[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 39 (Monday, February 28, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11088-11091]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-04109]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0033436; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Intent To Repatriate Cultural Items: U.S. Department of 
the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Washington, DC, and Pueblo 
Grande Museum, City of Phoenix, AZ

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs 
(BIA), Washington, DC, assisted by the Pueblo Grande Museum (PGM), in 
consultation with the appropriate Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian 
organizations, have determined that the cultural items listed in this 
notice meet the definition of either unassociated funerary objects or 
sacred objects. Lineal descendants or representatives of any Indian 
Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice 
that wish to claim these cultural items should submit a written request 
to the BIA through PGM. If no additional claimants come forward, 
transfer of control of the cultural items 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 
claim these cultural items should submit a written request with 
information in support of the claim to the BIA through PGM at the 
address in this notice by March 30, 2022.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 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. 3005, of the intent to repatriate cultural items under the 
control of the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian 
Affairs, Washington, DC, and in the physical custody of the Pueblo 
Grande Museum, City of Phoenix, AZ, that meet the definition of either 
unassociated funerary objects or sacred objects under 25 U.S.C. 3001.
    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 cultural items. The National Park Service is not responsible 
for the determinations in this notice.

History and Description of the Cultural Items

    In December of 1939, 184 cultural items were removed from site AZ 
T:12:3(PGM)/AZ T:12:9(ASM)/SRVSS Site 6/Villa Buena, located within the 
boundaries of the Gila River Indian Reservation, Maricopa County, AZ. 
These items were excavated by personnel from the Salt River Valley 
Stratigraphic Survey (SRVSS), who were working out of PGM under a 
permit issued by the U.S. Department of the Interior. The cultural 
items, comprising 12 unassociated funerary objects and 172 sacred 
objects, have been housed at PGM since they were excavated. The 12 
unassociated funerary items are one ceramic bowl, one ceramic disk, two 
ceramic jars, one lot of ceramic sherds, one grinding stone, three lots 
of shell beads, two shells, and one stone projectile point/drill. The 
172 sacred objects are two ceramic censer fragments, three ceramic 
figurine fragments, one ceramic thick-walled vessel fragment, three 
crystal/quartz objects, seven worked faunal bones, 39 lots of shell 
beads, three shell bracelets, 37 lots of shell fragments, 48 shell 
ornaments, three shell tinklers, two stone mortars/stones with 
depression, two stone ornaments, one stone plummet, six stone rings, 
and 15 stone projectile points.
    Site AZ T:12:3(PGM)/AZ T:12:9(ASM)/SRVSS Site 6/Villa Buena 
contained ballcourts, house mounds, and a compound. Based on ceramic 
types and architectural forms, the site was likely occupied during the 
Sweetwater through Civano phases of the Hohokam cultural sequence (A.D. 
550-1450).
    In October of 1939, 14 cultural items were removed from site AZ 
U:9:13(ASM)/AZ U:9:15(PGM)/SRVSS Site 23, located within the exterior 
boundaries of the Salt River Indian Reservation, Maricopa County, AZ. 
These items were excavated by personnel from the SRVSS, who were 
working out of PGM under a permit issued by the U.S. Department of the 
Interior. The cultural items have been housed at PGM since they were 
excavated. The 14 sacred objects are one ceramic figurine fragment, two 
shell bracelets, four shell ornaments, one stone canopas or medicine 
stone, three stone palettes, one stone ornament, one stone projectile 
point, and one worked stone.
    Site AZ U:9:13(ASM)/AZ U:9:15(PGM)/SRVSS Site 23 contained nine 
trash mounds, multiple burials, and a canal. The material culture 
spanned the Estrella through Civano phases of the Hohokam cultural 
sequence (A.D. 450-1450).
    In October of 1939, 24 cultural items were removed from site AZ 
U:9:16(PGM)/SRVSS Site 24, located within the exterior boundaries of 
the Salt River Indian Reservation, Maricopa County, AZ. These items 
were excavated by personnel from the SRVSS, who were working out of PGM 
under a permit issued by the U.S. Department of the Interior. The 
cultural items have been housed at PGM since they were excavated. The 
24 sacred objects are 10 ceramic figurine fragments, eight ceramic 
bracelets, one shell ornament, four stone palettes, and one dog burial.
    Site AZ U:9:16(PGM)/SRVSS Site 24 contained a compound, a house 
mound, 21 trash mounds, and a burial area. Based on architectural 
morphology and ceramic types, occupation spanned the Estrella through 
Civano phases of the Hohokam cultural sequence (A.D. 450-1450).
    In 1939, one cultural item was removed from site AZ U:9:18(PGM)/
SRVSS Site 26, located within the exterior boundaries of the Salt River 
Indian Reservation, Maricopa County, AZ. This item was excavated by 
personnel from the SRVSS, who were working out of PGM under a permit 
issued by the U.S. Department of the Interior. The cultural item has 
been housed at PGM since it was excavated. The one sacred object is a 
dog burial.
    Site AZ U:9:18(PGM)/SRVSS Site 26 contained a compound, two trash 
mounds, a sherd area, and a burial area. Based on the material culture, 
occupation spanned the Sacaton through Civano phases of the Hohokam 
cultural sequence (A.D. 900-1450).
    In June through August of 1939, 28 cultural items were removed from 
site AZ U:9:28(PGM)/SRVSS Site 62, located within the exterior 
boundaries of the Salt River Indian Reservation, Maricopa County, AZ. 
The items were excavated by personnel from the SRVSS, who were working 
out of PGM under a permit

