[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 8 (Thursday, January 12, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2129-2132]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-00464]


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

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0035093; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: New Mexico State University 
Museum, Las Cruces, NM; U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land 
Management, New Mexico State Office, Las Cruces, NM; and U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Gila National Forest, Silver 
City, NM, and Apache Sitgreaves National Forest, Springerville, AZ

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and 
Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the New Mexico State University Museum; U.S. 
Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management, New Mexico State 
Office; and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Gila 
National Forest and Apache Sitgreaves National Forest have completed an 
inventory of human remains and associated funerary objects and have 
determined that there is a cultural affiliation between the human 
remains and associated funerary objects and Indian Tribes or Native 
Hawaiian organizations in this notice. The human remains and associated 
funerary objects were removed from Apache County AZ, Do[ntilde]a Ana 
County, NM, Grant County, NM, Lincoln County, NM, Luna County, NM, 
Otero County, NM, Sierra County, NM and, in certain instances, from 
locations unknown.

DATES: Repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary 
objects in this notice may occur on or after February 13, 2023.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Fumi Arakawa, New Mexico State 
University Museum Director's Office, 1525 Stewart, Room 331, P.O. Box 
30001, MSC:3BV, Las Cruces, NM 88003-8001, 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 under 
the control of the New Mexico State University Museum (University 
Museum); U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management, 
New Mexico State Office (BLM); and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 
Forest Service, Gila National Forest, Silver City, NM (Gila NF), and 
Apache Sitgreaves National Forest, Springerville, AZ (Apache Sitgreaves 
NF), and in the physical custody of the New Mexico State University 
Museum.
    This notice is published as part of the National Park Service's 
administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA. The determinations in 
this notice are the sole responsibility of the University Museum, BLM, 
Gila NF, or Apache Sitgreaves NF. The National Park Service is not 
responsible for the determinations in this notice. Additional 
information on the determinations in this notice, including the results 
of consultation, can be found in the inventory or related records held 
by the University Museum.

Description

    Between 1950 and 2001, human remains representing a minimum of 288 
individuals and 1,079 associated funerary objects were acquired by the 
University Museum by various means. The University acquired many human 
remains and associated funerary objects through donations by private 
individuals from sites on private land. In several instances, the exact 
location and/or land status from which the donated human remains and 
associated funerary objects were removed is unknown. Human remains and 
associated funerary objects in custody of the University Museum that 
originate from federal land belonging to either BLM, Gila NF, or Apache 
Sitgreaves NF were acquired through archeological excavations or 
surveys that were sanctioned by the respective managing agency. The 
University Museum has control of the human remains and associated 
funerary objects removed from private lands that were acquired by means 
of donation and has custody of the human remains and associated 
funerary objects removed from federal land belonging either to the BLM, 
Gila NF, or Apache Sitgreaves NF.
    Aiken-Dearholt--Human remains representing, at minimum, four 
individuals were removed from a pueblo ruin in Chavez County, NM. In 
1932, human remains representing, at minimum, two individuals were 
removed by Mr. and Mrs. Aiken. On December 21, 1987, Mrs. Zelma Aiken 
donated a stone fetish and a small ceramic jar from known burial 
contexts at the pueblo to the University Museum. In 1999, the stone 
fetish and ceramic jar were identified as being ``unassociated funerary 
objects.'' On March 21, 2001, Mrs. Aiken's grandson, William R. 
Dearholt, donated additional funerary objects and human remains from 
the same pueblo. The donation included human remains representing, at 
minimum, two individuals. No known individuals were identified. The 
previous donated materials of a stone fetish and ceramic jar by Mrs. 
Zelma Aiken appear to have derived from the same burial contexts from 
which the two individuals were taken from. The 44 donated funerary 
objects by Mrs. Aiken and Mr. Dearholt together represent one red-on-
white bowl, one stone animal fetish, 12 Mimbres Black-on-white 
(oxidized) pottery sherds, and 30 Mimbres Black-on-white pottery 
sherds. Artifact typologies indicate the site dates to circa A.D. 750-
1150 suggesting a Mimbres-Mogollon cultural affiliation.
    Berrenda Creek (LA 12992)--In 1976, human remains representing, at 
minimum, eight individuals were removed by a New Mexico State 
University field school directed by J.R. Gomolak and Dabney Ford from 
the Berrenda Creek site Sierra County, NM. The site is on land managed 
by the Gila

