[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 235 (Friday, December 10, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70524-70526]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-26769]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0033091; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: University of Colorado Museum, 
Boulder, CO

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The University of Colorado 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 University of Colorado 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 University of Colorado Museum at the 
address in this notice by January 10, 2022.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Samantha G. Fladd, University of 
Colorado Museum, 1030 Broadway, Boulder, CO 80309, telephone (303) 492-
6671, 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.

[[Page 70525]]

3003, of the completion of an inventory of human remains and associated 
funerary objects under the control of the University of Colorado 
Museum, Boulder, CO. The human remains and associated funerary objects 
were removed from Montezuma County and La Plata County, CO.
    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 
University of Colorado Museum professional staff in consultation with 
representatives of the Hopi Tribe of Arizona; Navajo Nation, Arizona, 
New Mexico, & Utah; Ohkay Owingeh, New Mexico [previously listed as 
Pueblo of San Juan]; Pueblo of Acoma, New Mexico; Pueblo of Isleta, New 
Mexico; Pueblo of Laguna, New Mexico; Pueblo of Pojoaque, New Mexico; 
Pueblo of San Ildefonso, New Mexico; Pueblo of Sandia, New Mexico; 
Pueblo of Santa Ana, New Mexico; Pueblo of Santa Clara, New Mexico; 
Pueblo of Tesuque, New Mexico; Southern Ute Indian Tribe of the 
Southern Ute Reservation, Colorado; Ute Mountain Ute Tribe [previously 
listed as Ute Mountain Tribe of the Ute Mountain Reservation, Colorado, 
New Mexico, & Utah); and the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo [previously listed 
as Ysleta Del Sur Pueblo of Texas]. The Pueblo of Cochiti, New Mexico; 
Pueblo of Jemez, New Mexico; Pueblo of Nambe, New Mexico; Pueblo of 
Picuris, New Mexico; Pueblo of San Felipe, New Mexico; Pueblo of Taos, 
New Mexico; Pueblo of Zia, New Mexico; Santo Domingo Pueblo [previously 
listed as Kewa Pueblo, New Mexico, and Pueblo of Santo Domingo]; and 
the Zuni Tribe of the Zuni Reservation, New Mexico were invited to 
consult but did not participate. Hereafter all Indian Tribes listed in 
this section are referred to as ``The Consulted and Invited Tribes''.

History and Description of the Remains

    At an unknown date, human remains representing, at minimum, one 
individual were removed from an unknown site in La Plata County, CO. In 
May 1961, they were purchased by the University of Colorado Museum from 
Gervis W. Hoofnagle and cataloged into the museum collection (catalog 
number 22264). Based on museum records, the human remains were 
collected near Durango, CO. Based on Mr. Hoofnagle's notebook entries 
and osteological analysis at the Metropolitan State University Human 
Identification Lab, the human remains are Native American. Based on Mr. 
Hoofnagle's notebook entries, the human remains are reasonably believed 
to be Puebloan. The human remains represent one adult, probably male. 
No known individual was identified. No associated funerary objects are 
present.
    Sometime between 1915 and 1935, human remains representing, at 
minimum, one individual were removed from a site one-half mile south of 
Durango, CO, in La Plata County, CO, by Earl H. Morris of the 
University of Colorado Museum. They were cataloged into the museum 
collection (catalog number 08546). Based on the acquisition date, 
museum records, and osteological analysis at the Metropolitan State 
University Human Identification Lab, the human remains are reasonably 
believed to be Native American. Based on provenience, site 
architecture, and ceramics recorded at the site dating to the 
Basketmaker III or Pueblo I time period, approximately A.D. 550-900, 
the human remains are reasonably believed to be Puebloan. The human 
remains represent one adult, probably female. No known individual was 
identified. The one associated funerary object is one bag of beads, 
cordage, soil, and nonhuman skeletal elements.
    Between 1954 and 1966, human remains representing, at minimum, 
three individuals (catalog numbers 09130, 09894, 17445) were removed 
from two sites near Yellow Jacket Pueblo (5MT1 and 5MT3), Montezuma 
County, CO, during legally conducted excavations by Dr. Joe Ben Wheat 
with students participating in archeological field schools sponsored by 
the University of Colorado Museum. The human remains and associated 
funerary objects were physically transferred to the museum at the end 
of each field season. Based on osteological analysis at the 
Metropolitan State University Human Identification Lab and museum 
documentation, the human remains originating from Yellow Jacket sites 
represent three adults (one female and two of indeterminate sex), and 
are reasonably believed to be Native American. No known individuals 
were identified. The six associated funerary objects are one lot of 
pottery sherds (catalog number 09034), one Olivella shell necklace 
(catalog number 09036), one lot of groundstone (catalog number 11454), 
and three lots of faunal remains (catalog numbers 17444, 17445 and 
17446.1).
    The habitation sites (identified on the National Register of 
Historic Places as the Joe Ben Wheat Site Complex), are situated at the 
head of Yellow Jacket Canyon to the west of Tatum Draw and southwest of 
the very large archeological site, Yellow Jacket Pueblo (5MT5). The 
Yellow Jacket burials were predominantly single interments, appearing 
in a wide variety of locations, including unoccupied rooms and kivas, 
storage pits, subfloor burial pits, extramural burial pits, and 
middens.
    The site complex was occupied at various times during the 
Basketmaker III, Pueblo II, and Pueblo III periods, approximately A.D. 
550-1250, with a hiatus in occupation during the Pueblo I period, A.D. 
750-900. Based on the general continuity in the material culture and 
architecture of these sites, it appears that the community that lived 
in this area had long-standing ties to the region and returned to the 
sites even after migrations away from the locale that lasted more than 
one hundred years. However, by the late 13th century, both the Yellow 
Jacket sites and the nearby Mesa Verde region showed no evidence of 
human habitation. The sites were not used again until the late 1920s 
when the locale was homesteaded and farmed.
    All individuals listed in this Notice of Inventory Completion are 
reasonably believed to be Puebloan based on the provenience, 
acquisition, museum collecting history, excavator history, and 
associated documentation. Based on a preponderance of evidence, a 
shared group identity can be traced between Puebloan peoples and modern 
Puebloan groups, based on oral tradition, historical evidence, 
folkloric, archeological, geographical, linguistic, kinship, and 
scientific studies. On file at the University of Colorado Museum is 
oral-tradition evidence, which consists of migration stories, clan 
histories, and origin stories provided by the Hopi Tribe of Arizona; 
Ohkay Owingeh, New Mexico [previously listed as Pueblo of San Juan]; 
Pueblo of Acoma, New Mexico; Pueblo of Isleta, New Mexico; Pueblo of 
Jemez, New Mexico; Pueblo of Laguna, New Mexico; Pueblo of Nambe, New 
Mexico; Pueblo of Pojoaque, New Mexico; Pueblo of San Ildefonso, New 
Mexico; Pueblo of Santa Ana, New Mexico; Pueblo of Santa Clara, New 
Mexico; Pueblo of Taos, New Mexico; Pueblo of Tesuque, New Mexico; 
Pueblo of Zia, New Mexico; Ysleta del Sur Pueblo [previously listed as 
Ysleta Del Sur Pueblo of Texas]; and the Zuni Tribe of the Zuni 
Reservation, New Mexico. The Museum also has on file

