[Federal Register: April 12, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 71)]
[Notices]
[Page 18978]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr12ap01-98]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

Notice of Inventory Completion for Native American Human Remains
and Associated Funerary Objects in the Possession of the Nevada State
Museum, Carson City, NV

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

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 in the possession of the Nevada State Museum, Carson
City, NV.
    This notice is published as part of the National Park Service's
administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA, 43 CFR 10.2(c). The
determinations within this notice are the sole responsibility of the
museum, institution, or Federal agency that has control of these Native
American human remains and associated funerary objects. The National
Park Service is not responsible for the determinations within this
notice.
    A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by Nevada State
Museum professional staff in consultation with representatives of the
Moapa Band of the Southern Paiute Tribe and the Hopi Tribe of Arizona,
in coordination with the Southern Paiute Consortium.
    In or before 1958, human remains representing two individuals were
removed from a mesa above the Muddy River, Clark County, NV, by T. W.
Sloan. Mr. Sloan donated these remains to the Nevada State Museum in
1958. No known individual was identified. No associated funerary
objects are present.
    Based on the geographical location of the burial in an area known
to have Puebloan houses, these remains are identified as Native
American.
    In 1975, human remains representing one individual were removed
from a location near Atlatl Rock, Valley of Fire State Park, Clark
County, NV, by Bussard Cunningham. At an unknown time, these remains
were donated to the Nevada State Museum, presumably by Mr. Cunningham.
No known individual was identified. No associated funerary objects are
present.
    Based on the geographical location of the burial site in an area
with Anasazi rock art, these remains are identified as Native American.
    Based on the geographical locality and probable age of the burials,
these remains are determined to be affiliated with the archeologically-
defined Virgin Branch Anasazi Culture. Although the locations from
which these remains were removed are within the historic territory of
the Moapa Band of the Southern Paiute Tribe, joint consultations with
representatives of the Moapa Band of the Southern Paiute Tribe and with
representatives of the Hopi Tribe of Arizona produced evidence agreed
to by both parties that the Puebloan remains from this area are
ancestral to the modern Hopi Tribe of Arizona. Archeological evidence
supports this conclusion.
    Based on the above-mentioned information, officials of the Nevada
State Museum have determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2(d)(1), the
human remains listed above represent the physical remains of two
individuals of Native American ancestry. Officials of the Nevada State
Museum also have determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2(e), there is
a relationship of shared group identity that can be reasonably traced
between these Native American human remains and the Hopi Tribe of
Arizona.
    This notice has been sent to officials of the Moapa Band of the
Southern Paiute Tribe and the Hopi Tribe of Arizona. Representatives of
any other Indian tribe that believes itself to be culturally affiliated
with these human remains should contact Dr. Alanah Woody, Nevada
Division of Museums and History NAGPRA Coordinator, 600 North Carson
Street, Carson City, NV 89701, telephone (775) 687-4810, extension 229,
before May 14, 2001. Repatriation of the human remains to the Hopi
Tribe of Arizona may begin after that date if no additional claimants
come forward.

    Dated: March 28, 2001.
John Robbins,
Assistant Director, Cultural Resources Stewardship and Partnerships.
[FR Doc. 01-8990 Filed 4-11-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-F