[[Page 2130]]

NF. No known individuals were identified. The 107 associated funerary 
objects include four shell bracelets, one turquoise bead, one mineral 
sample, two manos, two metates, two flagstones, 72 shell beads, one 
shell strand, one shell pendant, two turquoise pendants, four snail 
shells, three Classic Mimbres Black-on-white ceramic bowls, three soil 
samples, eight pollen samples, and one carbon sample. Cultural items 
associated with the individuals are diagnostic of Mimbres-Mogollon 
cultural traditions. Habitation of the Berrenda Creek site dates from 
approximately A.D. 1000 to 1350.
    Breland Co-mingled--Human remains representing, at minimum, 138 
individuals were removed from unknown locations in New Mexico. The 
Breland Co-mingle is a research collection of New Mexico State 
University's Department of Anthropology that is made up of various 
elements from multiple human remains that have no known provenience. No 
known individuals were identified. The 122 associated funerary objects 
include potsherds consisting of black-on-white ceramic fragments, 
ceramic sherds, ceramic bowls, sandstone tools, polished bone, stone 
flakes, pebbles, and charcoal fragments. Artifact typologies indicate 
the individuals are from multiple sites within New Mexico and may date 
to between A.D. 750 and A.D.1450.
    Camien--In 1950, human remains representing, at minimum, one 
individual were donated to the University Museum by Professor Emeritus, 
Laiten L. Camien. Notes associated with the collection indicate that 
the individual was removed at an unknown date from a rock shelter in 
Pickett Spring Canyon near Kingston in Sierra County, NM. No known 
individual was identified. No associated funerary objects are present. 
There is insufficient information to estimate the age of the human 
remains.
    Chavez Cave (LA 5220)--Prior to 1977, human remains representing, 
at minimum, one individual were removed by private individuals from 
Chavez Cave near Las Cruces, Do[ntilde]a Ana County, NM. The site is on 
land managed by the BLM. The human remains were donated to the 
University Museum in 1976. No known individual was identified. No 
associated funerary objects are present. Mogollon habitation of 
Do[ntilde]a Ana County generally dates between approximately A.D. 200 
and 1400-1450.
    Cox Ranch (LA 923)--Human remains representing, at minimum, 30 
individuals were removed during a survey along a drainage system from 
the Black Range, east of the Continental Divide and west of Truth or 
Consequences, Sierra County, NM. No known individuals were identified. 
The 96 associated funerary objects include one bag of corn cob 
fragments, 23 lithic fragments, one metate, one mano, three stone 
tools, one shell bead, one donut stone, one bone needle fragment, one 
bone tool, one lump, one lot of red ochre, one lump white ochre, 17 
lithic flakes, one projectile point, and 42 potsherds. Cultural items 
excavated from the Cox Ranch site are diagnostic of Mimbres-Mogollon 
cultural traditions. Habitation of the Cox site dates from 
approximately A.D. 1000 to 1175.
    Dines Site--At an unknown date, human remains representing, at 
minimum, one individual were donated to the University Museum. No known 
individual was identified. Records indicate the individual was 
recovered from private land. No report with exact location coordinates 
or history of the collection is available. The 100 associated funerary 
objects include 25 lithic flakes and tools, one metate fragment, 53 
potsherds consisting of brownware and redware ceramic sherds, four Gila 
Polychrome ceramic sherds, one Playas Red ceramic sherd, five Chupadero 
Black-on-white sherds, seven Mimbres and Reserve style corrugated 
sherds, and four indented corrugated ceramic sherds. Cultural items 
associated with the individual are diagnostic of Mimbres-Mogollon and 
Salado cultural traditions. Artifact typologies indicate the Dines site 
dates between A.D. 750 and 1350.
    Fort Cummings (LA 6900)--In 1989, human remains representing, at 
minimum, one individual were removed from Dr. Edward Staski and New 
Mexico State University students from Fort Cummings, Luna County, NM. 
The individual is known to have been removed from the portion of the 
site that is on land managed by the BLM. No known individual was 
identified. The two associated funerary objects are one partial stone 
bead and one ceramic sherd of San Francisco Red. The ceramic sherd is 
representative of Mimbres-Mogollon ceramic traditions. Mimbres-Mogollon 
habitation of Luna County generally dates from approximately A.D 200 to 
1150.
    Garfield/Rio Vista (LA 1082)--In 1973, human remains representing, 
at minimum, two individuals were removed by Dr. Stanley Bussey and New 
Mexico State University students from the Garfield/Rio Vista site, 
Sierra County, NM. The individuals are known to have been removed from 
the portion of the site that is on land managed by the BLM. The human 
remains were accessioned by the University Museum in 1992. No known 
individuals were identified. The 152 associated funerary objects 
include one white pendant fragment, 53 black/white potsherds, 32 
restorable potsherds, 21 random potsherds, one red-on-white rim sherd, 
nine carbon and charcoal fragments, 31 animal bones, three pieces of 
adobe, and one indeterminate plainware sherd. Cultural items associated 
with the individuals are diagnostic of Mimbres-Mogollon cultural 
traditions. Habitation of the Garfield/Rio Vista site dates from 
approximately A.D. 600 to 1150.
    Gila National Forest Survey--In the 1970s, human remains 
representing, at minimum, six individuals were removed from an unknown 
number of sites managed by the Gila NF. No known individuals were 
identified. The removal of the individuals was connected to a group of 
surveys undertaken in the 1970s on various parcels of land within the 
Gila NF. The University Museum has no information regarding the exact 
location of the surveys or the findings associated with that survey. 
The eight associated funerary objects include one mineral specimen, one 
fossil shell, one obsidian flake, one obsidian projectile point, one 
ceramic handle, two rim sherds, and one maize corn cob. There is not 
sufficient information to make a reasonable estimate of the age of the 
individuals other than prehistoric.
    Kilburn--At an unknown date, human remains representing, at 
minimum, one individual were donated to the University Museum. No known 
individuals were identified. No associated funerary objects are 
present. No report was found associated with the Kilburn human remains, 
so exact location coordinates is unknown.
    Kingston Pueblo--At an unknown date, human remains representing, at 
minimum, of one individual were removed by students of Dr. El-Najjar at 
New Mexico State University from Kingston Pueblo in Sierra County, NM. 
No known individuals were identified. No associated funerary objects 
are present. Internal museum records note that the Kingston Pueblo site 
is of Mimbres-Mogollon affiliation and dates from between A.D. 1000 and 
1150/1200.
    Los Tules (LA 16315)--In 1980, human remains representing, at 
minimum, one individual were removed by Dr. Mahmoud El-Najjar and New 
Mexico State University students from the Los Tules site in Do[ntilde]a 
Ana County, NM. The individual is known to have been removed from the 
portion of the site that is on land managed by the BLM. The human 
remains were

