[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 34 (Friday, February 18, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9604-9606]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-3761]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[2253-665]

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

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Denver Museum of Nature & Science has completed an 
inventory of human remains, in consultation with the appropriate Indian 
Tribes, and has determined that there is no cultural affiliation 
between the remains and any present-day Tribe. Representatives of any 
Indian Tribe that believes itself to be culturally affiliated with the 
human remains may contact the museum. Disposition of the human remains 
to the Tribes stated below may occur if no additional requestors come 
forward.

DATES: Representatives of any Indian Tribe that believes it has a 
cultural affiliation with the human remains should contact the museum 
at the address below by March 21, 2011.

ADDRESSES: Any Tribe that believes it has a cultural affiliation with 
the human remains should contact Dr. Chip Colwell-Chanthaphonh, Denver 
Museum of Nature & Science, 2001 Colorado Blvd., Denver, CO 80205, 
telephone (303) 370-6378.

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 in the possession of the 
Denver Museum of Nature & Science, Denver, CO. The human remains and 
associated funerary objects were removed from Adams, Crowley, Huerfano, 
Jefferson, Kiowa, Las Animas and Weld Counties, CO.

[[Page 9605]]

    This notice is published as part of the National Park Service's 
administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA, 25 U.S.C. 3003(d)(3) and 
43 CFR 10.11(d). The determinations in this notice are the sole 
responsibility of the museum, institution, or Federal agency that has 
control of the Native American human remains and associated funerary 
objects. The National Park Service is not responsible for the 
determinations in this notice.

Consultation

    A detailed assessment of the human remains and associated funerary 
objects from eastern Colorado was made by the Denver Museum of Nature & 
Science professional staff in consultation with representatives of the 
Apache Tribe of Oklahoma; Arapahoe Tribe of the Wind River Reservation, 
Wyoming; Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes, Oklahoma; Comanche Nation, 
Oklahoma; Crow Creek Sioux Tribe of the Crow Creek Reservation, South 
Dakota; Crow Tribe of Montana; Fort Sill Apache Tribe of Oklahoma; Hopi 
Tribe of Arizona; Jicarilla Apache Nation, New Mexico; Kiowa Indian 
Tribe of Oklahoma; Lower Brule Sioux Tribe of the Lower Brule 
Reservation, South Dakota; Lower Sioux Indian Community in the State of 
Minnesota; Mescalero Apache Tribe of the Mescalero Reservation, New 
Mexico; Northern Cheyenne Tribe of the Northern Cheyenne Indian 
Reservation, Montana; Oglala Sioux Tribe of the Pine Ridge Reservation, 
South Dakota; Ohkay Owingeh, New Mexico; Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah; 
Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma; Prairie Island Indian Community in the State 
of Minnesota; Pueblo of Cochiti, New Mexico; Pueblo of San Ildefonso, 
New Mexico; Pueblo of Santa Ana, New Mexico; Pueblo of Santa Clara, New 
Mexico; Rosebud Sioux Tribe of the Rosebud Indian Reservation, South 
Dakota; Santee Sioux Nation, Nebraska; Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux 
Community of Minnesota; Shoshone Tribe of the Wind River Reservation, 
Wyoming; Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate of the Lake Traverse Reservation, 
South Dakota; Southern Ute Indian Tribe of the Southern Ute 
Reservation, Colorado; Standing Rock Sioux Tribe of North & South 
Dakota; Three Affiliated Tribes of the Fort Berthold Reservation, North 
Dakota; Ute Indian Tribe of the Uintah & Ouray Reservation, Utah; Ute 
Mountain Tribe of the Ute Mountain Reservation, Colorado, New Mexico, & 
Utah; Wichita and Affiliated Tribes (Wichita, Keechi, Waco & 
Tawakonie), Oklahoma; Yankton Sioux Tribe of South Dakota; and the Zuni 
Tribe of the Zuni Reservation, New Mexico (hereinafter referred to as 
"The Tribes").

