[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 8 (Thursday, January 11, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1943-1944]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-00434]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0037219; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: Denver Museum of Nature & 
Science, Denver, CO

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and 
Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Denver Museum of Nature & Science (DMNS) 
has completed an inventory of human remains and has determined that 
there is a cultural affiliation between the human remains and Indian 
Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice. The human 
remains were removed from the Magic Mountain site, 5JF223, Jefferson 
County, CO.

DATES: Repatriation of the human remains in this notice may occur on or 
after February 12, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Michele L. Koons, Curator of Archaeology, Denver Museum of 
Nature & Science, 2001 Colorado Boulevard, Denver, CO 80205, telephone 
(303) 370-6457, email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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 
Denver Museum of Nature & Science. 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 Denver Museum of Nature & Science.

Description

    Between 1939 and 1941, human remains representing, at minimum, one 
individual were removed from the Magic Mountain site, 5JF223, in 
Jefferson County, CO, by Harold and Elizabeth (Betty) Huscher. In 1940, 
the Huschers donated the collection to the Colorado Museum of Natural 
History, now DMNS. In 2019, DMNS staff processed several bags labeled 
``faunal remains'' from the Huscher excavation. Analysis shows that 
nine of those ``faunal remains'' are actually human bone fragments 
(A540.18-R). The Huschers excavated animal remains from the site and 
inadvertently mixed in human remains. The bone fragments are associated 
with the Early Ceramic period occupational component of the site, which 
dates approximately 200 to 1000 C.E. No associated funerary objects are 
present.
    Between 1971 and 1972, human remains representing, at minimum, five 
individuals were removed from the Magic Mountain site, 5JF223, in 
Jefferson County, CO, by Metropolitan State College of Denver (now the 
Metropolitan State University of Denver). In 2007, the Center of

[[Page 1944]]

Southwest Studies, Fort Lewis College, acquired part of the Magic 
Mountain collection from the Rimrocker Historical Society. The Rimrock 
Historical Society originally accepted the materials as part of a 
larger donation in 1998 from Dr. Jonathan Kent of Metropolitan State 
College of Denver (now the Metropolitan State University of Denver). In 
April 2023, DMNS staff learned of the Center of Southwest Studies, Fort 
Lewis College Magic Mountain collection. Both parties agreed to 
transfer the materials to DMNS in 2023 since the Museum holds the 
majority of the collections from the site. Prior to transfer analysis 
conducted by Dr. Dawn Mulhern identified 31 bone fragments. No 
associated funerary objects are present.

Cultural Affiliation

    The human remains 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, biological information, folklore, 
geographical information, historical information, kinship, linguistics, 
oral tradition, other relevant information, or expert opinion.

Determinations

    Pursuant to NAGPRA and its implementing regulations, and after 
consultation with the appropriate Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian 
organizations, the Denver Museum of Nature & Science has determined 
that:
     The human remains described in this notice represent the 
physical remains of six individuals of Native American ancestry.
     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 Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes, 
Oklahoma; Northern Arapaho Tribe of the Wind River Reservation, 
Wyoming; Northern Cheyenne Tribe of the Northern Cheyenne Indian 
Reservation, Montana; Southern Ute Indian Tribe of the Southern Ute 
Reservation, Colorado; Ute Indian Tribe of the Uintah & Ouray 
Reservation, Utah; and the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe.

Requests for Repatriation

    Written requests for repatriation of the human remains in this 
notice must be sent to the Responsible Official identified in 
ADDRESSES. 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 in this notice to a requestor may 
occur on or after February 12, 2024. If competing requests for 
repatriation are received, the Denver Museum of Nature & Science must 
determine the most appropriate requestor prior to repatriation. 
Requests for joint repatriation of the human remains are considered a 
single request and not competing requests. The Denver Museum of Nature 
& Science 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, 2024.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2024-00434 Filed 1-10-24; 8:45 am]
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