[[Page 11089]]

issued by the U.S. Department of the Interior. The cultural items have 
been housed at PGM since they were excavated. The 28 sacred objects are 
one ceramic censer fragment, one ceramic effigy vessel fragment, three 
ceramic figurine fragments, three worked faunal bones, one lot of shell 
beads, one shell bracelet, two lots of shell fragments, 12 shell 
ornaments, one stone mortar/stone with depression, one stone ring, and 
two dog burials.
    Site AZ U:9:28(PGM)/SRVSS Site 62 contained house mounds, trash 
mounds, and possibly a ballcourt. Based on ceramic types, the site was 
likely occupied from the Santa Cruz through Sacaton phases of the 
Hohokam cultural sequence (A.D. 850-1150).
    In May of 1939, one cultural item was removed from site AZ 
U:9:29(PGM)/SRVSS Site 63, located within the exterior boundaries of 
the Salt River Indian Reservation, Maricopa County, AZ. This item was 
excavated by personnel from the SRVSS, who were working out of PGM 
under a permit issued by the U.S. Department of the Interior. The 
cultural item has been housed at PGM since it was excavated. The sacred 
object is one lot of shell fragments.
    Site AZ U:9:29(PGM)/SRVSS Site 63 contained a sherd area and a 
round house. Based on architectural morphology and ceramic types, 
occupation was likely associated with the Soho through Civano phases of 
the Hohokam cultural sequence (A.D. 1150-1450) and historic O'odham 
culture (A.D. 1800-1939).
    In 1939, two cultural items were removed from site AZ Z:2:1(PGM)/
SRVSS Site 69, located within the exterior boundaries of the Gila Bend 
Indian Reservation, Maricopa County, AZ. These items were excavated by 
personnel from the SRVSS, who were working out of PGM under a permit 
issued by the U.S. Department of the Interior. The cultural items have 
been housed at PGM since they were excavated. The two sacred objects 
are one lot of shell tinklers and one worked stone.
    Site AZ Z:2:1(PGM)/SRVSS Site 69 contained a large sherd area. 
Based on ceramic types, occupation likely spanned the Gila Butte 
through Sacaton and Civano phases of the Hohokam cultural sequence 
(A.D. 750-1450).
    In 1939, four cultural items were removed from site AZ T:16:1(PGM)/
SRVSS Site 85, located within the exterior boundaries of the Gila River 
Indian Reservation, Maricopa County, AZ. These items were excavated by 
personnel from the SRVSS, who were working out of PGM under a permit 
issued the U.S. Department of the Interior. The cultural items have 
been housed at PGM since they were excavated. The four sacred objects 
are one shell bracelet, one lot of shell fragments, one worked faunal 
bone, and one worked stone.
    Site AZ T:16:1(PGM)/SRVSS Site 85 contained round houses and 
ceramics associated with historic O'odham culture, and it was likely 
occupied during the years (A.D. 1700-1939).
    In 1939, six cultural items were removed from site AZ T:16:8(ASM)/
AZ T:16:2(PGM)/SRVSS Site 86, located within the exterior boundaries of 
the Gila River Indian Reservation, Maricopa County, AZ. These items 
were excavated by personnel from the SRVSS, who were working out of PGM 
under a permit issued by the U.S. Department of the Interior. The 
cultural items have been housed at PGM since they were excavated. The 
six sacred objects are one shell bracelet, two shell ornaments, one 
stone mortar/stone with depression, and two stone palettes.
    Site AZ T:16:8(ASM)/AZ T:16:2(PGM)/SRVSS Site 86 contained 
ballcourts, trash mounds, and a cremation area associated with the Gila 
Butte through Sacaton phases of the Hohokam cultural sequence (A.D. 
750-1150).