[[Page 2131]]

accessioned by the University Museum in 1985. No known individuals were 
identified. The 105 associated funerary objects include two lithic 
flakes, one obsidian projectile point, 101 animal bone fragments, and 
one piece of yellow ochre. Cultural items excavated from Los Tules are 
diagnostic of Jornada-Mogollon cultural traditions. Jornada-Mogollon 
habitation of the Los Tules site dates from approximately A.D. 750 to 
1100.
    Pe[ntilde]a Blanca Shelter (LA 2891)--In the 1980s, human remains 
representing, at minimum, one individual were removed by Dr. Steadman 
Upham and New Mexico State University students from the Pe[ntilde]a 
Blanca Shelter, Do[ntilde]a Ana County, NM. The site is on land managed 
by the BLM. The human remains were accessioned by the University Museum 
in 1985. No known individuals were identified. No associated funerary 
objects are present. Cultural items excavated from the Pe[ntilde]a 
Blanca shelter are diagnostic of Jornada-Mogollon cultural traditions. 
Jornada-Mogollon habitation of the site dates from approximately A.D. 
578 to 1420.
    Roth Site (LA 73942)--Human remains representing, at minimum, seven 
individuals were removed from the Roth site, of which, five human 
remains are currently missing from the collection. In 1976, human 
remains representing a minimum of five individuals were removed from 
the Roth site by individuals associated with the El Paso Archaeological 
Society, but it is unknown where these human remains are. In 1982, 
human remains representing a minimum of two individuals were removed 
from the site as part of a New Mexico State University field school 
directed by Dr. Fred Plog. No known individuals were identified. The 
University Museum continues to look for the missing five individuals. 
The 78 associated funerary objects consist of one carbon sample, one 
sand sample, one soil sample, two pollen samples, 38 potsherds, 28 
lithic fragments, and seven beads. The associated funerary objects are 
diagnostic of Jornada-Mogollon cultural traditions. Artifact typologies 
indicate the Jornada-Mogollon habitation of the site dates between A.D. 
1200 and 1300.
    Ruidoso--In 1988, human remains representing, at minimum, two 
individuals were removed from Gonzales Farm near Ruidoso, Lincoln 
County, NM. It is unknown if the two individuals were recovered from 
the same site near Ruidoso. No known individuals were identified. The 
31 associated funerary objects include 25 Alma Plain ceramic sherds, 
one San Francisco Red sherd, and five animal remains. The associated 
funerary objects are diagnostic of Jornada-Mogollon cultural 
traditions. Artifact typologies indicate the two individuals date to 
between A.D. 400 and 1200.
    Sheriff Donor--In 1967, human remains representing, at minimum, six 
individuals were donated to the University Museum as part of a general 
collection by Mr. Robert Sheriff. No provenience information was 
provided in the donation documentation. All human remains were 
identified as prehistoric Native Americans. No known individuals were 
identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    Sonrisa Shelter (LA 104568)--In the 1980s, human remains 
representing, at minimum, one individual were removed by Dr. Steadman 
Upham and New Mexico State University students from Sonrisa Shelter, 
Do[ntilde]a Ana County, NM. The site is on land managed by the BLM. The 
human remains were accessioned by the University Museum in 1985. No 
known individual was identified. No associated funerary objects are 
present. Cultural items excavated from the Sonrisa Shelter are 
diagnostic of Archaic period cultural traditions. Archaic habitation of 
the site dates from approximately 1125 B.C. to 652 B.C.
