[Federal Register: March 15, 2011 (Volume 76, Number 50)]
[Notices]               
[Page 14060-14061]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr15mr11-121]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[2253-665]

 
Notice of Inventory Completion: U.S. Department of the Interior, 
Bureau of Indian Affairs, Washington, DC, and U.S. Department of the 
Interior, National Park Service, Mesa Verde National Park, Mesa Verde, 
CO

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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    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 and associated funerary 
objects in the control of the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau 
of Indian Affairs, Washington, DC, and in the physical custody of the 
U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Mesa Verde 
National Park, Mesa Verde, CO. The human remains and associated 
funerary objects were removed from sites on the Ute Mountain Ute 
Reservation, CO.
    This notice is published as part of the National Park Service's 
administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA, 25 U.S.C. 3003(d)(3). 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 National NAGPRA Program is not responsible for the 
determinations in this notice.
    A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by Mesa Verde 
National Park and Bureau of Indian Affairs professional staff in 
consultation with representatives of the Hopi Tribe of Arizona; Navajo 
Nation, Arizona, New Mexico & Utah; Ohkay Owingeh, New Mexico (formerly 
the Pueblo of San Juan); Pueblo of Acoma, New Mexico; Pueblo of 
Cochiti, New Mexico; Pueblo of Isleta, New Mexico; Pueblo of Jemez, New 
Mexico; Pueblo of Laguna, New Mexico; Pueblo of Nambe, New Mexico; 
Pueblo of Picuris, New Mexico; Pueblo of Pojoaque, New Mexico; Pueblo 
of San Felipe, New Mexico; Pueblo of San Ildefonso, New Mexico; Pueblo 
of Sandia, New Mexico; Pueblo of Santa Ana, New Mexico; Pueblo of Santa 
Clara, New Mexico; Pueblo of Santo Domingo, New Mexico; Pueblo of Taos, 
New Mexico; Pueblo of Tesuque, New Mexico; Pueblo of Zia, New Mexico; 
Southern Ute Indian Tribe of the Southern Ute Reservation, Colorado; 
Ute Mountain Tribe of the Ute Mountain Reservation, Colorado, New 
Mexico & Utah; Ysleta Del Sur Pueblo of Texas; and Zuni Tribe of the 
Zuni Reservation, New Mexico (hereinafter referred to as ``The 
Tribes'').
    In 1927, human remains representing a minimum of one individual 
were removed by the National Park Service from Hoot Owl House 
(5MV1012), a site located on the Ute Mountain Ute Reservation, CO, and 
outside the boundaries of the Mesa Verde National Park. No known 
individual was identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    Based on architectural features (6 rooms, 10 grinding bins, a 
tower, and toeholds), archeological context, dendrochronology, and a 
physical anthropology examination, the site (5MV1012) and human remains 
are dated to the Pueblo I (A.D. 700-900) and Pueblo III (A.D. 1100-
1300) periods.
    In 1927, human remains representing a minimum of one individual 
were removed from Bone Awl House, a site located on the Ute Mountain 
Ute Reservation, CO, and outside the boundaries of the Mesa Verde 
National Park, during a National Park Service field collection project. 
No known individual was identified. The 24 associated funerary objects 
are unfired sherds.
    Based on architectural features (cliff dwelling), archeological 
context, dendrochronology, and a physical anthropology examination, the 
Bone Awl House site, human remains, and the associated funerary objects 
are dated to the Pueblo III period (A.D. 1100-1300).
    In 1959, human remains representing a minimum of one individual 
were removed by the National Park Service from Pulpit House (5MV1237), 
a site located on the Ute Mountain Ute Reservation, CO, and outside the 
boundaries of the Mesa Verde National Park. No known individual was 
identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    Based on architectural features (8 rooms, a rubble mound, a 
possible kiva, and terraces), archeological context, a physical 
anthropology examination, and ceramic analysis, the site (5MV1237) and 
human remains are dated to the Pueblo III period (A.D. 1100-1300).
    As outlined in a published Notice of Inventory Completion (64 FR 
46936-46949, August 27, 1999), geographical,

[[Page 14061]]

kinship, biological, archeological, anthropological, linguistic, 
folklore, oral tradition, historical, and expert opinion evidence was 
used by Mesa Verde National Park to determine cultural affiliation for 
human remains and associated funerary objects removed from Mesa Verde 
National Park, which borders the Ute Mountain Ute Reservation. 
Officials of the Bureau of Indian Affairs and Mesa Verde National Park 
considered this information, and also considered the historical and 
geographical evidence for these human remains and associated funerary 
objects, and reasonably determined that a broader cultural affiliation 
exists. Therefore, upon examination of the historical and geographical 
information, officials of the Bureau of Indian Affairs and Mesa Verde 
National Park have determined that the Southern Ute Indian Tribe and 
the Ute Mountain Ute Indian Tribe share a historic and continuing 
cultural affiliation with the lands on the Ute Mountain Ute 
Reservation.
    Officials of the Bureau of Indian Affairs and Mesa Verde National 
Park have determined, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), that the human 
remains described above represent the physical remains of three 
individuals of Native American ancestry. Officials of the Bureau of 
Indian Affairs and Mesa Verde National Park have also determined, 
pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A), that the 24 associated funerary 
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. Lastly, the officials of the Bureau 
of Indian Affairs and Mesa Verde National Park have determined, 
pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(2), that there is a relationship of shared 
group identity that can be reasonably traced between the Native 
American human remains and associated funerary objects and The Tribes.
    Representatives of any other Indian Tribe that believes itself to 
be culturally affiliated with the human remains and associated funerary 
objects should contact Cliff Spencer, Superintendent, Mesa Verde 
National Park, PO Box 8, Mesa Verde, CO 81330, telephone (970) 529-
4600, before April 14, 2011. Repatriation of the human remains and 
associated funerary objects to The Tribes may proceed after that date 
if no additional claimants come forward.
    The Bureau of Indian Affairs and Mesa Verde National Monument are 
responsible for notifying The Tribes this notice has been published.

    Dated: March 9, 2011.
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2011-5860 Filed 3-14-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-50-P