    In October of 1939, 25 cultural items were removed from site AZ 
U:9:33(PGM)/SRVSS Site 90, located within the exterior boundaries of 
the Salt River Indian Reservation, Maricopa County, AZ. These items 
were excavated by personnel from the SRVSS, who were working out of PGM 
under a permit issued by the U.S. Department of the Interior. The 
cultural items, comprising three unassociated funerary objects and 22 
sacred objects, have been housed at PGM since they were excavated. The 
three unassociated funerary objects are one axe/grinding stone, one 
hammerstone, and one polishing stone. The 22 sacred objects are two 
ceramic effigy vessel fragments, one ceramic figurine fragment, one 
ceramic spindle whorl fragment, three crystal/quartz objects, two 
worked faunal bones, two lots of shell beads, two shell bracelets, five 
lots of shell fragments, two shell ornaments, one stone projectile 
point, and one worked stone.
    Site AZ U:9:33(PGM)/SRVSS Site 90 contained seven trash mounds, a 
house area, canals, and a cremation area. Based on architectural forms 
and ceramic types, occupation likely spanned the Gila Butte through 
Civano phases of the Hohokam cultural sequence (A.D. 750-1450).
    In 1939, three cultural items were removed from site AZ 
U:13:2(PGM)SRVSS Site 92, located within the exterior boundaries of the 
Gila River Indian Reservation, Maricopa County, AZ. These items were 
excavated by personnel from the SRVSS, who were working out of PGM 
under a permit issued by the U.S. Department of the Interior. The 
cultural items have been housed at PGM since they were excavated. The 
three sacred objects are one shell bracelet, one lot of shell 
fragments, and one stone projectile point.
    Site AZ U:13:2(PGM)SRVSS Site 92 contained a house mound and trash 
mound. Based on ceramic types and architectural forms, occupation 
likely spanned the Snaketown through Civano phases of the Hohokam 
cultural sequence (A.D. 600-1450).
    In 1939, five cultural items were removed from site 
AZU:13:3(PGM)SRVSS Site 93, located within the exterior boundaries of 
the Gila River Indian Reservation, Maricopa County, AZ. These items 
were excavated by personnel from the SRVSS, who were working out of PGM 
under a permit issued by the U.S. Department of the Interior. The 
cultural items have been housed at PGM since they were excavated. The 
five sacred objects are two crystal/quartz objects, one shell bracelet, 
one lot of shell fragments, and one stone ring.
    Site AZ U:13:3(PGM)SRVSS Site 93 contained house mounds and ramada 
areas. It has been described as an early historic Pima village. Based 
on the material culture and historic documents, the site was likely 
occupied during the years (A.D. 1700-1939).
    In 1939, three cultural items were removed from site AZ 
U:14:2(PGM)/SRVSS Site 94, located within the exterior boundaries of 
the Gila River Indian Reservation, Maricopa County, AZ. These items 
were excavated by personnel from the SRVSS, who were working out of PGM 
under a permit issued by the U.S. Department of the Interior. The 
cultural items have been housed at PGM since they were excavated. The 
three sacred objects are one shell bracelet, one lot of shell 
fragments, and one worked stone.
    Site AZ U:14:2(PGM)/SRVSS Site 94 contained a house mound 
associated with the Sacaton to Civano phases of the Hohokam cultural 
sequence (A.D. 900-1450).
    In 1940, 33 cultural items were removed from site AZ U:9:35(PGM)/
SRVSS Site 95, located within the exterior boundaries of the Gila River 
Indian Reservation, Maricopa County, AZ. These items were excavated by

