[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 229 (Wednesday, November 27, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65407-65409]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-25732]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0029192; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: Pima County Office of the Medical 
Examiner, Tucson, AZ

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Pima County Office of the Medical Examiner (PCOME) 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 65408]]

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 
PCOME. 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 PCOME at the address in this notice by 
December 27, 2019.

ADDRESSES: Dr. Bruce Anderson, Forensic Anthropologist, Pima County 
Office of the Medical Examiner, 2825 E District Street, Tucson, AZ 
85714, telephone (520) 724-8600, 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 Pima County Office 
of the Medical Examiner, Tucson, AZ. The human remains and associated 
funerary objects were removed from San Manuel, Pinal 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 
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 PCOME 
professional staff in consultation with representatives of the Ak-Chin 
Indian Community (previously listed as 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; Navajo Nation, 
Arizona, New Mexico & Utah; Pascua Yaqui Tribe of Arizona; Salt River 
Pima-Maricopa Indian Community of the Salt River Reservation, Arizona; 
San Carlos Apache Tribe of the San Carlos Reservation, Arizona; White 
Mountain Apache Tribe of the Fort Apache Reservation, Arizona; and the 
Zuni Tribe of the Zuni Reservation, New Mexico (hereafter referred to 
as ``The Consulted Tribes'').

History and Description of the Remains

    On July 7, 2009, human remains representing, at minimum, one 
individual were removed from a wash near the San Pedro River in San 
Manuel, Pinal County, AZ. The human remains were discovered in the base 
of a dried wash by a young man on a run that morning. Personnel from 
the Pinal County Sheriff's Office arrived on the scene, where they 
recovered and transported the recovered human remains to the Pinal 
County Medical Examiner's Office. On July 8, 2009, the Pinal County 
Medical Examiner, Dr. Rebecca Hsu, transferred the human remains to the 
Pima County Office of the Medical Examiner, to be examined by the Pima 
County Forensic Anthropologist, Dr. Bruce Anderson. According to Dr. 
Anderson, the human remains are of an adult individual of Native 
American ancestry, and are likely prehistoric. The human remains were 
designated case ML09-01398, and they have since resided in the PCOME as 
an unidentified, prehistoric case. No known individuals were 
identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    Although the human remains were not discovered at a known 
archeological site, the area where the human remains were recovered, 
near the San Pedro River and south of the Gila River, constitutes part 
of the core area of the Hohokam tradition. The Grewe-Casa Grande 
settlement complex on the middle Gila River is one of the largest 
Hohokam settlements in the prehistoric American Southwest. The classic 
period of Hohokam Culture (A.D. 1150-1450) is characterized by the 
aggregation of Hohokam villages into larger villages located primarily 
along the middle Gila and lower San Pedro Rivers where the human 
remains were discovered.
    On December 15, 2010, human remains representing, at minimum, one 
individual were discovered near the San Pedro River in San Manuel, 
Pinal County, AZ. The human remains were discovered on the south bank 
of a wash by an unknown individual whom had been removing a tree on the 
wash bank. The human remains were recovered by personnel of the Pinal 
County Sherriff's Office and brought to the Pinal County Medical 
Examiner, Dr. Rebecca Hsu. On December 16, 2010, the human remains were 
transferred to the Pima County Office of the Medical Examiner to be 
examined by the Pima County Forensic Anthropologist, Dr. Bruce 
Anderson. According to Dr. Anderson, the human remains were prehistoric 
due to the condition of the remains, the dental wear, and the 
associated funerary objects. In addition, Dr. Anderson estimated the 
human remains to be a probable female 20 years old (+/- 3 years). The 
human remains were designated case ML10-02448, and have resided in the 
PCOME as an unidentified prehistoric case. No known individuals were 
identified. The 387 associated funerary objects are 387 conus shell 
beads.
    The human remains were discovered near a site discovered along the 
San Pedro River, on part of the Johnny Rhodes' Sacaton Ranch, where a 
burial containing a possible necklace composed of conus shell beads had 
been found. Prehistoric ruins, as well as sherds of Gila Polychrome 
pottery and Tanque Verde Red-on Brown pottery were also discovered at 
the site. Sites along the lower San Pedro River are associated with the 
Classic Period (A.D. 1150-1450) of Hohokam Culture.

Determinations Made by the Pima County Office of the Medical Examiner

    Officials of the Pima County Office of the Medical Examiner 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 387 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 Tohono 
O'odham Nation of Arizona.

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 Dr. Bruce Anderson,

[[Page 65409]]

Forensic Anthropologist, Pima County Office of the Medical Examiner, 
2825 E District Street, Tucson, AZ 85714, telephone (520) 724-8600, 
email [email protected], by December 27, 2019. After that date, 
if no additional requestors have come forward, transfer of control of 
the human remains and associated funerary objects to the Tohono O'odham 
Nation of Arizona may proceed.
    The Pima County Office of the Medical Examiner is responsible for 
notifying the Tohono O'odham Nation of Arizona and The Consulted Tribes 
that this notice has been published.

    Dated: October 24, 2019.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2019-25732 Filed 11-26-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P