[Federal Register: March 15, 2011 (Volume 76, Number 50)]
[Notices]               
[Page 14063-14064]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr15mr11-124]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[2253-665]

 
Notice of Inventory Completion: University of Colorado Museum, 
Boulder, CO

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The University of Colorado Museum has completed an inventory 
of human remains and associated funerary objects, in consultation with 
the appropriate Indian tribes, and has determined that there is no 
cultural affiliation between the remains and any present-day Indian 
tribe. Representatives of any Indian tribe that believes itself to be 
culturally affiliated with the human remains and associated funerary 
objects may contact the University of Colorado Museum. Disposition of 
the human remains and associated funerary objects to the Indian tribe 
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 and associated funerary 
objects should contact the University of Colorado Museum at the address 
below by April 14, 2011.

ADDRESSES: Steve Lekson, Curator of Anthropology, University of 
Colorado Museum, in care of Jan Bernstein, NAGPRA Consultant, Bernstein 
& Associates, 1041 Lafayette St., Denver, CO 80218, telephone (303) 
894-0648.

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 and 
associated funerary objects in the possession of the University of 
Colorado Museum, Boulder, CO. The human remains and associated funerary 
objects were removed from Catron, Grant, Lea, and Otero Counties, NM.
    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 was made by University of Colorado Museum professional staff in 
consultation with representatives of the Fort Sill Apache Tribe of 
Oklahoma; Hopi Tribe of Arizona; Mescalero Apache Tribe of the 
Mescalero Reservation, New Mexico; Pueblo of Acoma, New Mexico; Pueblo 
of Laguna, New Mexico; Pueblo of Zia, New Mexico; San Carlos Apache of 
the San Carlos Reservation, Arizona; White Mountain Apache Tribe of the 
Fort Apache Reservation, Arizona; and Zuni Tribe of the Zuni 
Reservation, New Mexico. There are no objections by the Indian tribes 
whose aboriginal lands are within Catron, Grant, Lea, and Otero 
Counties, NM, and all tribes agree to the disposition of the human 
remains and associated funerary objects to the Pueblo of Acoma, New 
Mexico.

History and Description of the Remains

    In 1962, human remains representing a minimum of one individual 
were removed from Catron County, NM, by an unknown individual. No known 
individual was identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    The remains of this individual are five teeth. At least one tooth 
suggests the use of teeth as tools and is consistent with an 
archeological Native American diet. The remains may have been removed 
from the Gila National Forest or the Gila Cliff Dwellings National 
Monument both of which are within Catron County, but due to lack of 
sufficient evidence, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest 
Service, deferred NAGPRA compliance responsibility to the University of 
Colorado Museum.
    On an unknown date, human remains representing a minimum of one 
individual were removed from Silver City, Grant County, NM, by an 
unknown individual. No known individual was identified. No associated 
funerary objects are present.
    The remains of this individual are two teeth. The morphology of one 
tooth and the wear of at least one tooth are consistent with an 
archeological Native American diet. In 1901, the remains were purchased 
by Jesse H. Sherman, in Silver City, NM. In 1939, the remains were 
donated to the museum by Mrs. J.H. Sherman.
    On an unknown date, human remains representing a minimum of one 
individual were removed from the Tomas Dominquez Ranch, three quarters 
of a mile north of Gila, Grant County, NM, by Mrs. Marilyn Moore. No 
known individual was identified. The three associated funerary objects 
are a ceramic bowl, a ceramic jar, and one lot of stone flakes.
    The ceramic jar contains lightly charred/burned bones, as well as a 
handful of bone dust, and the stone flakes. The bowl was the lid for 
the ceramic jar and is decorated with a brown and white geometric 
design. The remains are Mogollon based on the associated funerary 
objects. The human remains and associated funerary objects were 
bequeathed to the museum in January 1974.
    On an unknown date, human remains representing a minimum of one 
individual were removed from 29LE1, Lea County, NM, by an unknown 
individual. No known individual was identified. The three associated 
funerary objects are one lot of shell beads, a projectile point, and a 
possible pendant made of stone or a marine-type of material.
    The remains are three teeth. The remains are likely Native American

[[Page 14064]]

based on the morphology of one tooth, as well as the associated 
funerary objects and the archeological context. 29LE1 has been 
identified as Jornada Mogollon. The human remains and associated 
funerary objects were found in the museum collection on November 6, 
2007, during an inventory/computerization project.
    In 1960, human remains representing a minimum of one individual 
were removed from 29OT3 (Hatchet Site), Tularosa Basin, Otero County, 
NM, by Eugene McCluney. No known individual was identified. No 
associated funerary objects are present.
    The remains are Native American based on the archeological site 
context. 29OT3 has been identified as Jornada Mogollon. McCluney 
excavated the remains as a part of his graduate work at the University 
of Colorado. The remains were transferred to the museum in 1960.

Determinations Made by the University of Colorado Museum

    Officials of the University of Colorado Museum have determined 
that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(2), a relationship of shared 
group identity cannot be reasonably traced between the Native American 
human remains and associated funerary objects and any present-day 
Indian tribe.
     According to Indian Land Claims Commission decisions, as 
well as oral tradition, Catron, Grant, Lea, and Otero Counties, NM, are 
within the aboriginal land of the Fort Sill Apache Tribe of Oklahoma 
and the Mescalero Apache Tribe of the Mescalero Reservation, New 
Mexico.
     Based on oral tradition, Catron, Grant, Lea, and Otero 
Counties, NM, are within the aboriginal land of the Hopi Tribe of 
Arizona; Pueblo of Acoma, New Mexico; Pueblo of Laguna, New Mexico; 
Pueblo of Zia, New Mexico; White Mountain Apache Tribe of the Fort 
Apache Reservation, Arizona; and Zuni Tribe of the Zuni Reservation, 
New Mexico.
     Based on oral tradition of the San Carlos Apache of the 
San Carlos Reservation, Arizona, Catron, Grant, Lea, and Otero 
Counties, NM, were aboriginal gathering places for them, but these 
counties are the aboriginal land of the Chiricahua (Fort Sill Apache 
Tribe of Oklahoma and the Mescalero Apache Tribe of the Mescalero 
Reservation, New Mexico).
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
above represent the physical remains of five individuals of Native 
American ancestry.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A), the six 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 Pueblo of 
Acoma, New Mexico.

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 Steve Lekson, Curator of 
Anthropology, University of Colorado Museum, in care of Jan Bernstein, 
NAGPRA Consultant, Bernstein & Associates, 1041 Lafayette St., Denver, 
CO 80218, telephone (303) 894-0648, before April 14, 2011. Disposition 
of the human remains and associated funerary objects to the Pueblo of 
Acoma, New Mexico, may proceed after that date if no additional 
claimants come forward.
    The University of Colorado Museum is responsible for notifying the 
Fort Sill Apache Tribe of Oklahoma; Hopi Tribe of Arizona; Mescalero 
Apache Tribe of the Mescalero Reservation, New Mexico; Pueblo of Acoma, 
New Mexico; Pueblo of Laguna, New Mexico; Pueblo of Zia, New Mexico; 
San Carlos Apache of the San Carlos Reservation, Arizona; White 
Mountain Apache Tribe of the Fort Apache Reservation, Arizona; and Zuni 
Tribe of the Zuni Reservation, New Mexico, that this notice has been 
published.

    Dated: March 9, 2011.
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2011-5853 Filed 3-14-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-50-P