[Federal Register: April 23, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 78)] [Notices] [Page 20020-20021] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr23ap99-101] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR National Park Service Notice of Intent to Repatriate Cultural Items in the Possession of Bandelier National Monument, National Park Service, Los Alamos, NM AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Notice is hereby given in accordance with provisions of the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), 43 CFR 10.10 (a)(3), of the intent to repatriate cultural items in the possession of Bandelier National Monument, National Park Service, Los Alamos, NM, which meet the definition of ``sacred object'' under Section 2 of the Act. The 53 cultural items are projectile points. In 1909, one projectile point was recovered during Edgar Hewett's excavation of the Tyuonyi site. The Tyuonyi site is believed to have been occupied between AD 1325-1600 on the basis of ceramic and tree- ring data from the site. In 1943, J.W. Hendron recovered five projectile points from the Group M cavates in Frijoles Canyon. On the basis of ceramic data, the occupation of this site is believed to have been between AD 1400-1550. Between 1948-1955, 29 projectile points were recovered from the Rainbow House site by Fredrick Worman and Louis Caywood. On the basis of ceramic and tree-ring dating of the site, these items are believed to date between AD 1400-1500. Between 1974-1978, 15 projectile points were recovered from the Cochiti Flood Pool by National Park Service archeological crews. On the basis of ceramic and radiocarbon dating of sites in the Flood Pool, these items are dated between AD 1200-1600. Monument accession and catalog records do not record the provenience for three projectile points. However, all are believed to have been recovered from the monument, as they are very similar to the type and appearance of other items found at sites in the monument area. On the basis of information from similar objects found in the area, the estimated dates of these items are between AD 1200-1600. Anthropological, archeological, and oral tradition evidence indicates that the monument area has been continuously occupied by Keres-speaking pueblo groups (including the Pueblo of Acoma, Pueblo of Cochiti, Pueblo of Laguna, Pueblo of San Felipe, Pueblo of Santa Ana, Pueblo of Santo Domingo, and Pueblo of Zia) and the Tewa-speaking pueblo groups (including the Pueblo of Nambe, Pueblo of Pojoaque, Pueblo of San Ildefonso, Pueblo of San Juan, Pueblo of Santa Clara, Pueblo of Tesuque, and the present-day Hano community at Hopi) since at least AD 1100. In 1995, representatives of Bandelier National Monument continued consultation with the Pueblo of Cochiti, New Mexico, as part of its NAGPRA compliance process. Two Cochiti traditional religious leaders reviewed the Monument's entire archeological collection and identified 53 projectile points as needed for the practice of traditional Cochiti religion by present-day adherents. After reviewing information obtained through tribal consultation, as well as considering recommendations forwarded by the NAGPRA Review Committee, National Park Service officials determined that in this instance these 53 projectile points meet the definition of ``sacred object'' under Section 2 of the Act. Information regarding the names of the traditional religious leaders and the specific ceremonies in which these objects will be used is being withheld from this notice by the Superintendent of the [[Page 20021]] Monument, at the request of the Cochiti representatives, in order to not compromise the Pueblo de Cochiti's code of religious practice. Based on the above-mentioned information, and the recommendations of the NAGPRA Review Committee, officials of the National Park Service have agreed that, pursuant to 42 CFR 10.2(d)(3), these 53 projectile points are needed by traditional Native American religious leaders for the practice of traditional Native American religion by present-day adherents. Officials of the National Park Service have also determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2(e), there is a relationship of shared group identity which can be reasonably traced between these objects and the Hopi Tribe of Arizona; Pueblo of Acoma, New Mexico; Pueblo of Cochiti, New Mexico; Pueblo of Laguna, New Mexico; Pueblo of Nambe, New Mexico; Pueblo of Pojoaque, New Mexico; Pueblo of San Felipe, New Mexico; Pueblo of San Ildefonso, New Mexico; Pueblo of San Juan, New Mexico; Pueblo of Santa Ana, New Mexico; Pueblo of Santa Clara, New Mexico; Pueblo of Santo Domingo, New Mexico; Pueblo of Tesuque, New Mexico; and Pueblo of Zia, New Mexico. This notice has been sent to officials of the Hopi Tribe of Arizona; Pueblo of Acoma, New Mexico; Pueblo of Cochiti, New Mexico; Pueblo of Isleta, New Mexico; Pueblo of Jemez, New Mexico; Pueblo of Laguna, New Mexico; Pueblo of Nambe, New Mexico; Pueblo of Picuris, New Mexico; Pueblo of Pojoaque, New Mexico; Pueblo of Sandia, New Mexico; Pueblo of San Felipe, New Mexico; Pueblo of San Ildefonso, New Mexico; Pueblo of San Juan, New Mexico; Pueblo of Santa Ana, New Mexico; Pueblo of Santa Clara, New Mexico; Pueblo of Santo Domingo, New Mexico; Pueblo of Taos, New Mexico; Pueblo of Tesuque, New Mexico; Pueblo of Zia, New Mexico; and Zuni Tribe of the Zuni Reservation, New Mexico. Representatives of any other Indian Tribe that believes itself to be culturally affiliated with these objects should contact Roy W. Weaver, Superintendent, Bandelier National Monument, National Park Service, HCR 1, Box 1, Suite 15, Los Alamos, NM 87544; telephone: (505) 672-3861, ext. 501 before [thirty days after publication in the Federal Register]. Repatriation of these cultural items to the Pueblo of Cochiti, New Mexico, may begin after that date if no additional claimants come forward. Dated: April 15, 1999. Francis P. McManamon, Departmental Consulting Archeologist, Manager, Archeology and Ethnography Program. [FR Doc. 99-10209 Filed 4-22-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-70-F