[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 229 (Wednesday, November 27, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65410-65412]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-25734]


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

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0029196; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: University of California, Santa 
Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: The University of California, Santa Cruz (U.C. Santa Cruz) 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 no cultural affiliation 
between the human remains and associated funerary objects and any 
present-day Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations. 
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 U.C. Santa Cruz. If no additional requestors come 
forward, transfer of control of the human remains and associated 
funerary objects to the non-federally recognized Indian group stated in 
this notice may proceed.

DATES: 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 U.C. Santa Cruz at the address in this notice by 
December 27, 2019.

ADDRESSES: Diane Gifford-Gonzalez, Curator, Monterey Bay Archaeology 
Archives, University of California, Santa Cruz, 1156 High Street, Santa 
Cruz, CA 95064-1077, telephone (831) 459-2633, email [email protected].

[[Page 65411]]


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 University of 
California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA. The human remains and 
associated funerary objects were removed from sites CA-SCR-3, CA-SCR-
12, CA-SCR-18, CA-SCR-19, CA-SCR-35, CA-SCR-44 in Santa Cruz County, 
CA, as well as from unknown locations within Santa Cruz city limits, 
and CA-MNT-414, Elkhorn Slough, Monterey 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 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 U.C. Santa 
Cruz professional staff in consultation with the Amah Mutsun Tribal 
Band; Costanoan Rumsen Carmel Tribe; Muwekma Ohlone Tribe; and the 
Ohlone Costanoan Esselen Nation, which are all non-federally recognized 
Indian groups. Three Indian Tribes who are geographically closest to 
the non-federally recognized Indian groups were invited to participate, 
but were not involved in consultations. These are the Federated Indians 
of Graton Rancheria, California; Picayune Rancheria of Chukchansi 
Indians of California; and the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Mission 
Indians of the Santa Ynez Reservation, California. There are no other 
federally recognized Tribes with aboriginal territory in the south-San 
Francisco and Monterey Bay areas.

History and Description of the Remains

    Between 1964 and 1973, human remains representing, at minimum, 29 
individuals were removed from the locations in Santa Cruz and northern 
Monterey County, as listed below.
    In 1974, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual 
were removed from site CA-MNT-414 on the northwest side of upper 
Elkhorn Slough, Monterey County, CA, by Professor Rob Edwards of 
Cabrillo College and the Santa Cruz Archaeological Society. In 1975, 
the excavated materials, including artifacts, shell, and vertebrate 
fauna, were transferred to the Monterey Bay Archaeology Archives at the 
University of California, Santa Cruz (MBAA). The human remains consist 
of isolated fragments representing individuals of unknown age and sex. 
No known individuals were identified. No associated funerary objects 
are present.
    In 1969, human remains representing, at minimum, six individuals 
were removed from site CA-SCR-3 (a.k.a. SCR-42) during an archeological 
field school conducted by the University of California, Berkeley, in 
Marshall Field on the campus of U.C. Santa Cruz. The site consisted of 
two low mounds containing two burials. Burial 1 contained the 
commingled remains of two individuals, represented by a partial 
skeleton of an adult female 18-25 years in age, and tibial fragments, a 
possible scapula fragment, and part of a right ulna belonging to an 
adult male 20-40 years in age. Burial 2 contained the commingled 
remains of three individuals, represented by a cranium and partial 
skeleton of an adult male, tibial fragments of an adult of 
indeterminate sex, and a left tibia of an adult of indeterminate sex. 
The excavated materials were transferred to the MBAA sometime in the 
1970s. During later analysis of the vertebrate faunal materials 
recovered from the site, isolated fragments of human remains were 
discovered. No known individuals were identified. The 29 associated 
funerary objects are six lots of Olivella shell beads, two bone awls, 
one small mortar, one soil sample from inside mortar, one pestle, one 
projectile point, two scrapers, two net-sinkers, six handstones, one 
hammerstone, two milling slabs, one soil sample, one unmodified stone 
placed in mouth, and two limonite ``red ochre'' deposits.
    In 1974, human remains representing, at minimum, two individuals 
were removed from site CA-SCR-12 on Beach Hill, within the city of 
Santa Cruz, CA. Professor John Fritz and Dr. Margaret Conkey led an 
excavation conducted by U.C. Santa Cruz students and members of the 
Santa Cruz Archaeological Society. During later analysis of the 
vertebrate faunal materials recovered from the site, isolated fragments 
of human remains were discovered, representing individuals of unknown 
age and sex. No known individuals were identified. No associated 
funerary objects are present.
    In 1977, human remains representing, at minimum, five individuals 
were removed from site CA-SCR-18 in Davenport, Santa Cruz County, CA. A 
salvage screening was conducted by Cabrillo College students under 
Professor Rob Edwards in response to an excavation of a private house 
basement that impacted a known archeological site. The materials were 
transferred to U.C. Santa Cruz in 1978. During later analysis of the 
vertebrate faunal materials recovered from the site, isolated fragments 
of human remains were discovered, representing individuals of unknown 
age and sex. No known individuals were identified. No associated 
funerary objects are present.
    Between 1969 and 1976, human remains representing, at minimum, one 
individual were removed from site CA-SCR-19 in Santa Cruz County, CA. 
The archeological materials were donated to the MBAA prior to 1976. 
During later analysis of the vertebrate faunal materials, isolated 
fragments of human remains were discovered, representing individuals of 
unknown age and sex. No known individuals were identified. No 
associated funerary objects are present.
    In 1971, human remains representing, at minimum, eight individuals 
were removed from site CA-SCR-35 in Santa Cruz County, CA. Professor 
John Fritz of U.C. Santa Cruz and Dr. Karen Bruhns of San Jose State 
University led excavations on land owned by Mr. Ralph Edwards, located 
just north of the Santa Cruz city limits. The excavated materials 
included artifacts, shell, animal bones, and two disturbed partial 
human burials. Most of the materials were deposited at U.C. Santa Cruz, 
but some went to San Jose State University. In 1975 additional 
excavations at the site uncovered additional shell and stone artifacts, 
which were also transferred to U.C. Santa Cruz. In 1979 all of the 
materials that were housed at San Jose State University, as well as 
materials loaned to West Valley College (Saratoga, CA), were returned 
to U.C. Santa Cruz. During later analysis of the vertebrate fauna 
materials, isolated fragments of human remains were discovered, 
representing individuals of unknown age and sex. No known individuals 
were identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    At an unknown date prior to July, 1974, human remains representing, 
at minimum, one individual were removed from site CA-SCR-44 outside 
Watsonville in Santa Cruz County, CA. A salvage screening was conducted 
by Cabrillo College students under Professor Rob Edwards in response to 
an excavation of a known late pre-contact cemetery site. In July, 1974 
the excavated materials, including artifacts and vertebrate fauna, were 
transferred to the MBAA. During later analysis of the vertebrate faunal 
materials recovered from the site, isolated fragments of human remains 
were discovered, representing individuals of unknown age and sex. No 
known individuals were

