FR Doc E8-3459[Federal Register: February 25, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 37)]
[Notices]
[Page 10052-10053]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr25fe08-101]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
Notice of Inventory Completion: Arizona State Museum, University
of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
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 in the possession and
control of the Arizona State Museum, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ.
The human remains were removed from Pima County, AZ.
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. The National Park Service is not responsible
for the determinations in this notice.
A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by Arizona
State Museum professional staff in consultation with representatives of
the Ak Chin Indian Community of the Maricopa (Ak Chin) Indian
Reservation, Arizona; Gila River Indian Community of the Gila River
Indian Reservation, Arizona; Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community
of the Salt River Reservation, Arizona; and Tohono O'odham Nation of
Arizona. The Tohono O'odham Nation of Arizona is acting on behalf of
the Ak Chin Indian Community of the Maricopa (Ak Chin) Indian
Reservation, Arizona; Gila River Indian Community of the Gila River
Indian Reservation, Arizona, Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community
of the Salt River Reservation, Arizona; and themselves.
In 1967, human remains representing a minimum of 38 individuals
were removed from the Mission San Xavier del Bac site, AZ
AA:16:10(ASM), within the boundaries of the San Xavier Indian
Reservation in Pima County, AZ, during legally authorized excavations
conducted by the Department of Anthropology, University of Arizona, and
Arizona State Museum under the direction of Bernard L. Fontana. The
human remains and other project materials were donated to the Arizona
State Museum in 1967. In 2005, Arizona State Museum curatorial staff
examined the animal bone collections from the excavations at Mission
San Xavier del Bac and discovered human remains from non-burial
contexts. No known individuals were identified. No associated funerary
objects are present.
The site is on church owned property and is not under the control
of the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs. The
majority of the artifacts recovered from the excavations at the San
Xavier Mission site were associated with a late historic period
occupation, after A.D. 1700. Cranial and dental morphology of the
skeletal remains is consistent with Native American ancestry.
At the time of Spanish entry into southern Arizona in the late 17th
century, the lands currently under the jurisdiction of the Tohono
O'odham Nation were occupied by O'odham-speaking populations. The same
populations have continued to occupy these lands throughout the
historic period. The human remains removed from the Mission San Xavier
del Bac site are from historic times. Cultural continuity between the
historic occupants of the region and present day O'odham and Pee-Posh
peoples is supported by continuities in settlement pattern,
architectural technologies, basketry, textiles, ceramic technology,
ritual practices, and oral traditions. The descendants of the historic
O'odham
[[Page 10053]]
and Pee-Posh are members of the Ak Chin Indian Community of the
Maricopa (Ak Chin) Indian Reservation, Arizona; Gila River Indian
Community of the Gila River Indian Reservation, Arizona; Salt River
Pima-Maricopa Indian Community of the Salt River Reservation, Arizona;
and Tohono O'odham Nation of Arizona.
Officials of the Arizona State Museum have determined that,
pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (9-10), the human remains described above
represent the physical remains of 38 individuals of Native American
ancestry. Officials of the Arizona State Museum 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 the Ak Chin Indian Community of the Maricopa (Ak
Chin) Indian Reservation, Arizona; Gila River Indian Community of the
Gila River Indian Reservation, Arizona; Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian
Community of the Salt River Reservation, Arizona; and Tohono O'odham
Nation of Arizona.
Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to
be culturally affiliated with the human remains should contact John
Madsen, Repatriation Coordinator, Arizona State Museum, University of
Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, telephone (520) 621-4795, before March 26,
2008. Repatriation of the human remains to the Ak Chin Indian Community
of the Maricopa (Ak Chin) Indian Reservation, Arizona; Gila River
Indian Community of the Gila River Indian Reservation, Arizona; Salt
River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community of the Salt River Reservation,
Arizona; and Tohono O'odham Nation of Arizona may proceed after that
date if no additional claimants come forward.
The Arizona State Museum is responsible for notifying the Ak Chin
Indian Community of the Maricopa (Ak Chin) Indian Reservation, Arizona;
Gila River Indian Community of the Gila River Indian Reservation,
Arizona; Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community of the Salt River
Reservation, Arizona; and Tohono O'odham Nation of Arizona that this
notice has been published.
Dated: December 19, 2007
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. E8-3459 Filed 2-22-08; 8:45 am]
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