[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 85 (Wednesday, May 1, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Page 35202]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-09414]



[[Page 35202]]

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

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0037841; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: San Francisco State University 
NAGPRA Program, San Francisco, CA

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and 
Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the San Francisco State University (SF 
State) NAGPRA Program has completed an inventory of human remains and 
associated funerary objects and has 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.

DATES: Repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary 
objects in this notice may occur on or after May 31, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Elise Green, San Francisco State University NAGPRA Program, 
1600 Holloway Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94132, telephone (415) 405-
3545, 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 SF 
State NAGPRA Program and additional information on the determinations 
in this notice, including the results of consultation, can be found in 
the inventory or related records. The National Park Service is not 
responsible for the determinations in this notice.

Abstract of Information Available

    Based on the information available, human remains representing, at 
least, one individual has been reasonably identified. The 92 associated 
funerary objects are Olivella beads, abalone pendants, obsidian points, 
basalt cores, flakes, polished bones, pestles, mortars, and stone 
tools. All sites: CA-TEH-23; CA-TEH-22, the Thomes Creek Site; and CA-
TEH-233, the Lindauer Site, were excavated in the summer of 1963 by 
Adan E. Treganza as part of the Tehama-Colusa Canal Survey. This survey 
was conducted to capture baseline archaeological data about the area 
prior to the construction of a canal by the Bureau of Reclamation.
    CA-TEH-23 is in the Tehama Quad and contained several burials which 
were excavated. CA-TEH-22 is in the Corning Quad, on a bluff at the 
confluence off the Thomes Creek and Sacramento River. According to the 
available site documentation, CA-TEH-22 was a large village site and 
contained at least two burials. CA-TEH-233 was an occupation mound and 
may have included a cemetery. Two burials were found and reinterred at 
the time of recording. Because the remains recorded at CA-TEH-233 were 
reburied, it is assumed that these elements represent a portion of the 
remains originally designated Burial 1 that were collected at CA-TEH-
22. A letter from Suzanne Griest, UC Davis Museum Preparator, to Robin 
Wells, Treganza Anthropology Museum Curator, indicates that materials 
collected from CA-TEH-22 were transferred to Davis at some point prior 
to July 3, 1980. An additional letter from Griest to Wells suggests 
that the CA-TEH-22 burials had been misplaced as early as July 14, 
1980. The survey abstract indicates that these sites are affiliated 
with the Central Wintun, whose aboriginal occupation of the surrounding 
areas is well-documented in the ethnographic literature.
    It was once common practice by museums to use chemicals on cultural 
items to prevent deterioration by mold, insects, and moisture. To date, 
the SF State NAGPRA Program has no records documenting use of chemicals 
at our facilities, and we currently do not use chemicals on any 
cultural items. A former SF State professor, Dr. Michael Moratto, 
stated that staff used glues, polyvinyl acetate, and a solution called 
Glyptol to mend and stabilize cultural objects in the past. Prior non-
invasive and non-destructive hazardous chemical tests conducted at the 
SF State NAGPRA Program repositories show arsenic, mercury, and/or lead 
in some storage containers, surfaces, and certain cultural items.

Cultural Affiliation

    Based on the information available and the results of consultation, 
cultural affiliation is clearly identified by the information available 
about the human remains and associated funerary objects described in 
this notice.

Determinations

    The SF State NAGPRA Program has determined that:
     The human remains described in this notice represent the 
physical remains of one individual of Native American ancestry.
     The 92 objects described in this notice are reasonably 
believed to have been placed intentionally with or near individual 
human remains at the time of death or later as part of the death rite 
or ceremony.
     There is a reasonable connection between the human remains 
and associated funerary objects described in this notice and the 
Grindstone Indian Rancheria of Wintun-Wailaki Indians of California and 
the Paskenta Band of Nomlaki Indians of California.

Requests for Repatriation

    Written requests for repatriation of the human remains and 
associated funerary objects in this notice must be sent to the 
authorized representative identified in this notice under 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 and associated funerary objects 
in this notice to a requestor may occur on or after May 31, 2024. If 
competing requests for repatriation are received, SF State NAGPRA 
Program 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 SF State NAGPRA Program 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 10.10.

    Dated: April 23, 2024.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2024-09414 Filed 4-30-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P