[Federal Register: April 17, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 75)]
[Notices]
[Page 20937-20939]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr17ap08-64]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
Notice of Inventory Completion: California Department of Parks
and Recreation, Sacramento, CA
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 possession of the California Department of Parks and
Recreation, Sacramento, CA. The human remains and associated funerary
objects were removed from Butte County, CA.
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 is not responsible for the determinations in this notice.
A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by California
Department of Parks and Recreation Committee on Repatriation and
professional staff in consultation with representatives of Mechoopda
Indian Tribe of Chico Rancheria, California; Round Valley Indian Tribes
of the Round Valley Reservation, California; and United Maidu Nation, a
non-federally recognized Indian group. The Berry Creek Rancheria of
Maidu Indians of California; Enterprise Rancheria of Maidu Indians of
California; and Mooretown Rancheria of Maidu Indians of California were
contacted to participate in the consultations.
In February and April of 1963, human remains representing a minimum
of 25 individuals were removed from the Murphy site, located 3 miles
southeast of Gridley, on the west bank of the Feather River in southern
Butte County, CA. The site was excavated by volunteer students from
Chico State College, Sacramento State College, and American River
College in Sacramento, CA, under the direction of William H. Olsen. No
known individuals were identified. The 546 associated funerary objects
are 457 beads, 4 blades, 3 bone tools, 2 bowls, 1 disk, 6 flakes, 1
flaker, 15 food remains, 2 gorge hooks, 1 hammer stone, 1 incised tube,
1 knife, 9 ornaments, 2 pestles, 9 pins, 17 projectile points, 1 quartz
crystal, 2 rocks, 1 scraper, 1 seed, 2 utilized flakes, and 8 whistles.
Excavations at the Murphy site were intended to salvage materials
and information prior to site destruction for agriculture, and were
related to researching the cultural chronology of the Lake Oroville
vicinity. The Murphy site, dated circa A.D. 500-1500, is attributed to
the Bidwell Complex (A.D. 1-A.D. 800), Sweetwater Complex (A.D. 800-
1500), and Oroville Complex (A.D. 1500-1833). These sequences have been
linked as the cultural antecedents of the Maidu. Geographic affiliation
is consistent with the historically documented Konkow, also known as
Northwestern Maidu.
In 1957, human remains representing a minimum of one individual
were removed from the Garner's Cave site, which is located 7 miles
north of Chico along Rock Creek in northern Butte County, CA. In 1957,
the human remains and associated funerary objects were donated to the
State Indian Museum, which is part of the California Department of
Parks and Recreation, by Otis Croy of Yuba City, CA. No known
individual was identified. The 41 associated funerary objects are 1
awl, 1 basketry material, 1 botanical sample, 2 choppers, 1 cord, 11
food remains, 1 net, 1 reed, 16 seeds, 2 twigs, and 4 unidentified wood
samples.
[[Page 20938]]
Based on a May 1992 check of the California Office of Historic
Preservation site files, identification of this collection as Garner's
Cave was determined. The cave was named for the landowner Jay Garner of
Chico, CA. The burial from the Garner's Cave site has been attributed
to the proto-Historic period. The Bidwell Complex, Sweetwater Complex,
and Oroville Complex are sequences that have been linked as the
cultural antecedents of the Maidu in the region. No lineal descendant
has been identified. Geographic affiliation is consistent with the
historically documented Konkow or Northwestern Maidu.
In 1966 and 1967, human remains representing a minimum of 125
individuals were removed from the Tie-Wiah site, located 6 miles
northeast of Oroville, now under the main body of Lake Oroville;
formerly northeast of the confluence of the North and South Forks of
the Feather River, southeastern Butte County, CA. The site was first
excavated by American River College in 1964 under the direction of
Charles Gebhardt. In 1966, the California Department of Parks and
Recreation sponsored excavations under the direction of Eric W. Ritter.
In 1967, the excavation was under the direction of Roland Gage of
Sacramento State College, as part of a salvage archeology excavation
prior to inundation by Lake Oroville, with funds provided by the
Department of Water Resources. No known individuals were identified.
The 1,301 associated funerary objects are 3 acorns, 1 antler tine, 5
awls, 18 beads, 2 bifaces, 1 blade, 11 bone tools, 59 bowls, 1 burin
and knife, 5 charcoal samples, 14 choppers, 1 chopper and core, 2
cores, 1 drill, 240 flakes, 732 food remains, 1 gorge, 1 hammer stone
and mano, 18 hammer stones, 26 knives, 5 manos, 11 metates, 5 mortars,
1 mud dob, 22 pestles, 2 pigments, 6 pipes, 1 projectile point
fragment, 37 projectile points, 34 quartz crystals, 1 rod, 15 scrapers,
4 scraper planes, 5 seeds, 2 seed beaters, 1 shaft straightner, 2
tubes, 3 unknown steatite and glass, 1 whetstone, and 1 whistle.
