98-31486. Notice of Inventory Completion for Native American Human Remains and Associated Funerary Objects from New Mexico in the Possession of the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture/Laboratory of Anthropology, Museum of New Mexico, Santa Fe, NM

[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 227 (Wednesday, November 25, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65217-65218]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-31486]


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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 New Mexico in the Possession of 
the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture/Laboratory of Anthropology, 
Museum of New Mexico, Santa Fe, 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 New Mexico in the possession of the Museum of 
Indian Arts and Culture/Laboratory of Anthropology, Museum of New 
Mexico, Santa Fe, NM.
    A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by Museum of 
Indian Arts and Culture/Laboratory of Anthropology professional staff 
in consultation with representatives of the Pueblo of Nambe, the Pueblo 
of Pojoaque, the Pueblo of San Ildefonso, the Pueblo of San Juan, the 
Pueblo of Santa Clara, and the Pueblo of Tesuque.
    In 1952, human remains representing 38 individuals were removed 
from Cuyamungue Pueblo (LA 38) during legally authorized excavations 
conducted by Museum of New Mexico staff. No known individuals were 
identified. The five associated funerary objects include a cotton 
textile fragment, two ceramic vessels, a cache of burned macro 
botanical remains, and a necklace of shell and turquoise beads.
    Based on archeological evidence, Spanish Colonial documents, 
geographic location, continuity of occupation, and oral history 
presented during consultation by representatives of the pueblo listed 
above, Cuyamungue Pueblo (LA 38) has been identified as a puebloan 
village occupied from the Anasazi PIII period (1100-1300 A.D.) until 
the Pueblo Revolt of 1696. Historical documents and oral history 
indicates Cuyamungue Pueblo was

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abandoned and the survivors were absorbed by the pueblos of Nambe, 
Pojoaque, San Ildefonso, San Juan, Santa Clara, and Tesuque.
    Based on the above mentioned information, officials of the Museum 
of Indian Arts and Culture/Laboratory of Anthropology have determined 
that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 (d)(1), the human remains listed above 
represent the physical remains of 38 individuals of Native American 
ancestry. Officials of the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture/Laboratory 
of Anthropology have also determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 
(d)(2), the five 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 Museum of Indian Arts and Culture/Laboratory 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 Nambe, the Pueblo of Pojoaque, the Pueblo of San Ildefonso, 
the Pueblo of San Juan, the Pueblo of Santa Clara, and the Pueblo of 
Tesuque.
    This notice has been sent to officials of the Pueblo of Nambe, the 
Pueblo of Pojoaque, the Pueblo of San Ildefonso, the Pueblo of San 
Juan, the Pueblo of Santa Clara, and the Pueblo of Tesuque. 
Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to be 
culturally affiliated with these human remains and associated funerary 
objects should contact Patricia House, Director, Museum of Indian Arts 
and Culture/Laboratory of Anthropology, P.O. Box 2087, Santa Fe, NM 
87504; telephone: [phone], before December 28, 1998. 
Repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects to 
the Pueblo of Nambe, the Pueblo of Pojoaque, the Pueblo of San 
Ildefonso, the Pueblo of San Juan, the Pueblo of Santa Clara, and the 
Pueblo of Tesuque may begin after that date if no additional claimants 
come forward.
Dated: November 17, 1998.
Veletta Canouts,
Acting Departmental Consulting Archeologist,
Deputy Manager, Archeology and Ethnography Program.
[FR Doc. 98-31486 Filed 11-25-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-F