimated to date between A.D. 900 and 1100. It is located in Limekiln 
Canyon, in the eastern portion of the Zuni Mountains, on lands managed 
by the Mt. Taylor Ranger District of the Cibola National Forest and 
National Grasslands. The 1996 report Cultural Affiliations--Prehistoric 
Cultural Affiliations of Southwestern Indian Tribes prepared by the 
USDA Forest Service (Southwestern Region), the Bureau of Land 
Management (Arizona and New Mexico State Offices), and the Arizona 
State Museum found that the Eastern Anasazi in the Cibola Area (A.D. 
700-1300) are culturally affiliated with the Hopi Tribe of Arizona, 
Pueblo of Acoma, New Mexico, and the Zuni Tribe of the Zuni 
Reservation, New Mexico. During consultation, the Pueblo of Laguna, New 
Mexico Historic Preservation Office confirmed it, too, considers the 
eastern half of the Zuni Mountains part of its aboriginal land base. 
The Navajo Nation, Arizona, New Mexico & Utah also claims cultural 
affiliation with the Nihi

[[Page 25825]]

naa z[aacute]zi people of the Southwest (Anasazi people from Archaic-
Pueblo IV periods).

Determinations Made by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest 
Service, Cibola National Forest

    Officials of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, 
Cibola National Forest have determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice represent the physical remains of two individuals of 
Native American ancestry.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A), the 63 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 Forest Supervisor, Steve Hattenbach, Cibola 
National Forest and Grasslands, 2113 Osuna Road NE, Albuquerque, NM 
87113, telephone (505) 346-3804, email [email protected], by 
July 5, 2019. 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.
    The Cibola National Forest is responsible for notifying The Tribes 
that this notice has been published.

    Dated: May 14, 2019.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2019-11540 Filed 6-3-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4312-52-P