The Tie-Wiah site appears to have been occupied intermittently from
the Messilla Complex (circa 1000 B.C.-A.D.1), Bidwell Complex,
Sweetwater Complex, and finally to the Oroville Complex. The oldest
radiocarbon date from the Tie-Wiah site is 950 years B.P. (150 years). The Bidwell Complex, Sweetwater Complex, and Oroville
Complex are sequences that have been linked as the cultural antecedents
of the Maidu in the region. Geographic affiliation is consistent with
the historically documented Konkow or Northwestern Maidu. No lineal
descendants have been identified.
In 1960 and 1961, human remains representing a minimum of 56
individuals were removed from the Chapman site, Sweetwater Springs,
located 3 miles north of Oroville, north of the Thermalito Diversion
Pool, east of Morris Ravine in south central Butte County, CA, during
excavations on the site by William H. Olsen and Francis A. Riddell of
the State Indian Museum. In 1979, the human remains were transferred
from Sutter's Fort Annex in Sacramento to the State Archeological
Collections and Research Facility in West Sacramento and inventoried by
the California Department of Parks and Recreation in 1982. No known
individuals were identified. The 1,480 associated funerary objects are
1 antler, 9 awls, 1,143 beads, 8 blades, 9 bone tools, 24 bowls, 1
chopper, 4 cobbles, 3 cores, 1 core/scraper, 33 flakes, 69 food
remains, 1 glass fragment, 1 gorge hook, 7 hammer stones, 11 incised
bones, 4 knives, 5 manos, 5 metates, 1 mortar, 28 ornaments, 2
pendants, 7 pestles, 2 pigments, 3 pipes, 74 projectile points, 6
quartz crystals, 5 scrapers, 1 slide sample, 7 spatulas, 3 spoons, 1
utilized flake, and 1 whetstone.
The Chapman site is attributed to the Sweetwater Complex. The
Sweetwater Complex has been linked as the cultural antecedents of the
Maidu in the region. The associated funerary objects are consistent
with the occupation of the site by people attributed to the Sweetwater
Complex. Geographic affiliation is consistent with the historically
documented Konkow or Northwestern Maidu. No lineal descendants have
been identified.
In the mid-1960s, human remains representing a minimum of one
individual were removed from an unknown site, located 8 miles north of
Oroville, 2 miles southwest of Cherokee, along the Western Pacific
Railroad in central Butte County, CA, possibly during surveys and
excavations for the Lake Oroville reservoir project. No known
individual was identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
The site is attributed to the Messilla Complex. The Messilla
Complex has been attributed to a possible sporadic occupation of the
area by an intrusion of Hokan speakers. However, the succeeding Bidwell
Complex, Sweetwater Complex, and Oroville Complex are sequences that
have been linked as the cultural antecedents of the Maidu. Generally,
archeologists believe that the Penutian-speaking Maidu are descended
from what have been identified as the Windmiller people who occupied
the Central Valley of California from 3,000 to 4,000 years ago. No
lineal descendant has been identified. Geographic affiliation is
consistent with the historically documented Konkow (Northwestern
Maidu).
In 1961 and 1962, human remains representing a minimum of seven
individuals were removed from the Western Pacific Railroad Relocation
site, 8 miles north of Oroville, along the Western Pacific Railroad
line in south central Butte County, CA, by the Central California
Archaeological Foundation, directed by William H. Olsen and Francis A.
Riddell, during excavations under contract to California Department of
Parks and Recreation with funds provided by Department of Water
Resources. Mr. Riddell directed a second phase of excavations in the
summer of 1962 with a Chico State College archeological field methods
class. The new Western Pacific Railroad line cut through the site,
almost completely destroying it. The old railroad right-of-way was
inundated by Lake Oroville. No known individuals were identified. The
62 associated funerary objects are 2 blades, 11 flakes, 39 food
remains, 1 metate, 1 projectile point, and 8 whistles.
The Western Pacific Railroad site was occupied from circa A.D. 800
to 1833, during both Sweetwater Complex (to A.D. 1500) and Oroville
Complex (after A.D. 1500), which have been linked as cultural
antecedents of the Maidu. There are two radiocarbon dates from the site
with the first at 370 years B.P. (+150) and the second at 565 B.P.
(+250). The associated funerary objects are consistent with the
occupation of the site by people attributed to the Sweetwater Complex.
No lineal descendant has been identified. Geographic affiliation is
consistent with the historically documented Konkow (Northwestern
Maidu).