[[Page 11090]]

personnel from the SRVSS, who were working out of PGM under a permit 
issued by the U.S. Department of the Interior. The cultural items have 
been housed at PGM since they were excavated. The 33 sacred objects are 
seven ceramic figurine fragments, two ceramic thick-walled vessel 
fragments, two worked faunal bones, one shell bracelet, two lots of 
shell fragments, six shell ornaments, three stone mortars/stones with 
depression, two stone palettes, one stone plummet, six stone projectile 
points, and one worked stone.
    Site AZ U:9:35(PGM)/SRVSS Site 95 contained eight trash mounds and 
cremation areas. Based on ceramic types, occupation likely spanned the 
Estrella through Civano phases of the Hohokam cultural sequence (A.D. 
450-1450).
    In 1940, one cultural item was removed from SRVSS Site 98, located 
within the exterior boundaries of the Gila River Indian Reservation, 
Maricopa County, AZ. This item was excavated by personnel from the 
SRVSS, who were working out of PGM under a permit issued by the U.S. 
Department of the Interior. The cultural item has been housed at PGM 
since it was excavated. The one sacred object is a shell bracelet.
    SRVSS Site 98 contained a trash mound. Based on the material 
culture, occupation likely spanned the Gila Butte through Sacaton 
phases of the Hohokam cultural sequence (A.D. 750-1150).
    In 1940, two cultural items were removed from SRVSS Site 99, 
located within the exterior boundaries of the Gila River Indian 
Reservation, Maricopa County, AZ. These items were excavated by 
personnel from the SRVSS, who were working out of PGM under a permit 
issued by the U.S. Department of the Interior. The cultural items have 
been housed at PGM since they were excavated. The sacred objects are 
two stone mortars/stones with depression in each of them.
    SRVSS Site 99 contained a trash mound. Based on the material 
culture, occupation likely spanned the Santa Cruz to Sacaton phases of 
the Hohokam cultural sequence (A.D. 800-1150).
    In 1940, three cultural items were removed from SRVSS Site 102, 
located within the exterior boundaries of the Gila River Indian 
Reservation, Maricopa County, AZ. These items were excavated by 
personnel from the SRVSS, who were working out of PGM under a permit 
issued by the U.S. Department of the Interior. The cultural items have 
been housed at PGM since they were excavated. The three sacred objects 
are two lots of shell fragments and one shell tinkler.
    SRVSS Site 102 contained three trash mounds. Based on the material 
culture, occupation likely spanned the Snaketown through Civano phases 
of the Hohokam cultural sequence (A.D. 600-1450).
    In 1940, one cultural item was removed from SRVSS Site 103, located 
within the exterior boundaries of the Gila River Indian Reservation, 
Maricopa County, AZ. This item was excavated by personnel from the 
SRVSS, who were working out of PGM under a permit issued by the U.S. 
Department of the Interior. The cultural item has been housed at PGM 
since it was excavated. The sacred object is a shell bracelet.
    SRVSS Site 103 contained a trash mound. Based on the material 
culture, occupation likely spanned the Snaketown through Sacaton phases 
of the Hohokam cultural sequence (A.D. 600-1150).
    In 1940, two cultural items were removed from SRVSS Site 104, 
located within the exterior boundaries of the Gila River Indian 
Reservation, Maricopa County, AZ. These items were excavated by 
personnel from the SRVSS, who were working out of PGM under a permit 
issued by the U.S. Department of the Interior. The cultural items have 
been housed at PGM since they were excavated. The two sacred objects 
are one ceramic effigy vessel fragment and one worked stone.
    SRVSS Site 104 contained a trash mound. Based on the material 
culture, occupation likely spanned the Santa Cruz through Soho phases 
of the Hohokam cultural sequence (A.D. 800-1300).
    In 1940, two cultural items were removed from SRVSS Site 105, 
located within the exterior boundaries of the Gila River Indian 
Reservation, Maricopa County, AZ. These items were excavated by 
personnel from the SRVSS, who were working out of PGM under a permit 
issued by the U.S. Department of the Interior. The cultural items have 
been housed at PGM since they were excavated. The two sacred objects 
are one shell ornament and one stone projectile point.
    SRVSS Site 105 contained a trash mound. Based on the material 
culture, occupation likely spanned the Santa Cruz through Civano phases 
of the Hohokam cultural sequence (A.D. 800-1450).
    In 1963, one cultural item was removed by an unidentified person 
from the ``Snaketown area,'' most likely site AZ U:13:1(ASM), located 
within the exterior boundaries of the Gila River Indian Reservation, 
Maricopa County, AZ. The item was transferred to PGM sometime prior to 
1995. The one unassociated funerary object is a ceramic bowl.
    Site AZ U:13:1(ASM) was a large village containing canals, plazas, 
ballcourts, house groups, and a caliche-capped mound. Based on ceramic 
types, architectural forms, and other material culture attributes, the 
site was likely occupied from the Snaketown through Sacaton phases of 
the Hohokam cultural sequence (A.D. 600-1150).
    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 
a single cultural group known as the O'odham. Cultural continuity 
between the prehistoric Hohokam archeological culture and present-day 
O'odham people 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 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--hereafter referred to as 
``The Tribes''--also support the cultural affiliation of these present-
day Indian Tribes with Hohokam archeological sites and historical 
O'odham villages in central and southern Arizona.
    A review of archeological field notes and reports shows that the 
cultural items listed in this notice as unassociated funerary objects 
were placed with individual human remains at the time of burial. During 
consultations, 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 shared 
the information that intentionally buried canid remains are considered 
sacred because they are imbued with human spirit. Traditional knowledge 
relates that these animals communicate with humans during curing 
ceremonies and in other ways, and reinforces the belief that this role 
makes them sacred objects. The tribal consultants also affirmed that 
the other cultural items listed in this notice as sacred objects are 
specific

