Notice of Inventory Completion: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Wupatki National Monument, Flagstaff, AZ, 59654-59655 [2012-23904]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 189 (Friday, September 28, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59654-59655]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-23904]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-11156; 2200-1100-665]


Notice of Inventory Completion: U.S. Department of the Interior, 
National Park Service, Wupatki National Monument, Flagstaff, AZ

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, 
Wupatki National Monument has completed an inventory of human remains 
and associated funerary objects, in consultation with the appropriate 
Indian tribes, and has determined that there is a cultural affiliation 
between the human remains and associated funerary objects and present-
day Indian tribes. Representatives of any Indian tribe that believes 
itself to be culturally affiliated with the human remains and 
associated funerary objects may contact Wupatki National Monument. 
Repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects to 
the Indian tribes stated below may occur if no additional claimants 
come forward.

DATES: Representatives of any Indian tribe that believes it has a 
cultural affiliation with the human remains and associated funerary 
objects should contact Wupatki National Monument at the address below 
by October 29, 2012.

ADDRESSES: Diane Chung, Superintendent, Wupatki National Monument, 6400 
N. Hwy 89, Flagstaff, AZ 86004, telephone (928) 526-1157 ext. 227.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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 and 
associated funerary objects in the possession or control of Wupatki 
National Monument, Flagstaff, AZ. The human remains and associated 
funerary objects were removed from three sites within the boundaries of 
Wupatki National Monument in Coconino County, AZ.
    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 
Superintendent, Wupatki National Monument.

Consultation

    A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by Wupatki 
National Monument professional staff in consultation with 
representatives of the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation, Arizona; Havasupai 
Tribe of the Havasupai Reservation, Arizona; Hopi Tribe of Arizona; 
Hualapai Indian Tribe of the Hualapai Indian Reservation, Arizona; 
Jicarilla Apache Nation, New Mexico; Kaibab Band of Paiute Indians of 
the Kaibab Indian Reservation, Arizona; Kewa Pueblo, New Mexico 
(formerly the Pueblo of Santo Domingo); Mescalero Apache Tribe of the 
Mescalero Reservation, New Mexico; Navajo Nation, Arizona, New Mexico & 
Utah; Ohkay Owingeh, New Mexico (formerly the Pueblo of San Juan); 
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 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; San Carlos Apache Tribe 
of the San Carlos Reservation, Arizona; San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe 
of Arizona; Tonto Apache Tribe of Arizona; White Mountain Apache Tribe 
of the Fort Apache Reservation, Arizona; Yavapai-Apache Nation of the 
Camp Verde Indian Reservation, Arizona; Yavapai-Prescott Tribe of the 
Yavapai Reservation, Arizona; Ysleta del Sur Pueblo of Texas; and Zuni 
Tribe of the Zuni Reservation, New Mexico. The Pueblo of San Felipe, 
New Mexico, was contacted, but did not have an internal process to 
address the issue of repatriation. Hereafter, all tribes listed above 
are referred to as ``The Tribes.''

[[Page 59655]]

