Notice of Inventory Completion: New York University College of Dentistry, New York, NY, 33329 [2010-14041]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
• National Park Service

[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 112 (Friday, June 11, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Page 33329]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-14041]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Inventory Completion: New York University College of 
Dentistry, New York, NY

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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    Notice is here given in accordance with the Native American Graves 
Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), 25 U.S.C. 3003, of the 
completion of an inventory of human remains in the possession and 
control of the New York University College of Dentistry, New York, NY. 
The human remains were removed from Lovelock Cave, Churchill County, 
NV.
    This notice is published as part of the National Park Service's 
administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA, 25 U.S.C. 3003(d)(3). The 
determinations in this notice are the sole responsibility of the 
museum, institution, or Federal agency that has control of the Native 
American human remains. The National Park Service is not responsible 
for the determinations in this notice.
    A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by the New York 
University College of Dentistry professional staff in consultation with 
representatives of the Fort McDermitt Paiute and Shoshone Tribes of the 
Fort McDermitt Indian Reservation, Nevada and Oregon; Lovelock Paiute 
Tribe of the Lovelock Indian Colony, Nevada; Paiute-Shoshone Tribe of 
the Fallon Reservation and Colony, Nevada; Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe of 
the Pyramid Lake Reservation, Nevada; Reno-Sparks Indian Colony, 
Nevada; Walker River Paiute Tribe of the Walker River Reservation, 
Nevada; and Yerington Paiute Tribe of the Yerington Colony & Campbell 
Ranch, Nevada.
    In 1924, human remains representing a minimum of one individual 
were removed from Lovelock Cave, Churchill County, NV. The remains were 
removed by M.R. Harrington during excavations jointly conducted by the 
Museum of the American Indian, Heye Foundation, and the University of 
California, Berkeley. In 1956, the remains were transferred to Dr. 
Theodore Kazamiroff, New York University College of Dentistry. No known 
individual was identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    The remains date to the Early Lovelock I Phase occupation of the 
cave, circa 2500-1500 B.C. The morphology of the remains is consistent 
with an individual of Native American ancestry. Archeological, 
linguistic, and oral tradition evidence indicate that different groups 
of people occupied the region over time. By at least A.D. 1500, 
Lovelock Cave was part of the territory of the Northern Paiute. The 
Lovelock Paiute Tribe of the Lovelock Indian Colony, Paiute-Shoshone 
Tribe of the Fallon Reservation and Colony, Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe 
of the Pyramid Lake Reservation, and Walker River Paiute Tribe of the 
Walker River Reservation, identify the region surrounding Lovelock Cave 
as part of their traditional homeland.
    Officials of the New York University College of Dentistry have 
determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains 
described above represent the physical remains of one individual of 
Native American ancestry. Officials of the New York University College 
of Dentistry also have determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(2), 
a relationship of shared group identity cannot reasonably be traced 
between the Native American human remains and any present-day Indian 
tribe.
    The Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Review 
Committee (Review Committee) is responsible for recommending specific 
actions for disposition of culturally unidentifiable human remains. In 
July 2009, the New York University College of Dentistry requested that 
the Review Committee recommend disposition of the culturally 
unidentifiable human remains of one individual to the Paiute-Shoshone 
Tribe of the Fallon Reservation and Colony, Nevada, on behalf of a 
coalition of tribes in the Great Basin region. The Review Committee 
considered the proposal at its October 30-31, 2009, meeting and 
recommended disposition of the human remains to the Paiute-Shoshone 
Tribe of the Fallon Reservation and Colony, Nevada.
    A March 4, 2010, letter from the Designated Federal Official, 
writing on behalf of the Secretary of the Interior, transmitted the 
authorization for the College to effect disposition of the human 
remains to the Paiute-Shoshone Tribe of the Fallon Reservation and 
Colony, Nevada, contingent on the publication of a Notice of Inventory 
Completion in the Federal Register. This notice fulfills that 
requirement.
    Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to 
be culturally affiliated with the human remains should contact Dr. 
Louis Terracio, New York University College of Dentistry, 345 East 24th 
St., New York, NY 10010, telephone (212) 998-9917, before July 12, 
2010. Disposition of the human remains to the Paiute-Shoshone Tribe of 
the Fallon Reservation and Colony, Nevada, may proceed after that date 
if no additional claimants come forward.
    The New York University College of Dentistry is responsible for 
notifying the Fort McDermitt Paiute and Shoshone Tribes of the Fort 
McDermitt Indian Reservation, Nevada and Oregon; Lovelock Paiute Tribe 
of the Lovelock Indian Colony, Nevada; Paiute-Shoshone Tribe of the 
Fallon Reservation and Colony, Nevada; Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe of the 
Pyramid Lake Reservation, Nevada; Reno-Sparks Indian Colony, Nevada; 
Walker River Paiute Tribe of the Walker River Reservation, Nevada; and 
Yerington Paiute Tribe of the Yerington Colony & Campbell Ranch, 
Nevada, that this notice has been published.

    Dated: April 27, 2010
David Tarler,
Acting Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2010-14041 Filed 6-10-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-50-S