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linguistic evidence rooted in place names that has been provided by the 
Pueblo of Acoma, New Mexico; Pueblo of Nambe, New Mexico; Pueblo of San 
Ildefonso, New Mexico; and the Pueblo of Taos, New Mexico. The Museum 
also has on file archeological evidence based on architecture and 
material culture provided by the Pueblo of Cochiti, New Mexico; Pueblo 
of Nambe, New Mexico; Pueblo of San Ildefonso, New Mexico; and the 
Pueblo of Santa Clara, New Mexico.
    According to scientific studies and oral tradition evidence 
including migration stories, clan histories, and origin stories, the 
Navajo share some cultural practices with modern Pueblo peoples. The 
Navajo emphasize their long presence in the Four Corners and their 
origin in this area, but there is not a preponderance of evidence to 
support Navajo cultural affiliation to the human remains described in 
this notice.

Determinations Made by the University of Colorado Museum

    Officials of the University of Colorado Museum have determined 
that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice represent the physical remains of five individuals of 
Native American ancestry.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A), the seven 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 Hopi 
Tribe of Arizona; Ohkay Owingeh, New Mexico [previously listed as 
Pueblo of San Juan]; Pueblo of Acoma, New Mexico; Pueblo of Cochiti, 
New Mexico; Pueblo of Isleta, New Mexico; Pueblo of Jemez, New Mexico; 
Pueblo of Laguna, New Mexico; Pueblo of Nambe, New Mexico; Pueblo of 
Picuris, New Mexico; Pueblo of Pojoaque, New Mexico; Pueblo of San 
Felipe, New Mexico; Pueblo of San Ildefonso, New Mexico; Pueblo of 
Santa Ana, New Mexico; Pueblo of Santa Clara, New Mexico; Pueblo of 
Taos, New Mexico; Pueblo of Tesuque, New Mexico; Pueblo of Zia, New 
Mexico; Santo Domingo Pueblo [previously listed as Kewa Pueblo, New 
Mexico, and Pueblo of Santo Domingo]; Ysleta del Sur Pueblo [previously 
listed as Ysleta Del Sur Pueblo of Texas]; 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 Dr. Samantha G. Fladd, University of Colorado 
Museum, 1030 Broadway, Boulder, CO 80309, telephone (303) 492-6671, 
email [email protected], by January 10, 2022. 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 University of Colorado Museum is responsible for notifying The 
Consulted and Invited Tribes and The Tribes that this notice has been 
published.

    Dated: December 3, 2021.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2021-26769 Filed 12-9-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P