FR Doc E6-8447
[Federal Register: June 1, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 105)]
[Notices]
[Page 31204-31205]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr01jn06-89]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
Notice of Inventory Completion: Department of Anthropology Museum
at the University of California, Davis, Davis, 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 Department of Anthropology Museum at
the University of California, Davis, Davis, CA. The human remains and
associated funerary objects were removed from Modoc 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 the
Department of Anthropology Museum at the University of California,
Davis professional staff in consultation with representatives of the
Alturas Indian Rancheria, California; Confederated Tribes of the Grand
Ronde Community of Oregon; Confederated Tribes of the Siletz
Reservation, Oregon; Pit River Tribe, California; Quartz Valley Indian
Community of the Quartz Valley Reservation of California; Redding
Rancheria, California; Round Valley Indian Tribes of the Round Valley
Reservation, California; and Susanville Indian Rancheria, California.
In 1960, human remains representing a minimum of 14 individuals
were removed from site CA-MOD-250, Modoc County, CA, by Professor
Martin Baumhoff, University of California, Davis, during archeological
fieldwork sponsored by the University of California. The collection was
accessioned by the Department of Anthropology Museum at the University
of California, Davis in 1960. No known individuals were identified. The
81 associated funerary objects are 2 metates, 1 mortar, 1 pipe blank, 1
charm stone blank, 1 leather burial shroud, 1 dog skeleton, 7 Haliotis
sp. ornament fragments, 52 Olivella sp. beads, 3 Dentaliumsp. beads, 6
glass beads, 1 decorated bone spatula, 1 pestle, 1 baked clay pipe, 1
burial pit lining (mat), and 2 manos.
Based on burial context and site characteristics, the human remains
described above from Modoc County are determined to be Native American
in origin. The associated funerary objects are consistent with other
artifacts documented as associated with the indigenous inhabitants of
the Modoc County area. Three radiocarbon dates of 510+/-70, 1,470+/-80, and
3,310+/-90 indicate an age for this site of approximately 1350 B.C. - A.D.
1450. Glottochronological evidence indicates that the differentiation
between the two Pit River languages, Achumawi and
[[Page 31205]]
Atsugewi, occurred between 3,500 to 3,100 years ago, or 1500 - 1100
B.C., indicating that Pit River speakers have been in the area at least
this long. Based on geographical location, age of the site, and
archeological evidence, the human remains and associated funerary
objects are culturally affiliated with descendants of the Pit River
Indians.
In 1970, human remains representing a minimum of one individual
were removed from site CA-MOD-419, Modoc County, CA, by L. Harris,
Modoc County Sherriff-Coroner, after they had been uncovered during the
construction of an irrigation ditch. Sherriff-Coroner Harris
subsequently donated the human remains and some of the associated
funerary objects for study to the University of California, Davis. In
1970, the human remains and associated funerary objects were
accessioned by the Department of Anthropology Museum at the University
of California, Davis. No known individual was identified. The three
associated funerary objects are one sage grouse (Centrocerus
urophasianus) skeleton and two buttons.
Glass beads were also reported to have been found with the human
remains, but these funerary objects were not donated to the museum. The
presence of glass beads and buttons found in association with the human
remains clearly indicate that this burial dates to the historic period
and that the human remains probably date to no earlier than A.D. 1830.
Based on the manner of burial, the human remains described above from
Modoc County are determined to be Native American in origin.
Glottochronology indicates that the differentiation between the two Pit
River languages, Achumawi and Atsugewi, occurred between approximately
1500 - 1100 B.C., indicating that Pit River speakers have been in this
area for at least 3,100 years. No other Indian groups were known to
have frequented this area during the historic period. Based on
geographical location and age of the associated funerary objects, the
human remains are culturally affiliated with descendants of the Pit
River Indians.
The present-day descendants of the Pit River Indians are the
Alturas Indian Rancheria, California; Pit River Tribe, California;
Redding Rancheria, California; Round Valley Indian Tribes of the Round
Valley Reservation, California; and Susanville Indian Rancheria,
California.
The Pit River Tribe, California has submitted a written claim to
the Department of Anthropology Museum at the University of California,
Davis for repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary
objects.
Officials of the Department of Anthropology Museum at the
University of California, Davis have determined that, pursuant to 25
U.S.C. 3001 (9-10), the human remains described above represent the
physical remains of 15 individuals of Native American ancestry.
Officials of the Department of Anthropology Museum at the University of
California, Davis also have determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001
(3)(A), the 84 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 Department of Anthropology Museum at the University of California,
Davis 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 Alturas Indian Rancheria, California; Pit River Tribe,
California; Redding Rancheria, California; Round Valley Indian Tribes
of the Round Valley Reservation, California; and Susanville Indian
Rancheria, California.
Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to
be culturally affiliated with the human remains and associated funerary
objects should contact Elizabeth Guerra, Department of Anthropology
Museum, 330 Young Hall, One Shields Avenue, University of California,
Davis, Davis, CA 95616, telephone (530) 754-6280, before July 3, 2006.
Repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects to
the Pit River Tribe, California may proceed after that date if no
additional claimants come forward.
The Department of Anthropology Museum at the University of
California, Davis is responsible for notifying the Alturas Indian
Rancheria, California; Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community
of Oregon; Confederated Tribes of the Siletz Reservation, Oregon; Pit
River Tribe, Quartz Valley Indian Community of the Quartz Valley
Reservation of California; Redding Rancheria, California; Round Valley
Indian Tribes of the Round Valley Reservation, California; and
Susanville Indian Rancheria, California that this notice has been
published.
Dated: May 3, 2006
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. E6-8447 Filed 5-31-06; 8:45 am]
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