[[Page 11091]]

ceremonial objects utilized in traditional religious practices.

Determinations Made by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of 
Indian Affairs, Joined by the Pueblo Grande Museum

    Officials of the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian 
Affairs, joined by the Pueblo Grande Museum have determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(B), 16 of the cultural items 
described above 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 and are believed, by a preponderance of the 
evidence, to have been removed from the specific burial sites of Native 
American individuals.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(C), 329 of the cultural 
items described above are specific ceremonial objects needed by 
traditional Native American religious leaders for the practice of 
traditional Native American religions by their present-day adherents.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(2), there is a relationship of 
shared group identity that can be reasonably traced between the 
unassociated funerary objects and sacred objects and 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 claim 
these cultural items should submit a written request with information 
in support of the claim to Lindsey Vogel-Teeter, Pueblo Grande Museum, 
4619 E Washington Street, Phoenix, AZ 85034, telephone (602) 534-1572, 
email [email protected], by March 30, 2022. After that 
date, if no additional claimants have come forward, transfer of control 
of the unassociated funerary objects and sacred objects to The Tribes 
may proceed.
    The U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs, 
assisted by the Pueblo Grande Museum, is responsible for notifying The 
Tribes that this notice has been published.

    Dated: February 16, 2022.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2022-04109 Filed 2-25-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P