[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 74 (Tuesday, April 18, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Page 19408]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-9491]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Notice of Inventory Completion for Native American Human Remains
and Associated Funerary Objects in the Control of the Ojai Valley
Historical Society and Museum, Ojai, CA
AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
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Notice is hereby given under provisions of the Native American
Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, 25 U.S.C. 3003 (d), of the
completion of an inventory of human remains and associated funerary
objects from the site designated CA-Ven 132 and currently in the
control of the Ojai Valley Historical Society and Museum.
A detailed inventory and assessment of the human remains and
associated funerary objects has been made by the staff of the Ojai
Valley Historical Society and Museum in consultation with
representatives of the Santa Ynez Band of Mission Indians.
The human remains consist of a minimum of 180 individuals. There
are also 12,118 funerary objects, including shell, stone, and trade
beads and pendants; projectile points; crystals; stone bowls; scrapers;
fish hooks; copper pitcher; bone, wooden, and metal awls; square iron
nails; shark's teeth; metal bowl fragments; stone balls; clay tiles;
and pestle and mortars. The human remains and associated funerary
objects were excavated in 1969 by Robert O. Browne at CA-Ven 132 (Awhay
village site), located on private property near Ojai, CA. The human
remains and associated funerary objects were accessioned into the
collections of the Ojai Valley Museum that same year. CA-Ven 132 has
been identified as Awhay, a Chumash village occupied during the
historic period. All archeological evidence indicates that these human
remains and associated funerary objects were interred during this
historic period occupation of the site. 11,599 of the objects were
shell, stone and trade beads believed to be parts of necklaces and
bracelets or other objects of personal adornment placed with the
remains. Mortuary practices documented by Mr. Browne are consistent
with those used by the Chumash tribe during the historic period.
Genealogical evidence shows that families from the Awhay village site
relocated to the Santa Inez Mission during the Spanish period and are
presently members of the Santa Inez Band of Mission Indians.
Inventory of the human remains and review of the accompanying
documentation indicate that no known individuals were identifiable.
Based on the above information, officials of the Ojai Valley Historical
Society and Museum 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 human remains and associated funerary
objects and the Santa Ynez Band of Mission Indians. Further, officials
of the Ojai Valley Historical Society and Museum 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 human remains and
associated funerary objects and the present-day Santa Ynez Band of
Mission Indians.
At the request of the Santa Ynez Band of Mission Indians, the Ojai
Valley Historical Society and Museum has transferred these human
remains and associated funerary objects to the Repository for
Archaeological and Ethnographic Collections (RAEC), Department of
Anthropology, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA. The RAEC has
accepted this collection for curation under the condition that the
Santa Ynez Band of Mission Indians retains control of this collection.
This notice has been sent to officials of the Santa Ynez Band of
Mission Indians. Representatives of any other Indian tribe which
believes itself to be culturally affiliated with these human remains
and associated funerary objects should contact Mary K. Porter, Curator,
Ojai Valley Historical Society and Museum, P.O. Box 204, Ojai, CA
93024, telephone (805) 646-0445 before May 18, 1995. Repatriation of
these human remains and associated funerary objects to the Santa Ynez
Band of Mission Indians may begin after that date if no additional
claimants come forward.
Dated: April 7, 1995.
Francis P. McManamon,
Departmental Consulting Archeologist,
Chief, Archeological Assistance Division.
[FR Doc. 95-9491 Filed 4-17-95; 8:45 am]
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