    Springerville (AZE 8-10)--In 1975, human remains representing, at 
minimum, five individuals were removed by a New Mexico State University 
field school under Dr. Stanley Bussey from several small Mogollon sites 
near Springerville, Apache County, AZ. The selected Mogollon sites are 
near the junction of the Cibola, Black River, and Mimbres River 
Branches, AZ and are on lands managed by the Apache Sitgreaves NF. No 
known individuals were identified. The 46 associated funerary objects 
include four miscellaneous ceramic sherds, 24 black-on-red sherds, one 
black-on-white vessel handle, 13 black-on-red bowl fragments, one paho 
stick with three pieces, one wood pendant, one canine tooth, and one 
soil sample. The sites are designated Ancestral Pueblo. Artifact 
typologies indicate the sites date between A.D. 950 to 1150.
    Tennant--At an unknown date, human remains representing, at 
minimum, one individual were removed from Otero County, NM, and 
subsequently came into the possession of the University Museum. No 
known individual was identified. No associated funerary objects are 
present. No report was found associated with the Tennant site.
    Three Rivers (LA 4921)--Human remains representing, at minimum, six 
individuals were removed from the Three Rivers site. In 1975, human 
remains representing a minimum of three individuals along with three 
lots of artifacts from the Three Rivers site were loaned to the 
University Museum by the BLM. In 1976, human remains representing a 
minimum of three individuals were removed from the Three Rivers site by 
New Mexico University personnel with assistance from the U.S. Youth 
Conservation Corp. The human remains were accessioned by the University 
Museum in 1975 and 1984. No known individuals were identified. The 93 
associated funerary objects include a San Andres Broadline Red-on-
Terracotta bowl, a groundstone mano, two ceramic handles, five 
projectile points, five pieces of lithic debitage, 43 ceramic sherds of 
Chupadero Black-on-white, indeterminate El Paso brownware,16 Red-on-
Terracotta bowl fragments, one green schist bar, 14 animal bones, one 
carbon sample of unknown material, one Alma plainware sherd, one lithic 
fragment, and two animal bones. Cultural items excavated from the Three 
Rivers site are diagnostic of Jornada-Mogollon cultural traditions. 
Jornada-Mogollon habitation of the site dates from approximately A.D. 
500 to 1400-1450.
    Thorn Shelter (LA 104565)--In the 1980s, human remains 
representing, at minimum, one individual were removed by Dr. Steadman 
Upham and New Mexico State University students from Thorn Shelter, 
Do[ntilde]a Ana County, NM. The site is on land managed by the BLM. The 
human remains were accessioned by the University Museum in 1990. No 
known individual was identified. The four associated funerary objects 
are fragments of a rabbit fur cordage blanket. Cultural items excavated 
from the Thorn Shelter are diagnostic of Jornada-Mogollon cultural 
traditions. Jornada-Mogollon habitation of the site dates from 
approximately A.D. 700 to 1420.
    Unknown Donors--At an unknown date, human remains representing, at 
minimum, 61 individuals were donated to the University Museum. No known 
individuals were identified. These individuals and associated funerary 
objects have no known provenience, and there is no information 
regarding the original donation. The 91 associated funerary objects 
include three rim sherds, four ``killed'' Mimbres bowls, 10 Mimbres 
bowls, 13 Mimbres sherds, 21 potsherds, four Mimbres whiteware sherds, 
three Alma Plain sherds, one ceramic handle, 17 stone flakes, one 
sandstone sphere, one yucca sandal, one corn cob, and 12 clay samples. 
The associated funerary objects are

