[Federal Register: October 4, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 193)]
[Notices]
[Page 50673-50674]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr04oc01-112]

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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 Nevada State
Museum, Carson City, NV, and in the Control of the U.S. Department of
the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Washington, DC

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 from the vicinity of Pyramid Lake, Washoe County, NV,
in the possession of the Nevada State Museum, Carson City, NV, and in
the control of the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian
Affairs, Washington, DC.
    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 and Bureau of Indian Affairs professional staff in consultation
with representatives of the Pyramid Lake

[[Page 50674]]

Paiute Tribe of the Pyramid Lake Reservation, Nevada.
    During the 1960s, human remains representing a minimum of one
individual were removed from a site east of the Needles at the north
end of Pyramid Lake, Washoe County, NV, by Peter Ting, Sr. In 1981, Mr.
Ting donated these human remains to the Nevada State Museum. No known
individual was identified. The three associated funerary objects are a
rusty revolver, a bag of sand, and a bag of small mammal bones.
    Based on the age, physical characteristics, and location of burial,
this individual has been determined to be Native American. The revolver
dates these human remains to the 1840s. The location of the burial is
within the boundaries of the Pyramid Lake Reservation. Historic
documents and consultation evidence, including tribal oral history,
indicate that this area has been occupied by the Pyramid Lake Paiute
Tribe of the Pyramid Lake Reservation, Nevada since precontact times.
    In 1964, human remains representing a minimum of one individual
were removed from an unknown location between the Wadsworth and Derby
Dams on the Truckee River, Washoe County, NV, by Martin H. Mann. Also
in 1964, Mr. Mann donated these human remains to the Nevada State
Museum. No known individual was identified. The one associated funerary
object is a blue glass trade bead.
    Based on cranial morphology and the associated funerary object,
this individual has been determined to be Native American. The trade
bead dates these human remains to the 19th century, circa 1840-1900.
Historic documents and consultation evidence, including tribal oral
history, indicate that this area has been occupied by the Pyramid Lake
Paiute Tribe of the Pyramid Lake Reservation, Nevada since pre-contact
times.
    In 1965, human remains representing a minimum of one individual
were removed from an area known as ``Paul Bunyan's Corral'' near
Pyramid Lake, Washoe County, NV, by P. Wheat, Fred Keiper, and G.
Grosscup. Also in 1965, Messrs. Wheat, Keiper, and Grosscup donated
these remains to the Nevada State Museum. No known individual was
identified. The one associated funerary object is an arrow shaft with
an attached Desert Side-Notched point.
    On the basis of a radiocarbon date of A.D. 1710 obtained from the
arrow shaft, these human remains have been determined to be Native
American. Archeological evidence, based on the continuity of basketry
types found in the area, indicates that the Northern Paiute presence in
the Paul Bunyan Corral area of Pyramid Lake, NV, extends back at least
600 years. Based on the recent radiocarbon date, continuity of
occupation, and tribal history of major occupations in the Paul Bunyan
Corral area, these human remains have been determined to be affiliated
with the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe of the Pyramid Lake Reservation,
Nevada.
    In 1974, human remains representing a minimum of one individual
were removed by Donald R. Tuohy and David Clark during construction of
the Marble Bluff Dam and fishway near the Truckee River delta, Washoe
County, NV, on the Pyramid Lake Indian Reservation. Messrs. Tuohy and
Clark donated these human remains to the Nevada State Museum in the
same year. No known individual was identified. No associated funerary
objects are present.
    Based on a radiocarbon date of A.D. 1660 obtained from the house
floor feature associated with these human remains, this individual has
been determined to be Native American. Archeological evidence, based on
the continuity of basketry types found in the area, indicates that the
Northern Paiute presence in the Truckee River delta area extends back
at least 600 years. Based on the recent radiocarbon date, continuity of
occupation, and tribal history of major occupations in the Truckee
River delta area, these human remains have been determined to be
affiliated with the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe of the Pyramid Lake
Reservation, Nevada.
    At an unknown date, human remains representing a minimum of one
individual were removed from an area on the northeastern shore of
Pyramid Lake, Washoe County, NV, known as ``Hell's Kitchen,'' by
unknown persons and donated to the Nevada State Museum. No known
individual was identified. The 34 associated funerary objects include
ceramic fragments, modified wood fragments, twisted willow fragments,
stone flakes, a fish head, animal bones, and a piece of historic
fabric.
    Based on the known context and associated funerary objects, this
individual has been determined to be Native American. Based on the
presence of historic fabric, this burial is estimated to date to the
19th century, circa 1840-1900. The location from which these human
remains were recovered is a known traditional burial area of the
Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe of the Pyramid Lake Reservation, Nevada, and
is within the exterior boundaries of the present day Pyramid Lake
Reservation.
    Based on the above-mentioned information, officials of the Nevada
State Museum and the Bureau of Indian Affairs have determined that,
pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 (d)(1), the human remains listed above
represent the physical remains of five individuals of Native American
ancestry. Officials of the Nevada State Museum and the Bureau of Indian
Affairs also have determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 (d)(2), the
39 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 Nevada
State Museum and the Bureau of Indian Affairs 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 associated funerary objects and the Pyramid Lake
Paiute Tribe of the Pyramid Lake Reservation, Nevada.
    This notice has been sent to officials of the Pyramid Lake Paiute
Tribe of the Pyramid Lake Reservation, Nevada. Representatives of any
other Indian tribe that believes itself to be culturally affiliated
with these human remains and associated funerary objects 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 November 5, 2001. Repatriation of
the human remains and associated funerary objects to the Pyramid Lake
Paiute Tribe of the Pyramid Lake Reservation, Nevada may begin after
that date if no additional claimants come forward.

    Dated: May 18, 2001.
John Robbins,
Assistant Director, Cultural Resources Stewardship and Partnerships.
[FR Doc. 01-24937 Filed 10-3-01; 8:45 am]
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