[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 138 (Thursday, July 18, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58410-58411]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-15835]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0038290; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: Museum of Us, San Diego, CA

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

[[Page 58411]]


ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and 
Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Museum of Us has completed an inventory 
of associated funerary objects and has determined that there is a 
cultural affiliation between the associated funerary objects and Indian 
Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice.

DATES: Repatriation of the associated funerary objects in this notice 
may occur on or after August 19, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Carmen Mosley, NAGPRA Repatriation Manager, Museum of Us, 
1350 El Prado, Balboa Park, San Diego, CA 92101, telephone (619) 239-
2001 Ext. 42, 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 
Museum of Us, 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

    The 77 associated funerary objects are from two sites. The 18 
associated funerary objects removed from Elliot Mound (CV-7; CA-SAC-88) 
in Sacramento County, CA, include 18 spool-shaped baked clay items. The 
59 associated funerary objects removed from Willow Mound (CV-18) in 
Sacramento County, CA include 14 bone beads, one bone tube, seven 
Haliotis ornaments, two strings of clam shell beads, one string 
Olivella beads, two strings glass trade beads, one lot loose beads, one 
carbonized hair and textile material fragment, five charmstone 
fragments, three pieces miscellaneous stone; six pieces miscellaneous 
material, five perforated stone discoidals, one obsidian projectile 
point, two brass buttons, one brass buckle, and seven metal objects.
    Between 1930 and 1936, the 77 associated funerary objects were 
removed by Henry Gibbs, a private collector and looter. In 1937, Paul 
A. Walker purchased Gibbs' Central Valley, California archeological 
collection. Walker was an amateur archeologist and collector who worked 
by himself and with other amateur archeologists, and in collaboration 
with the University of California and Sacramento Junior College. Over 
the course of his life, Walker amassed an extensive archeological 
collection from California's Central Valley and smaller collections 
from Northern and Southern California, and outside of California. 
In1968, Walker's private archeological collection was acquired by the 
San Diego Museum of Man (now Museum of Us) through a purchase/donation 
transaction with Walker's widow, Bessie B. Walker.

Cultural Affiliation

    Based on the information available and the results of consultation, 
cultural affiliation is reasonably identified by the geographical 
location or acquisition history of the associated funerary objects 
described in this notice.

Determinations

    The Museum of Us has determined that:
     The 77 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 associated 
funerary objects described in this notice and the Wilton Rancheria, 
California.

Requests for Repatriation

    Written requests for repatriation of the 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 associated funerary objects in this notice to a 
requestor may occur on or after August 19, 2024. If competing requests 
for repatriation are received, the Museum of Us must determine the most 
appropriate requestor prior to repatriation. Requests for joint 
repatriation of the associated funerary objects are considered a single 
request and not competing requests. The Museum of Us 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: July 10, 2024.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2024-15835 Filed 7-17-24; 8:45 am]
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