[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 38 (Monday, February 27, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11569-11571]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office
[www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-4519]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[2253-665]
Notice of Intent To Repatriate Cultural Items: USDA Forest Service, Coconino
National Forest, Flagstaff, AZ
AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The USDA Forest Service, Coconino NF, in consultation with the
appropriate Indian tribe, has determined that the cultural items meet the
definition of unassociated funerary objects and repatriation to the Indian
tribe stated below may occur if no additional claimants come forward.
Representatives of any Indian tribe that believes itself to be culturally
affiliated
[[Page 11570]]
with the cultural items may contact the USDA Forest Service, Southwestern
Region.
DATES: Representatives of any Indian tribe that believes it has a cultural
affiliation with the cultural items should contact the USDA Forest Service,
Southwestern Region at the address below by March 28, 2012.
ADDRESSES: Dr. Frank E. Wozniak, NAGPRA Coordinator, Southwestern Region, USDA
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. 3005, of
the intent to repatriate cultural items under the control of the Coconino
National Forest and in the custody of the Museum of Northern Arizona that meet
the definition of unassociated funerary objects under 25 U.S.C. 3001. These
unassociated funerary objects were removed from sites within the boundaries of
the Coconino National Forest, Coconino County, AZ.
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 cultural
items. The National Park Service is not responsible for the determinations in
this notice.
History and Description of the Cultural Items
Between 1927 and 1929, two ceramic jars were removed from site NA 660
(Turkey Hill Pueblo) in Coconino County, AZ, during archeological excavations
conducted by the University of Arizona and the Museum of Northern Arizona. The
jars have been curated at the Museum of Northern Arizona since their removal.
Based on the ceramic collections and ceramic seriation, Turkey Hill Pueblo
(site NA 660) is identified as a Northern Sinagua pueblo with pithouses that
were occupied during the second half of the 13th and the first quarter of the
14th centuries A.D. Records at the Museum of Northern Arizona indicate that
the items were removed from a burial context. The human remains were either
left in the ground or are not locatable at the present time.
Between 1938 and 1940, eight objects were removed from site NA 862 in
Coconino County, AZ, during archeological excavations conducted by the Museum
of Northern Arizona. The objects have been curated at the Museum of Northern
Arizona since their removal. The eight unassociated funerary objects are three
ceramic bowls, one ceramic jar, one ceramic ladle, one stone scraper, one
stone pendant and one bone tool.
Based on the ceramic collection and ceramic seriation, site NA 862 is
identified as a Northern Sinagua residential site that was occupied during the
11th and 12th centuries A.D. Records at the Museum of Northern Arizona
indicate that the items were removed from a burial context. The human remains
were either left in the ground or are not locatable at the present time.
Between 1931 and 1951, two objects were removed from site NA 1814 (Juniper
Terrace Site) in Coconino County, AZ, during archeological excavations
conducted by the Museum of Northern Arizona. The objects have been curated at
the Museum of Northern Arizona since their removal. The two unassociated
funerary objects are pupae casings and pottery sherds.
Based on the ceramic collection and ceramic seriation, the Juniper Terrace
Site (site NA 1814) is identified as a group of Northern Sinagua roomblocks
that were occupied during the second half of the 12th and the first half of
the 13th centuries A.D. Records at the Museum of Northern Arizona indicate
that the items were removed from a burial context. The human remains were
either left in the ground or are not locatable at the present time.
During the 1950s, five objects were removed from site NA 4266 (Piper Site)
in Coconino County, AZ, during archeological excavations conducted by the
Museum of Northern Arizona. The objects have been curated at the Museum of
Northern Arizona since their removal. The five unassociated funerary objects
are three ceramic bowls, one ball of unworked clay and one shell bracelet.
Based on the ceramic collection and ceramic seriation, site NA 4266 has
been identified as a Northern Sinagua residential site that was occupied
during the 11th and 12th centuries A.D. Records at the Museum of Northern
Arizona indicate that the items were removed from a burial context. The human
remains were either left in the ground or are not locatable at the present
time.
During the early 1970s, two objects were removed from site NA 10806 in
Coconino County, AZ, during archeological excavations conducted by the Museum
of Northern Arizona. The objects have been curated at the Museum of Northern
Arizona since their removal. The two unassociated funerary objects are one
clay figurine and one shell bracelet.
Based on the ceramic collection and ceramic seriation, site NA 10806 has
been identified as a Northern Sinagua residential site that was occupied
during the 10th and 12th centuries A.D. Records at the Museum of Northern
Arizona indicate that the items were removed from a burial context. The human
remains were either left in the ground or are not locatable at the present
time.
Based on the archeological evidence, the sites listed above have been
identified as Northern Sinagua sites. Continuities in ethnographic materials
indicate a cultural affiliation of Northern Sinagua sites in the Flagstaff
area of north central Arizona with the Hopi Tribe of Arizona. Furthermore,
oral traditions presented by representatives of the Hopi Tribe of Arizona,
support their claims of cultural affiliation with Northern Sinagua sites in
this portion of north central Arizona.
Determinations Made by the USDA Forest Service, Southwestern Region
Officials of the USDA Forest Service, Southwestern Region, and the
Coconino National Forest have determined that:
Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(B), the 19 cultural items 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
and are believed, by a preponderance of the evidence, to have been removed
from a specific burial site of a Native American individual.
Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(2), there is a relationship of shared group
identity that can be reasonably traced between the unassociated funerary
objects and the Hopi Tribe of Arizona.
Additional Requestors and Disposition
Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to be
culturally affiliated with the unassociated funerary objects should contact
Dr. Frank E. Wozniak, NAGPRA Coordinator, Southwestern Region, USDA Forest
Service, 333 Broadway Blvd. SE., Albuquerque, NM 87102, (505) 842-3238 before
March 28, 2012. Repatriation of the unassociated funerary objects to the Hopi
Tribe, Arizona may proceed after that date if no additional claimants come
forward.
The Coconino National Forest is responsible for notifying the Hopi Tribe
of Arizona that this notice has been published.
[[Page 11571]]
Dated: February 22, 2012.
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2012-4519 Filed 2-24-12; 8:45 am]
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