2024-31289. Notice of Intended Disposition: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Santa Fe National Forest, Santa Fe, NM

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Department of the Interior

National Park Service

1. [NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0039252; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]

AGENCY:

National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION:

Notice.

( print page 106575)

SUMMARY:

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Santa Fe National Forest (Forest Service), intends to carry out the disposition of human remains and associated funerary objects removed from Federal or Tribal lands to the lineal descendants, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization with priority for disposition in this notice.

DATES:

Disposition of the human remains and associated funerary objects in this notice may occur on or after January 29, 2025. If no claim for disposition is received by December 30, 2025, the human remains and associated funerary objects in this notice will become unclaimed human remains and associated funerary objects.

ADDRESSES:

Kathryn Turner, U.S. Forest Service, Santa Fe National Forest,11 Forest Lane, Santa Fe, NM 87508, telephone [phone], email [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

This notice is published as part of the National Park Service's administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA. The determinations in this notice are the sole responsibility of the Forest Service, and additional information on the human remains and associated funerary objects in this notice, including the results of consultation, can be found in the related records. The National Park Service is not responsible for the identifications in this notice.

Abstract of Information Available

Based on the information available, human remains representing, at least, one individual, has been reasonably identified. The 46 associated funerary objects are pottery sherds and charcoal fragments.

On October 30, 2012, human remains representing one individual were recovered from Forest Service site 03-10-02-01064/LA 74378 by the U.S. Forest Service when found eroding from a well-travelled Forest Service Road which leads to an active communication site. The possible associated funerary objects include 45 pottery sherds and charcoal fragments.

Site 03-10-02-01064/LA 74378 is located in the Cuba Ranger District, Santa Fe National Forest, Rio Arriba County, NM. The site is located on Forest Road 312J on a small ridge south of Wolf Draw. This site has been almost completely destroyed and currently has a radio tower built on top of it. All that remains are a few structural stones and an artifact assemblage comprised of pottery sherds, flaked stone, and a cobble tool. Diagnostic pottery types documented include Gallina Black-on-gray and plainware. Flaked stone includes chert, chalcedony, and quartzite. The presence of Gallina Black-on-gray pottery suggests that this site was occupied by the Gallina from A.D. 1100 to A.D. 1300.

Determinations

The Forest Service has determined that:

• The human remains described in this notice represent the physical remains of one individual of Native American ancestry.
• The 46 objects described in this notice are reasonably believed to have been placed intentionally with or near individual human remains at the time of death or later as part of the death rite or ceremony.
• Based on geographic location the Hopi Tribe of Arizona; Jicarilla Apache Nation, New Mexico; Mescalero Apache Tribe of the Mescalero Reservation, New Mexico; Navajo Nation, Arizona, New Mexico, & Utah; Ohkay Owingeh, New Mexico; Pueblo of Acoma, New Mexico; Pueblo of Cochiti, New Mexico; Pueblo of Isleta, New Mexico; Pueblo of Jemez, New Mexico; Pueblo of Laguna, New Mexico; Pueblo of Nambe, New Mexico; Pueblo of Picuris, New Mexico; Pueblo of Pojoaque, New Mexico; Pueblo of San Felipe, New Mexico; Pueblo of San Ildefonso, New Mexico; Pueblo of Sandia, New Mexico; Pueblo of Santa Ana, New Mexico; Pueblo of Santa Clara, New Mexico; Pueblo of Taos, New Mexico; Pueblo of Tesuque, New Mexico; Pueblo of Zia, New Mexico; Santo Domingo Pueblo; Southern Ute Indian Tribe of the Southern Ute Reservation, Colorado; Ute Mountain Ute Tribe; and the Zuni Tribe of the Zuni Reservation, New Mexico has priority for disposition of the human remains and associated funerary objects described in this notice.

Claims for Disposition

Written claims for disposition of the human remains and associated funerary objects in this notice must be sent to the appropriate official identified in this notice under ADDRESSES . If no claim for disposition is received by December 30, 2025, the human remains and associated funerary objects in this notice will become unclaimed human remains and associated funerary objects. Claims for disposition may be submitted by:

1. Any lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization identified in this notice.

2. Any lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice who shows, by a preponderance of the evidence, that they have priority for disposition.

Disposition of the human remains and associated funerary objects in this notice may occur on or after January 29, 2025. If competing claims for disposition are received, the Forest Service must determine the most appropriate claimant prior to disposition. Requests for joint disposition of the human remains and associated funerary objects are considered a single request and not competing requests. The Forest Service is responsible for sending a copy of this notice to the lineal descendants, Indian Tribes, and Native Hawaiian organizations identified in this notice and to any other consulting parties.

Authority: Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, 25 U.S.C. 3002, and the implementing regulations, 43 CFR 10.7.

Dated: December 19, 2024.

Melanie O'Brien,

Manager, National NAGPRA Program.