[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 49 (Tuesday, March 12, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 10009]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-5850]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Notice of Inventory Completion for Native American Human Remains
and Associated Funerary Objects in the Control of Casa Grande National
Monument, National Park Service, Coolidge, AZ
AGENCY: National Park Service
ACTION: Notice
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Notice is hereby given in accordance with provisions of the Native
American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), 25 U.S.C.
3003(d), of the completion of the inventory of human remains and
associated funerary objects in the control of the National Park Service
at Casa Grande National Monument, Coolidge, AZ.
A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by National
Park Service professional staff in consultation with representatives of
the Zuni Tribe, the Hopi Tribe, the Tohono O'odham Nation, the Gila
River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, and the Salt River Pima-Maricopa
Indian Community. Members of the Ak-Chin Indian Community were
contacted, but were not present at the consultation meeting.
The Monument's collection of human remains represent a minimum of
63 Native American individuals and 63 associated funerary objects
recovered from Hohokam sites within the Monument.
Human remains recovered from Hohokam sites dating between 975--1400
A.D. within the Monument boundaries consist of eighteen individual
cremations and 23 uncremated individuals. No known individuals were
identified. Associated funerary objects include 43 cremation and
funerary vessels, one shell artifact, and one worked bone.
In addition, cremations, burials, and incomplete lots of human bone
representing a minimum number of 22 individuals whose archeological
context are unknown have also been classified as Hohokam, primarily
dating to the Classic Period (1150091400 A.D.). No known individuals
were identified. Associated funerary objects include eighteen funerary
vessels and one bead.
According to oral tradition and historical records, Piman and
O'odham peoples have direct ties to Casa Grande Ruins National Monument
and the Hohokam sites within the Monument. Oral tradition, ethnography,
history and archeological evidence also support the cultural
affiliation of the Zuni Tribe and the Hopi Tribe to the Hohokam sites
at Casa Grande National Monument.
A cultural affiliation study concluded that the Zuni Tribe, the
Hopi Tribe, the Tohono O'odham Nation, the Gila River Indian Community,
the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, and the Ak-Chin Indian
Community all have cultural ties to Casa Grande Ruins National Monument
and the sites from which the above mentioned human remains and
associated funerary objects were recovered.
Based on the above mentioned information, and the consultation with
the above mentioned tribes, officials of the National Park Service have
determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 (d)(1), the human remains
listed above represent the physical remains of 63 individuals of Native
American ancestry. National Park Service officials have determined
that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (3)(A), the 63 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, National Park Service officials have determined
that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (2), 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 Zuni
Tribe, the Hopi Tribe, the Tohono O'odham Nation, the Gila River Indian
Community, the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, and the Ak-
Chin Indian Community .
This notice has been sent to officials of the Zuni Tribe, the Hopi
Tribe, the Tohono O'odham Nation, the Gila River Indian Community, the
Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, and the Ak-Chin Indian
Community. Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes
itself to be culturally affiliated with these human remains and
associated funerary objects should contact Donald L. Spencer,
Superintendent, Casa Grande Ruins National Monument, 1100 Ruins Drive,
Coolidge, AZ 85228; telephone: (602) 723093172, before March 11, 1996.
Repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects will
begin after that date if no additional claimants come forward.
Dated: March 6, 1996
Michele C. Aubry
Acting Departmental Consulting Archeologist
Archeology and Ethnography Program
[FR Doc. 96-5850 Filed 3-11-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-F
