[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 235 (Friday, December 10, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70522-70523]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-26780]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0033080; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: Arizona Museum of Natural 
History, Mesa, AZ

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Arizona Museum of Natural History has completed an 
inventory of human remains and an associated funerary object, 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 object 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 object should submit a 
written request to the Arizona Museum of Natural History. If no 
additional requestors come forward, transfer of control of the human 
remains and associated funerary object 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 object should submit a written request with information in 
support of the request to the Arizona Museum of Natural History at the 
address in this notice by January 10, 2022.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Melanie Deer, Arizona Museum of 
Natural History, 53 N MacDonald, Mesa, AZ 85201, telephone (480) 644-
4381, 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 object under the control of the

[[Page 70523]]

Arizona Museum of Natural History, Mesa, AZ. The human remains and 
associated funerary object are most likely 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 object. 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 Arizona 
Museum of Natural History professional staff in consultation with 
representatives of the Gila River Indian Community of the Gila River 
Indian Reservation, Arizona and the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian 
Community of the Salt River Reservation, Arizona.

History and Description of the Remains

    On December 26, 1985, human remains representing, at minimum, one 
individual were removed from an unknown location most likely in the 
area of Phoenix, Maricopa County, AZ. The human remains and a redware 
vessel were donated to the Arizona Museum of Natural History by Ray 
Thomas. The human remains belong to an individual of unidentified age 
and sex. No known individual was identified. The one associated 
funerary object is a redware vessel.
    The style of the redware vessel indicates that it belongs to the 
Hohokam Material Culture. According to archeological understanding, the 
region from which these human remains were most likely collected was 
occupied by the Hohokam Material Culture in prehistoric times. In 
addition, according to archeological and ethnographic understandings, 
the Hohokam Material Culture group is ancestral to the Four Southern 
Tribes of Arizona (i.e., the Tohono O'odham Nation of 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 Ak-Chin Indian Community [previously 
listed as Ak Chin Indian Community of the Maricopa (Ak Chin) Indian 
Reservation, Arizona], as well as the Hopi Tribe of Arizona. The Four 
Southern Tribes of Arizona divide their ancestral lands so that each 
tribe oversees those portions of land situated closest to their 
reservations.

Determinations Made by the Arizona Museum of Natural History

    Officials of the Arizona Museum of Natural History have determined 
that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice represent the physical remains of one individual of 
Native American ancestry.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A), the one object described 
in this notice is 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 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; and 
the Tohono O'odham Nation of Arizona (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 object should submit a written request with information in 
support of the request to Melanie Deer, Arizona Museum of Natural 
History, 53 N Macdonald, Mesa, AZ 85201, telephone (480) 644-4381, 
email [email protected], by January 10, 2022. After that date, if 
no additional requestors have come forward, transfer of control of the 
human remains to The Tribes may proceed.
    The Arizona Museum of Natural History is responsible for notifying 
The Tribes that this notice has been published.

    Dated: December 1, 2021.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2021-26780 Filed 12-9-21; 8:45 am]
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