[Federal Register: November 25, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 227)]
[Notices]
[Page 65216-65217]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr25no98-124]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
Notice of Inventory Completion for Native American Human Remains
and Associated Funerary Objects from Pecos Pueblo, NM in the Possession
of the Maxwell Museum of Anthropology, University of New Mexico,
Albuquerque, NM
AGENCY: National Park Service
ACTION: Notice
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Notice is hereby given in accordance with provisions of the Native
American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), 43 CFR 10.9,
of the completion of an inventory of human remains and associated
funerary objects from Pecos Pueblo, NM in the possession of the Maxwell
Museum of Anthropology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM.
A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by Maxwell
Museum of Anthropology professional staff in consultation with
representatives of the
[[Page 65217]]
Apache Tribe of Oklahoma, the Comanche Indian Tribe, the Hopi Tribe,
the Jicarilla Apache Tribe of the Jicarilla Apache Indian Reservation,
the Kiowa Indian Tribe of Oklahoma, the Mescalero Apache Tribe of the
Mescalero Reservation, the Navajo Nation, the Pueblo of Cochiti, the
Pueblo of Jemez, the Pueblo of Santo Domingo, the Pueblo of Zuni, and
the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes.
In 1939, human remains representing approximately 51 individuals
were recovered from the mission churches at Pecos Pueblo, NM during
legally authorized excavations conducted by a joint research team from
the University of New Mexico and the Museum of New Mexico headed by
William B. Witkind. No known individuals were identified. The 26
associated funerary objects include burial wrappings, feathers, fur,
human hair, cordage, animal bone, matting, ceramic sherds, adobe with
fiber, obsidian chipped stone, worked wood, and beads.
Four Roman Catholic churches were constructed as Pecos Pueblo; two
of these were built prior to the Pueblo Revolt of 1680; and two
churches were constructed after 1680. The majority of human remains
recovered in these 1939 excavations appear to correspond to burials
associated with the second and fourth churches. Based on skeletal
morphology and associated funerary objects, 49 of these individuals
have been determined to be Native American. Historic records indicate
that individuals from a number of Native American groups were baptized,
married, or buried at the site. The burial records include persons with
Tewa, Nambe, Picuri, Yuta, Apache, Comanche, and Tano affiliations as
well as people from Pecos and the Pueblo of Jemez. Historic records and
family information indicate Plains Indians were incorporated into the
Pecos community through trade, slavery, and marriage.
Based on material culture, historic records and documents, and oral
history presented by representatives of the Apache Tribe of Oklahoma,
the Comanche Indian Tribe, the Hopi Tribe, the Jicarilla Apache Tribe,
the Kiowa Indian Tribe, the Mescalero Apache Tribe, the Navajo Nation,
the Pueblo of Cochiti, the Pueblo of Jemez, the Pueblo of Zuni, and the
Wichita and Affiliated Tribes, Pecos Pueblo (LA 625) and Pecos Mission
(LA 4444) have been identified as a Puebloan occupation dating from the
Pueblo III period (c. 1100 A.D.) to its abandonment in 1838 when the
native inhabitants left Pecos Pueblo and went to the Pueblo of Jemez.
While Pecos Pueblo mission churches have been determined to have shared
cultural affiliation with the consulted tribes, the descendants and
government of Pecos Pueblo now reside at the Pueblo of Jemez. In 1936,
an Act of Congress recognized the Pueblo of Jemez as a
``consolidation'' and ``merger'' of the Pueblo of Pecos and the Pueblo
of Jemez. This Act further recognized that all property, rights,
titles, interests, and claims of both Pueblos were consolidated under
the Pueblo of Jemez.
Based on the above mentioned information, officials of the Maxwell
Museum of Anthropology have determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2
(d)(1), the human remains listed above represent the physical remains
of 49 individuals of Native American ancestry. Officials of the Maxwell
Museum of Anthropology have also determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR
10.2 (d)(2), the 26 objects listed 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 Maxwell Museum of Anthropology have determined that, pursuant to
43 CFR 10.2 (e), there is a relationship of shared group identity which
can be reasonably traced between these Native American human remains
and associated funerary objects and the Pueblo of Jemez.
This notice has been sent to officials of the Apache Tribe of
Oklahoma, the Comanche Indian Tribe, the Hopi Tribe, the Jicarilla
Apache Tribe of the Jicarilla Apache Indian Reservation, the Kiowa
Indian Tribe of Oklahoma, the Mescalero Apache Tribe of the Mescalero
Reservation, the Navajo Nation, the Pueblo of Cochiti, the Pueblo of
Jemez, the Pueblo of Santo Domingo, the Pueblo of Zuni, and the Wichita
and Affiliated Tribes. Representatives of any other Indian tribe that
believes itself to be culturally affiliated with these human remains
and associated funerary objects should contact Brenda A. Dorr, NAGPRA
Project Director, Maxwell Museum of Anthropology, University of New
Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131-1201; telephone: (505) 277-0195, before
December 28, 1998. Repatriation of the human remains and associated
funerary objects to the Pueblo of Jemez may begin after that date if no
additional claimants come forward.
Dated: November 18, 1998.
Veletta Canouts,
Acting Departmental Consulting Archeologist,
Deputy Manager, Archeology and Ethnography Program.
[FR Doc. 98-31482 Filed 11-24-98; 8:45 am]
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