2024-05856. Notice of Intended Repatriation: San Diego State University, San Diego, CA

AGENCY:

National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), San Diego State University (SDSU) intends to repatriate certain cultural items that meet the definition of unassociated funerary objects and that have a cultural affiliation with the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice.

DATES:

Repatriation of the cultural items in this notice may occur on or after April 19, 2024.

ADDRESSES:

Jaime Lennox, San Diego State University, 5500 Campanile Drive, San Diego, CA 92182, 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 SDSU, and additional information on the determinations in this notice, including the results of consultation, can be found in the summary or related records. The National Park Service is not responsible for the determinations in this notice.

Abstract of Information Available

A total of 90 cultural items have been requested for repatriation. The 90 unassociated funerary objects are 66 ground stone objects and 24 pieces of worked shell. Ethnographer and archaeologist J.P. Harrington removed the cultural items from the Burton Mound Site located in Santa Barbara County, CA (CMP–SDSU–0568; CA–SBA–28; Harrington Collection) at an unknown date; Harrington's daughter, Awona Harrington, donated the collection to SDSU in 1961.

A total of 118 cultural items have been requested for repatriation. The 118 unassociated funerary objects are 117 faunal fragments and one shell fragment. The cultural items were removed from site LAN–466 located in Los Angeles County, CA (CMP–SDSU–1031) at an unknown date by unknown individuals; SDSU received the collection at an unknown date.

Determinations

SDSU has determined that:

• The 208 unassociated funerary objects described in this notice are reasonably believed to have been placed intentionally with or near individual human remains, and are connected, either at the time of death or later as part of the death rite or ceremony and are believed, by a preponderance of the evidence, to have been removed from a specific burial site of an individual or individuals with cultural affiliation to an Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization.
• There is a reasonable connection between the cultural items described in this notice and the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians of the Santa Ynez Reservation, California.

Requests for Repatriation

Additional, written requests for repatriation of the cultural items in this notice must be sent to the authorized representative identified in this notice under ADDRESSES . Requests for repatriation may be submitted by any lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice who shows, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the requestor is a lineal descendant or a culturally affiliated Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization.

Repatriation of the cultural items in this notice to a requestor may occur on or after April 19, 2024. If competing requests for repatriation are received, SDSU must determine the most appropriate requestor prior to repatriation. Requests for joint repatriation of the cultural items are considered a single request and not competing requests. SDSU is responsible for sending a copy of this notice to the 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. 3004 and the implementing regulations, 43 CFR 10.9.

Dated: March 11, 2024.

Melanie O'Brien,

Manager, National NAGPRA Program.