History and Description of the Remains

    In 1925, human remains representing a minimum of seven individuals 
were removed from a burial context on Comanche Creek, 15 miles east of 
Strasburg, in Adams County, CO, by Robert Landburg. In 1935, Mr. 
Landburg donated the human remains and they were accessioned into the 
collections (A1984.1 (CUI 1), A1984.2 (CUI 2), A1984.3 (CUI 3), A1984.4 
(CUI 4), A1984.5, (CUI 5), A1984.6 (CUI 6), and A1984.7 (CUI 7)). 
Catalogue records suggested a possible cultural affiliation of Cheyenne 
or Arapaho. No known individuals were identified. The two associated 
funerary objects are two non-human bones (DMNS catalogue numbers 
A1984.6 and A1984.7).
    In 1941, human remains representing a minimum of two individuals 
were donated and accessioned into the collections (A90.1 (CUI 10) and 
A90.3 (CUI 8)). Catalogue records indicate that the remains were 
donated by a person with the name Haynes and may have been removed from 
a burial context near Ft. Lupton, in Weld County, CO. In addition, 
catalogue records suggested a possible cultural affiliation of Cheyenne 
or Arapaho. No known individuals were identified. No associated 
funerary objects are present.
    In 1972, human remains representing a minimum of one individual 
were donated to the museum by Kelley Jackson and accessioned into the 
collections (A148.1 (CUI 11)). The remains were reportedly found by Mr. 
Jackson's grandchildren and friends in a dry creek bed near Eads, in 
Kiowa County, CO. Catalogue records suggested a possible cultural 
affiliation of Plains Indians. No known individual was identified. No 
associated funerary objects are present.
    Between 1970 and 1974, human remains representing a minimum of two 
individuals were removed from a burial context in an arroyo near Kim, 
in Las Animas County, CO, by Corwin Brown. In 1975, the human remains 
were donated to the museum and accessioned into the collections 
(A1982.1 (CUI 12) and A1982.3 (CUI 13)). Remains include two adults 
(one female) with associated bone beads. Catalogue records suggested a 
possible cultural affiliation of Ute, Jicarilla Apache, Cheyenne or 
Arapaho. No known individuals were identified. The 73 associated 
funerary objects are tubular rabbit bone beads (DMNS catalogue number 
A1982.2).
    In 1984, the remains representing a minimum of one individual were 
removed from a burial context that was exposed by erosion at the 
Gregory-Allen Site, Crowley County, CO. The excavation was performed by 
the Denver Museum of Nature & Science Department of Anthropology and 
the remains were accessioned into the collections (A1983.1 (CUI 16)). 
Remains include one adult female in a flexed position and buried face 
down. Catalogue records suggest that nearby artifacts (not associated 
with the burial or donated to the museum) indicate occupation by 
peoples of the Cody Complex, which dates to about 9,000 years before 
present. Catalogue records also indicated a possible cultural 
affiliation of Cheyenne, Ute or Arapaho. No known individual was 
identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    In 1943, human remains representing a minimum of one individual 
were donated to the museum by A.H. Chatin and accessioned into the 
collections (A1996.1 (CUI 17)). The remains were reportedly removed 
from a burial context near Walsenburg, in Huerfano County, CO. The 
remains were removed from one of several rectangular stone structures 
on a hillside, sitting knees drawn up, facing northeast and with a slab 
metate standing at one side (metate not included with donation of 
remains). The remains were sent to Dr. Clyde Kluckhohn, Harvard 
University, "for examination and comparison with known series," which 
was published in Southwestern Lore in September 1943. Catalogue records 
suggested a possible cultural affiliation of Jicarilla Apache or Ute. 
No known individual was identified. No associated funerary objects are 
present.
    In 1975, human remains representing a minimum of one individual 
were removed from a burial context during quarrying operations in 
Golden Gate Canyon, in Jefferson County, CO. In 1988, the remains were 
donated to the museum by the University of Colorado-Denver and 
accessioned into the collections (A1608.1 (CUI 18)). The remains were 
studied by Paul R. Nickens while in the possession of the University of 
Colorado-Denver and published in the Plains Anthropologist in 1977. The 
publication suggests that the remains date to the Woodland Period (A.D. 
700-1000). No known individual was identified. No associated funerary 
objects are present.

Determinations Made by Denver Museum

     Based on non-destructive physical analysis and catalogue 
records, the human remains are determined to be Native American.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(2), a relationship of shared 
group identity

[[Page 9606]]

cannot be reasonably traced between the Native American human remains 
and associated funerary objects and any present-day Indian Tribe.
     According to final judgment of the Indian Claims 
Commission, the lands from which the Native American human remains and 
associated funerary objects were removed is the aboriginal land of the 
Apache Tribe of Oklahoma; Arapahoe Tribe of the Wind River Reservation, 
Wyoming; Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes, Oklahoma; Comanche Nation, 
Oklahoma; Jicarilla Apache Nation, New Mexico; and Northern Cheyenne 
Tribe of the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation, Montana.
     Multiple lines of evidence, including treaties, Acts of 
Congress, and Executive Orders, indicate that the land from which the 
Native American human remains and associated funerary objects were 
removed is the aboriginal land of the Apache Tribe of Oklahoma; 
Arapahoe Tribe of the Wind River Reservation, Wyoming; Cheyenne and 
Arapaho Tribes, Oklahoma; Comanche Nation, Oklahoma; and Northern 
Cheyenne Tribe of the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation, Montana.
     Other credible lines of evidence, including consultation 
with Tribal representatives, indicate that the land from which the 
Native American human remains and associated funerary objects were 
removed is the aboriginal land of The Tribes.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
above represent the physical remains of 15 individuals of Native 
American ancestry.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A), the 75 objects 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.
     Pursuant to 43 CFR 10.11(c)(1), the disposition of the 
human remains and associated funerary objects is to The Tribes.

Additional Requestors and Disposition

    Representatives of any Indian Tribe that believes itself to be 
culturally affiliated with the human remains and associated funerary 
objects or any other Indian Tribe that believes it satisfies the 
criteria in 43 CFR 10.11(c)(1) should contact Dr. Chip Colwell-
Chanthaphonh, Denver Museum of Nature & Science, 2001 Colorado Blvd., 
Denver, CO 80205, telephone (303) 370-6378, before March 21, 2011. 
Disposition of the human remains and associated funerary objects to The 
Tribes may proceed after that date if no additional requestors come 
forward.
    The Denver Museum of Nature & Science is responsible for notifying 
The Tribes that this notice has been published.

    Dated: February 15, 2011.
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2011-3761 Filed 2-17-11; 8:45 am]
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