[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 38 (Monday, February 27, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 11584]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office 
[www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-4533]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[2253-665]


Notice of Inventory Completion: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest 
Service, Gila National Forest, Silver City, NM, and Field Museum of Natural 
History, Chicago, IL

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Gila National 
Forest and the Field Museum of Natural History have completed an inventory of 
human remains, in consultation with the appropriate Indian tribes, and have 
determined that there is a cultural affiliation between the human remains and 
present-day Indian tribes. Representatives of any Indian tribe that believes 
itself to be culturally affiliated with the human remains may contact the U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Gila National Forest. Repatriation 
of the human remains to the Indian tribes stated below may occur if no 
additional claimants come forward.

DATES: Representatives of any Indian tribe that believes it has a cultural 
affiliation with the human remains should contact the U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, Forest Service, Gila National Forest at the address below by 
March 28, 2012.

ADDRESSES: Dr. Frank E. Wozniak, NAGPRA Coordinator, Southwestern Region, U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, 333 Broadway Blvd. SE., 
Albuquerque, NM 87102, telephone (505) 842-3238.

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 control of the U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Gila National Forest, Silver City, 
NM, and in the possession of the Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, IL. 
The human remains were removed from the Gila National Forest, Catron County, 
NM.
    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. The National Park Service is not responsible for the determinations 
in this notice.

Consultation

    A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by the professional 
staff at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Gila National 
Forest, and the Field Museum of Natural History in consultation with 
representatives of the Hopi Tribe of Arizona; Pueblo of Acoma, New Mexico; and 
the Zuni Tribe of the Zuni Reservation, New Mexico (hereinafter referred to as 
``The Tribes'').

History and Description of the Remains

    Between 1935 and 1955, human remains and associated funerary objects were 
recovered from several sites in the Gila National Forest, Catron County, NM, 
by Dr. Paul Martin of the Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, IL. There 
have been several Notices of Inventory Completion (NICs) published in the 
Federal Register for human remains and associated funerary objects from these 
sites (63 FR 39293-39294, July 22, 1998; 70 FR 44686-44687, August 3, 2005; 70 
FR 56483-56484, September 27, 2005; 71 FR 38413-38415, July 6, 2006; and 76 FR 
43718-
43719, July 21, 2011). Following these publications, the Gila National Forest 
and the Field Museum of Natural History staffs identified three additional 
sites on lands administered by the Gila National Forest. These sites are 
closely related to all of the other sites published in previous NICs and 
contain fragmentary human remains identified as Native American.
    Between 1935 and 1955, Paul Martin excavated the Cordova Cave site. Human 
remains representing six individuals were identified from the site. No known 
individuals were identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    Between 1935 and 1955, Paul Martin excavated the Hinkle Park Cliff 
Dwellings site. Human remains representing one individual were identified from 
the site. No known individual was identified. No associated funerary objects 
are present.
    Between 1935 and 1955, Paul Martin excavated the Pine Lawn Valley Pueblo 
site. Human remains representing one individual were identified from the site. 
No known individual was identified. No associated funerary objects are 
present.
    Based on material culture, architecture and site organization, the sites 
have been identified as Upland Mogollon sites. Continuities of ethnographic 
materials, technology and architecture indicate affiliation of Upland Mogollon 
sites with historic and present-day Puebloan cultures. Oral traditions 
presented by representatives of The Tribes support cultural affiliation with 
these Upland Mogollon sites in this portion of southwestern New Mexico.

Determinations Made by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, 
Gila National Forest

    Officials of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Gila 
National Forest have determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described above 
represent the physical remains of eight individuals of Native American 
ancestry.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(2), there is a relationship of shared group 
identity that can be reasonably traced between the human remains and The 
Tribes.

Additional Requestors and Disposition

    Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to be 
culturally affiliated with the human remains should contact Dr. Frank E. 
Wozniak, NAGPRA Coordinator, Southwestern Region, U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, Forest Service, 333 Broadway Blvd. SE, Albuquerque, NM 87102, 
telephone (505) 842-3238, before March 28, 2012. Repatriation of the human 
remains to The Tribes may proceed after that date if no additional claimants 
come forward.
    The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Gila National Forest 
is responsible for notifying The Tribes that this notice has been published.

    Dated: February 22, 2012.
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2012-4533 Filed 2-24-12; 8:45 am]
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