In 1964, human remains representing a minimum of 15 individuals
were removed from an unknown site, 3 miles northeast of Oroville,
downstream from the Oroville Dam spillway, along the Thermalito
Diversion Pool, in south central Butte County, CA, under the direction
of Francis A. Riddell, State Indian Museum with funds provided by the
Department of Water Resources. A significant portion of the deposit has
been removed due to natural erosion and vandalism. No known individuals
were identified. The 1,420 associated funerary objects are 4 awls, 12
beads, 1 blade, 13 bone tools, 6 bowls, 2 charcoal samples, 2 choppers,
14 cobbles, 17 cores, 1 core/scrapper, 2 drills, 421 flakes, 845 food
remains, 1 hammer stone/mano, 8 hammer stones, 6 knives,
[[Page 20939]]
2 knife/scraper, 5 manos, 1 metate, 5 pendants, 3 pestles, 2 pigment, 2
pins, 1 pipe, 11 projectile points, 4 quartz crystals, 4 rocks, 1 rod,
14 scrapers, 3 seeds, 3 slags, 1 unknown, 2 utilized flakes, and 1 wood
sample.
The burials have been attributed to the Bidwell Complex. The oldest
radiocarbon date from the site is 2,800 years B.P. (100
years). The Bidwell Complex, Sweetwater Complex, and Oroville Complex
are sequences that have been linked as the cultural antecedents of the
Maidu. The associated funerary objects are consistent with the
occupation of the site by people attributed to the Bidwell Complex.
Generally, archeologists believe that the Penutian-speaking Maidu are
descended from what have been identified as the Windmiller people who
occupied the Central Valley of California from 3,000 to 4,000 years
ago. No lineal descendant has been identified. Geographic affiliation
is consistent with the historically documented Konkow (Northwestern
Maidu).
In 1930, human remains representing a minimum number of two
individuals were removed from the Bidwell Ranch site, 4 miles east of
Chico, 6 miles west of Paradise, along Little Chico Creek, from the
Bidwell Ranch, in northwestern Butte County, CA, by a private
individual on private land. On January 13, 1930, the collection was
received by the State Indian Museum from J. McCord Stilson of Chico,
CA, and purchased in 1933 from one of his heirs, Mrs. Harry Clark of
Hamilton City. No known individuals were identified. No associated
funerary objects are present.
The age of the human remains is unknown. No lineal descendants have
been identified. The Bidwell Ranch's geographic location is consistent
with the historically documented Konkow or Northwestern Maidu
territory.
Butte County, CA, is in the Central Valley region of California and
the traditional lands of the Maidu. The history of the formation of
California Indian reservations and rancherias in the Central Valley
regions of California reveal that the descendants of the historical
Konkow (Northwestern Maidu) were ultimately dispersed to several
federally recognized Native American groups. Descendants of the Konkow
or Northwestern Maidu are members of the federally recognized tribes of
the Berry Creek Rancheria of Maidu Indians of California; Enterprise
Rancheria of Maidu Indians of California; Mechoopda Indian Tribe of
Chico Rancheria, California; Mooretown Rancheria of Maidu Indians of
California; and Round Valley Indian Tribes of the Round Valley
Reservation, California.
Officials of the California Department of Parks and Recreation have
determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (9-10), the human remains
described above represent the physical remains of a minimum of 232
individuals of Native American ancestry. Officials of the California
Department of Parks and Recreation also have determined that, pursuant
to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (3)(A), the 4,850 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, officials of the California Department of Parks and
Recreation have determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (2), 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 Berry Creek Rancheria of Maidu Indians of
California; Enterprise Rancheria of Maidu Indians of California;
Mechoopda Indian Tribe of Chico Rancheria, California; Mooretown
Rancheria of Maidu Indians of California; and Round Valley Indian
Tribes of the Round Valley Reservation, California.
Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to
be culturally affiliated with the human remains and associated funerary
objects should contact Paulette Hennum, NAGPRA Coordinator, California
Department of Parks and Recreation, 1416 Ninth Street, Room 902,
Sacramento, CA 95814, telephone (916) 653-7976, before May 19, 2008.
Repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects to
the Berry Creek Rancheria of Maidu Indians of California; Enterprise
Rancheria of Maidu Indians of California; Mechoopda Indian Tribe of
Chico Rancheria, California; Mooretown Rancheria of Maidu Indians,
California; and Round Valley Indian Tribes of the Round Valley
Reservation, California may proceed after that date if no additional
claimants come forward.
The California Department of Parks and Recreation is responsible
for notifying the Berry Creek Rancheria of Maidu Indians of California;
Enterprise Rancheria of Maidu Indians of California; Mechoopda Indian
Tribe of Chico Rancheria, California; Mooretown Rancheria of Maidu
Indians, California; and Round Valley Indian Tribes of the Round Valley
Reservation, California that this notice has been published.
Dated: March 19, 2008.
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. E8-8301 Filed 4-16-08; 8:45 am]
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