[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 244 (Friday, December 18, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 82507-82508]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-27876]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0031240; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: Pueblo Grande Museum, Phoenix, AZ

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Pueblo Grande Museum 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 Pueblo Grande Museum. 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 Pueblo Grande Museum at the address in 
this notice by January 19, 2021.

ADDRESSES: Lindsey Vogel-Teeter, Pueblo Grande Museum, 4619 E 
Washington Street, Phoenix, AZ 85034, telephone (602) 534-1572, 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 Pueblo Grande 
Museum, Phoenix, AZ. The human remains and associated funerary objects 
were removed from Maricopa 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 Pueblo 
Grande Museum professional staff in consultation with representatives 
of the Gila River Indian Community of the Gila River Indian 
Reservation, Arizona; Hopi Tribe of Arizona; Salt River Pima-Maricopa 
Indian Community of the Salt River Reservation, Arizona; and the Zuni 
Tribe of the Zuni Reservation, New Mexico.

History and Description of the Remains

    The Pueblo Grande Museum (PGM) has determined that all of the human 
remains and associated funerary objects listed in this notice are 
associated with the Hohokam archeological culture (A.D. 1-1450).
    Between 1978 and 1979, human remains representing, at minimum, 19 
individuals were removed during excavations conducted at site AZ 
U:9:1(ASM)/Pueblo Grande in Maricopa County, AZ. Although the human 
remains have been kept in the collections of PGM since they were 
excavated, the majority of them were not identified as human until 
2018, during a review of the faunal collection.

[[Page 82508]]

PGM believes the excavations likely encountered a concentration of 
infant inhumations and cremations that were unnoticed at the time and, 
therefore, were not documented as burials. The human remains include 
six infant or fetal inhumations, three inhumations of adolescents or 
adults, eight cremations, and two isolated individuals of undetermined 
age. No known individuals were identified. PGM identified associated 
funerary objects through locational information contained in the 
excavation field notes. The 227 associated funerary objects are 67 lots 
of red-on-buff, buffware, and plainware ceramic sherds; 24 pollen 
samples; 15 flotation sample; 67 lots of faunal and shell remains; 27 
lots of lithics; five shell or stone ornaments; one mineral sample; two 
manos; four ceramic bowls; two ceramic scoops; two projectile points; 
one insect nest; three lots charcoal; one palette; one stone ring; and 
five spindle whorls.
    Sometime prior to 2004, human remains representing, at minimum, 15 
individuals were excavated from either La Ciudad or site AZ U:9:1(ASM)/
Pueblo Grande, both of which are in Maricopa County, AZ. The human 
remains were discovered at PGM in 2004, but were not identified as 
human until 2020, during a review of the faunal collection. The human 
remains belong to individuals of varying ages and sexes and include 14 
inhumations and one cremation. No known individuals were identified. No 
associated funerary objects are present.
    The Ak-Chin Indian Community (previously listed as Ak Chin Indian 
Community of the Maricopa (Ak Chin) Indian Reservation, Arizona); Gila 
River Indian Community of the Gila River Indian Reservation, Arizona; 
Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community of the Salt River 
Reservation, Arizona; and the Tohono O'Odham Nation of Arizona comprise 
one cultural group known as the O'Odham. Cultural continuity between 
the prehistoric Hohokam archeological culture and present-day O'Odham 
peoples is supported by continuities in settlement pattern, 
architectural technologies, basketry, textiles, ceramic technology, and 
ritual practices. Oral traditions that are documented for the Ak Chin 
Indian Community (previously lised as Ak-Chin Indian Community of the 
Maricopa (Ak Chin) Indian Reservation, Arizona; Gila River Indian 
Community of the Gila River Indian Reservation, Arizona; Salt River 
Pima-Maricopa Indian Community of the Salt River Reservation, Arizona; 
and the Tohono O'Odham Nation of Arizona support their cultural 
affiliation with Hohokam archeological sites in central and southern 
Arizona.
    The Hopi Tribe of Arizona considers all of Arizona to be within 
traditional Hopi lands or within areas where Hopi clans migrated in the 
past. Oral traditions and material culture that are documented for the 
Hopi Tribe support their cultural affiliation with Hohokam sites in 
central and southern Arizona. Several Hopi clans and religious 
societies are derived from ancestors who migrated from the south, and 
likely identified with the Hohokam archeological culture.
    Migration from portions of the Southwest to present-day Zuni are 
documented in the oral traditions of kivas, priesthoods, and medicine 
societies of the Zuni Tribe of the Zuni Reservation, New Mexico. These 
traditions support their affiliation with the central and southern 
Arizona Hohokam archeological culture. Historical linguistic analysis 
also suggests interaction between ancestral Zuni and Uto-Aztecan 
speakers during the late Hohokam period.

Determinations Made by the Pueblo Grande Museum

    Officials of the Pueblo Grande Museum have determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice represent the physical remains of 34 individuals of 
Native American ancestry.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A), the 227 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 Ak-Chin 
Indian Community (previously listed as the Ak Chin Indian Community 
(previously listed as Ak-Chin Indian Community of the Maricopa (Ak 
Chin) Indian Reservation, Arizona); Gila River Indian Community of the 
Gila River Indian Reservation, Arizona; Hopi Tribe of Arizona; Salt 
River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community of the Salt River Reservation, 
Arizona; Tohono O'Odham Nation of Arizona; and the Zuni Tribe of the 
Zuni Reservation, New Mexico (hereafter referred to as ``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 Lindsey Vogel-Teeter, Pueblo Grande Museum, 
4619 E Washington Street, Phoenix, AZ 85034, telephone (602) 534-1572, 
email [email protected], by January 19, 2021. 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 Pueblo Grande Museum is responsible for notifying The Tribes 
that this notice has been published.

    Dated: December 9, 2020.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2020-27876 Filed 12-17-20; 8:45 am]
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