[[Page 2132]]

diagnostic of Mimbres-Mogollon cultural traditions.
    White Sands Missile Range--In 1978, human remains representing, at 
minimum, two individuals were received by Dr. Mahmoud El-Najjar of New 
Mexico State University and at some point, placed in the University 
Museum. The only information about the human remains comes from a 
handwritten note found in the records. It indicates the following: 
``Jim'' from the Office of Installation/Command at White Sands Missile 
Range had found two cranial fragments on a grated road on the range and 
turned them into the Fairacres Post Office. The exact location of the 
human remains was not indicated but likely originate from some location 
in Do[ntilde]a Ana, Otero, or Sierra Counties, NM. The notes further 
indicate the human remains were from two Native American individuals. 
No known individuals were identified. No associated funerary objects 
were present.

Cultural Affiliation

    The human remains and associated funerary objects in this notice 
are connected to one or more identifiable earlier groups, tribes, 
peoples, or cultures. There is a relationship of shared group identity 
between the identifiable earlier groups, tribes, peoples, or cultures 
and one or more Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations. The 
following types of information were used to reasonably trace the 
relationship: anthropological information, archeological information, 
and information derived during consultation.

Determinations

    Pursuant to NAGPRA and its implementing regulations, and after 
consultation with the appropriate Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian 
organizations, the New Mexico State University Museum, Bureau of Land 
Management, Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest, and Gila National Forest 
have determined that:
     The human remains described in this notice represent the 
physical remains of 288 individuals.
     The 1,079 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.
     There is a relationship of shared group identity that can 
be reasonably traced between the human remains and associated funerary 
objects described in this notice and the Comanche Nation, Oklahoma; 
Hopi Tribe of Arizona; Navajo Nation, Arizona; Mescalero Apache Tribe 
of the Mescalero Reservation, New Mexico; Pueblo of Acoma, New Mexico; 
Pueblo of Jemez, New Mexico; Pueblo of Santa Ana, New Mexico; Pueblo of 
Tesuque, New Mexico; Santo Domingo Pueblo (previously listed as Kewa 
Pueblo, New Mexico, and as Pueblo of Santo Domingo); White Mountain 
Apache Tribe of the Fort Apache Reservation, Arizona; Ysleta del Sur 
Pueblo (previously listed as Ysleta Del Sur Pueblo of Texas); and the 
Zuni Tribe of the Zuni Reservation, New Mexico.

Requests for Repatriation

    Written requests for repatriation of the human remains and 
associated funerary objects in this notice must be sent to the 
Responsible Official identified in the For Further Information Contact 
section. Requests for repatriation may be submitted by:
    1. Any one or more of the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian 
organizations identified in this notice.
    2. Any lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian 
organization not identified in this notice who shows, by a 
preponderance of the evidence, that the requestor is a lineal 
descendant or a culturally affiliated Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian 
organization.
    Repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects 
in this notice to a requestor may occur on or after February 13, 2023. 
If competing requests for repatriation are received, the museum or 
federal agency in control of the human remains University Museum; BLM; 
Gila NF or Apache Sitgreaves NF) must determine the most appropriate 
requestor prior to repatriation. Requests for joint repatriation of the 
human remains and associated funerary objects are considered a single 
request and not competing requests. The University Museum is 
responsible for sending a copy of this notice to the Indian Tribes and 
Native Hawaiian organizations identified in this notice.
    Authority: Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, 
25 U.S.C. 3003, and the implementing regulations, 43 CFR 10.9, 10.10, 
and 10.14.

    Dated: January 4, 2023.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2023-00464 Filed 1-11-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P