[Federal Register: November 26, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 228)]
[Notices]
[Page 66485-66486]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr26no03-107]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
Notice of Inventory Completion: Denver Art Museum, Denver, 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 Native American associated funerary
objects in the possession of the Denver Art Museum, Denver, CO. The
associated funerary objects were removed from an unidentified location
in Arizona.
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 within this notice are the sole responsibility of
the museum, institution, or Federal agency that has control of the
associated funerary objects. The National Park Service is not
responsible for the determinations within this notice.
A detailed assessment of the associated funerary objects was made
by Denver Art Museum professional staff in consultation with
representatives of the Ak Chin Indian Community of the Maricopa (Ak
Chin) Indian Reservation, Arizona; Gila River Indian Community of the
Gila River Indian Reservation, Arizona; Hopi Tribe of Arizona; Salt
River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community of the Salt River Reservation,
Arizona; Tohono O'odham Nation of Arizona; and Zuni Tribe of the Zuni
Reservation, New Mexico.
At an unknown date prior to 1972, one ceramic jar and six shell
fragments were acquired by Ralph Ray of Wheatridge, CO. The ceramic jar
is buff in color and made of micaceous clay. It measures 16.4 cm high
and 17.3 cm in diameter and features one loop handle on the rim. The
ceramic jar is similar to plainware types typically found at Hohokam
sites in Arizona. The shell fragments represent as many as three
different types of Glycymeris. The ceramic jar and shell fragments were
donated to the Denver Art Museum in 1972. According to Denver Art
Museum documentation, the jar originally held cremated human remains.
No evidence shows that the human remains were ever accessioned by the
Denver Art Museum. A rattlesnake rattle found inside the jar is thought
to have been added after the jar was acquired by the Denver Art Museum.
Archeological evidence has demonstrated that pit or urn cremations
were the predominant Hohokam burial practice prior to A.D. 1100.
Extended supine inhumations then became more prevalent, completely
replacing cremations by A.D. 1300. Officials of the Denver Art Museum
recognize that while ceramic jars and shells had other uses within
Hohokam culture, the assembly of this particular ceramic jar and shell
fragments was made exclusively for burial purposes.
Archeological evidence has demonstrated a strong relationship of
shared group identity between the Hohokam and the present-day O'odham
(Pima and Papago) and Hopi. The O'odham people are currently
represented by the Ak Chin Indian Community of the Maricopa (Ak Chin)
Indian Reservation, Arizona; Gila River Indian Community of the Gila
River Indian Reservation, Arizona; Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian
Community of the Salt River Reservation, Arizona; and Tohono O'odham
Nation of Arizona. In 1990, representatives of the Ak Chin Indian
Community of the Maricopa (Ak Chin) Indian Reservation, Arizona; Gila
River Indian Community of the Gila River Indian Reservation, Arizona;
Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community of the Salt River
Reservation, Arizona; and Tohono O'odham Nation of Arizona issued a
joint policy statement claiming ancestral ties to the Hohokam cultural
traditions.
Hopi oral tradition places the origins of their Patki, Sun, Sand,
Corn, and Tobacco Clans south of the Colorado plateau. While the Hopi
oral traditions do not identify specific locations, some of the
descriptions are consistent with Hohokam settlements in central Arizona
during the Classic period. O'odham oral traditions indicate that some
of the Hohokam people migrated north and joined the Hopi. In 1994,
representatives of the Hopi Tribe of Arizona issued a statement
claiming cultural affiliation with Hohokam cultural traditions.
Zuni oral traditions mention Hawikuh, a Zuni community, as a
destination of settlers from the Hohokam area. Zuni language, prayers,
and rituals used by the Zuni Shu maakwe medicine society have descended
from the Hohokam. In 1995, representatives of the Zuni Tribe of the
Zuni Reservation, New Mexico issued a statement claiming cultural
affiliation with the Hohokam cultural traditions.
[[Page 66486]]
Officials of the Denver Art Museum have determined that, pursuant
to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (9-10), the seven cultural items are reasonably
believed to have been made exclusively for burial purposes or to
contain human remains. Officials of the Denver Art Museum also have
determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (3)(A), there is a
relationship of shared group identity that can be reasonably traced
between the associated funerary objects and the Ak Chin Indian
Community of the Maricopa (Ak Chin) Indian Reservation, Arizona; Gila
River Indian Community of the Gila River Indian Reservation, Arizona;
Hopi Tribe of Arizona; Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community of the
Salt River Reservation, Arizona; Tohono O'odham Nation of Arizona; and
Zuni Tribe of the Zuni Reservation, New Mexico.
Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to
be culturally affiliated with the associated funerary objects should
contact Nancy J. Blomberg, Curator of Native Arts, Denver Art Museum,
100 West 14th Avenue Parkway, Denver, CO 80204, telephone (720) 913-
0161 before December 26, 2003. Repatriation of the associated funerary
objects to the Ak Chin Indian Community of the Maricopa (Ak Chin)
Indian Reservation, Arizona; Gila River Indian Community of the Gila
River Indian Reservation, Arizona; Hopi Tribe of Arizona; Salt River
Pima-Maricopa Indian Community of the Salt River Reservation, Arizona;
Tohono O'odham Nation of Arizona; and Zuni Tribe of the Zuni
Reservation, New Mexico may proceed after that date if no additional
claimants come forward.
The Denver Art Museum is responsible for notifying the Ak Chin
Indian Community of the Maricopa (Ak Chin) Indian Reservation, Arizona;
Gila River Indian Community of the Gila River Indian Reservation,
Arizona; Hopi Tribe of Arizona; Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian
Community of the Salt River Reservation, Arizona; Tohono O'odham Nation
of Arizona; and Zuni Tribe of the Zuni Reservation, New Mexico that
this notice has been published.
Dated: October 28, 2003.
John Robbins,
Assistant Director, Cultural Resources.
[FR Doc. 03-29506 Filed 11-25-03; 8:45 am]
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