[[Page 65412]]

identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    At an unknown dates after 1969 and prior to the fall of 1976, human 
remains representing, at minimum, five individuals were removed from 
unknown locations in Santa Cruz City, CA, and deposited at the U.C. 
Santa Cruz Anthropology Department. No further information is known 
about the provenience of these human remains. No known individuals were 
identified. No associated funerary objects are present.

Determinations Made by the University of California, Santa Cruz

    Officials of the University of California, Santa Cruz have 
determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice are Native American based on physical/biological 
characteristics.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice represent the physical remains of 29 individuals of 
Native American ancestry.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A), the 29 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), a relationship of shared 
group identity cannot be reasonably traced between the Native American 
human remains and associated funerary objects and any present-day 
federally recognized Indian Tribe.
     Pursuant to 43 CFR 10.11(c)(1), a ``tribal land'' or 
``aboriginal land'' provenience cannot be ascertained.
     Pursuant to 43 CFR 10.10(g)(2)(ii) and 43 CFR 10.16, the 
disposition of the human remains and associated funerary objects will 
be to the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band, a non-federally recognized Indian 
group.
    Pursuant to 43 CFR 10.16, the Secretary of the Interior may make a 
recommendation for a transfer of control of culturally unidentifiable 
human remains and associated funerary objects. In November of 2018, 
U.C. Santa Cruz requested that the Secretary, through the Native 
American Graves Protection and Repatriation Review Committee, recommend 
the proposed transfer of control of the culturally unidentifiable 
Native American human remains and associated funerary objects in this 
notice to the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band, a non-federally recognized 
Indian group. The Review Committee, acting pursuant to its 
responsibility under 25 U.S.C. 3006(c)(5), considered the request and 
U.C. Santa Cruz's determinations at its August of 2019 meeting, and 
recommended to the Secretary that the proposed transfer of control 
proceed. An October 2019 letter on behalf of the Secretary of Interior 
from the National Park Service Associate Director for Cultural 
Resources, Partnerships, and Science transmitted the Secretary's 
independent review and concurrence with the Review Committee that:
     No Indian Tribes or Indian groups objected to the proposed 
transfer of control, and
     the University of California, Santa Cruz may proceed with 
the agreed upon transfer of control of the culturally unidentifiable 
human remains and associated funerary objects to the Amah Mutsun Tribal 
Band, a non-federally recognized Indian group.

Transfer of control is contingent on the publication of a Notice of 
Inventory Completion in the Federal Register. This notice fulfills that 
requirement.

Additional Requestors and Disposition

    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 Diane 
Gifford-Gonzalez, Curator, Monterey Bay Archaeology Archives, 
University of California, Santa Cruz, 1156 High Street, Santa Cruz, CA 
95064-1077, telephone (831) 459-2633, 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 Amah Mutsun Tribal Band, a non-federally 
recognized Indian group, may proceed.
    The University of California, Santa Cruz is responsible for 
notifying the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band, a non-federally recognized 
Indian group, that this notice has been published.

    Dated: October 24, 2019.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2019-25734 Filed 11-26-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4312-52-P