History and Description of the Remains

    Between 1933 and 1983, during excavations, stabilizations, and 
surface recoveries by the Museum of Northern Arizona and the National 
Park Service, human remains representing a minimum of 233 individuals 
were removed from Wupatki Pueblo, within Wupatki National Monument in 
Coconino County, AZ. Some of the human remains and associated funerary 
objects are in the physical custody of the Museum of Northern Arizona 
in Flagstaff, AZ. No known individuals were identified. The 481 
associated funerary objects are 1 concretion, 10 pendants, 12 
bracelets, 1 necklace, 1 mat, 1 scraper, 107 sherds, 1 bag of sherds, 2 
ceramic artifacts, 103 beads, 35 bowls, 12 jars, 4 pitchers, 31 animal 
bones, 1 worked bone, 1 worked stone, 1 bag of limonite, 1 piece of 
azurite, 137 bird bones, 3 shells, 1 shell tinkler, 3 awls, 1 basket 
fragment, 2 mosaics, 2 pieces of cloth, 1 projectile point, 1 flake, 1 
effigy bowl, 1 seed bowl, 1 ladle, 1 stone, and 1 shell dish.
    All of the human remains have been analyzed by physical 
anthropologists who have determined them to be Native American. All 
burials were excavated from within the rooms or the midden immediately 
adjacent to and contemporaneous with the site. Some individuals were 
found in extended, supine positions, sometimes covered with matting and 
clay and in sandstone-lined cists, while others were found flexed at 
the knees on their sides or back. One cremation in a ceramic pot was 
also found. On the basis of architecture and ceramics, Wupatki Pueblo 
is dated to A.D. 900-1300.
    Evidence demonstrating continuity between the people of Wupatki 
from A.D. 900-1300 and the Hopi Tribe of Arizona and the Zuni Tribe of 
the Zuni Reservation, New Mexico, includes similarities in material 
culture, architecture, mortuary practices, settlement patterns, and 
agricultural methods. Both Hopi and Zuni oral histories indicate 
connections to the people of Wupatki Pueblo, and both tribes trace 
clans there.
    In 1934, human remains representing a minimum of four individuals 
were removed from Nalakihu Pueblo, within Wupatki National Monument in 
Coconino County, AZ, during a Civil Works Administration excavation 
conducted by the Museum of Northern Arizona. The human remains and 
associated funerary objects are in the physical custody of the Museum 
of Northern Arizona in Flagstaff, AZ. No known individuals were 
identified. The 39 associated funerary objects are 8 animal bones, 1 
bowl, 1 jar, 1 bird bone, 1 shell bracelet, 9 shell beads, 1 corn stalk 
with blue paint, 1 painted wooden staff, 1 pot lid, and 15 pieces of 
turquoise.
    All of the human remains have been analyzed by physical 
anthropologists who have determined them to be Native American. All 
burials were excavated from burial pits within the midden immediately 
adjacent to and contemporaneous with the site. Some individuals were 
found in extended, supine positions, while others were found in flexed, 
supine positions. On the basis of architecture and ceramics, Nalakihu 
Pueblo is dated to A.D. 1150-1300.
    Evidence demonstrating continuity between the people of Nalakihu 
from A.D. 1150-1300 and the Hopi Tribe of Arizona and the Zuni Tribe of 
the Zuni Reservation, New Mexico, includes similarities in material 
culture, architecture, mortuary practices, settlement patterns, and 
agricultural methods. Both Hopi and Zuni oral histories indicate 
connections to the people of Nalakihu Pueblo.
    In 1948, human remains representing a minimum of five individuals 
were removed from House of Tragedy, within Wupatki National Monument in 
Coconino County, AZ, during an excavation conducted by the Museum of 
Northern Arizona. The human remains and associated funerary objects are 
in the physical custody of the Museum of Northern Arizona in Flagstaff, 
AZ. No known individuals were identified. The one associated funerary 
object is a basalt knife.
    All of the human remains have been analyzed by physical 
anthropologists who have determined them to be Native American. All 
burials were excavated from a room, kiva, or pit within and 
contemporaneous with the site. On the basis of architecture and 
ceramics, House of Tragedy is dated to A.D. 1150-1300.
    Evidence demonstrating continuity between the people at House of 
Tragedy during A.D. 1150-1300 and the Hopi Tribe of Arizona and the 
Zuni Tribe of the Zuni Reservation, New Mexico, includes similarities 
in material culture, architecture, settlement patterns, and 
agricultural methods. For example, one type of object discovered at 
House of Tragedy can also be found on contemporary Hopi and Zuni 
altars.

Determinations Made by Wupatki National Monument

    Officials of Wupatki National Monument have determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice represent the physical remains of 242 individuals of 
Native American ancestry.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A), the 521 objects 
described 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.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(2), there is a relationship of 
shared group identity that can be reasonably traced between the Native 
American human remains and associated funerary objects and the Hopi 
Tribe of Arizona and the Zuni Tribe of the Zuni Reservation, New 
Mexico.

Additional Requestors and Disposition

    Representatives of any Indian tribe that believes itself to be 
culturally affiliated with the human remains and associated funerary 
objects should contact Diane Chung, Superintendent, Wupatki National 
Monument, 6400 N. Hwy 89, Flagstaff, AZ 86004, telephone (928) 526-1157 
ext. 227, before October 29, 2012. Repatriation of the human remains 
and associated funerary objects to the Hopi Tribe of Arizona and the 
Zuni Tribe of the Zuni Reservation, New Mexico, may proceed after that 
date if no additional claimants come forward.
    Wupatki National Monument is responsible for notifying The Tribes 
that this notice has been published.

    Dated: August 24, 2012.
Melanie O'Brien,
Acting Manager, National NAGPRA.
[FR Doc. 2012-23904 Filed 9-27-12; 8:45 am]
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