Notice of Inventory Completion: Fowler Museum at the University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, and California Department of Transportation, Sacramento, CA, 4646-4648 [2016-01594]
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4646
Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 17 / Wednesday, January 27, 2016 / Notices
mask reads: ‘‘Broken Nose, Seneca
Nation, Snapping Turtle Clan, Six
Nations Reservation—Ontario.’’ The
mask is carved wood with a black face
with a red mouth, with a hole on one
side (right side, facing out), and a
pointed chin. The mask face has holes
in the nose and metal eye inlays
surrounding center eyeholes. The face is
framed with yellow hair, and there are
carved lines on the face.
On March 11, 2003, Binghamton
University hosted a consultation
meeting for federally recognized tribes
to review NAGPRA summaries as part of
the process of determining cultural
affiliation. A group of traditional
representatives from the Cayuga Nation;
Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe (previously
listed as the St. Regis Band of Mohawk
Indians of New York); Seneca Nation of
Indians (previously listed as the Seneca
Nation of New York); Tonawanda Band
of Seneca (previously listed as the
Tonawanda Band of Seneca Indians of
New York); and the Tuscarora Nation,
met privately after the open
consultation. In January of 2013, letters
were sent to Seneca representatives
asking for comments or claims on the
mask. On September 22, 2015, Scott
Abrams, Acting Director of the Seneca
Nation of Indians Tribal Historic
Preservation Officer contacted
Binghamton University and formally
requested repatriation of the Seneca
mask. Binghamton University asked
other Seneca representatives if they
agreed. No comments were received.
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Determinations Made by Binghamton
University
Officials of Binghamton University
have determined that:
• Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(C),
the one cultural item described above is
a specific ceremonial object needed by
traditional Native American religious
leaders for the practice of traditional
Native American religions by their
present-day adherents.
• Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(2), there
is a relationship of shared group
identity that can be reasonably traced
between the sacred object and the
Seneca Nation.
Additional Requestors and Disposition
Representatives of any other Indian
tribe that believes itself to be culturally
affiliated with the sacred object should
contact Nina M. Versaggi, Public
Archaeology Facility, Binghamton
University, Binghamton, NY 13902–
6000, telephone (607) 777–4786, before
February 26, 2016. Repatriation of the
sacred object to the Seneca Nation of
Indians (previously listed as the Seneca
Nation of New York) Tribal Historic
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Preservation Office may proceed after
that date if no additional claimants
come forward.
Binghamton University is responsible
for notifying the Cayuga Nation;
Delaware Nation, Oklahoma; Delaware
Tribe of Indians; Oneida Nation of New
York; Oneida Tribe of Indians of
Wisconsin; Onondaga Nation; Saint
Regis Mohawk Tribe (previously listed
as the St. Regis Band of Mohawk
Indians of New York); Seneca Nation of
Indians (previously listed as the Seneca
Nation of New York); Seneca-Cayuga
Tribe of Oklahoma; Stockbridge Munsee
Community, Wisconsin; Tonawanda
Band of Seneca (previously listed as the
Tonawanda Band of Seneca Indians of
New York); and Tuscarora Nation that
this notice has been published.
Dated: December 28, 2015.
Melanie O’Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2016–01591 Filed 1–26–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312–50–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[NPS–WASO–NAGPRA–20020;
PPWOCRADN0–PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Inventory Completion: Fowler
Museum at the University of California
Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, and
California Department of
Transportation, Sacramento, CA
National Park Service, Interior.
Notice.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
The Fowler Museum at the
University of California Los Angeles
(UCLA) and the California Department
of Transportation have completed an
inventory of human remains and
associated funerary objects, in
consultation with the appropriate
Indian tribes or Native Hawaiian
organizations, and have determined that
there is a cultural affiliation between the
human remains and associated funerary
objects and present-day Indian tribes or
Native Hawaiian organizations. Lineal
descendants or representatives of any
Indian tribe or Native Hawaiian
organization not identified in this notice
that wish to request transfer of control
of these human remains and associated
funerary objects should submit a written
request to the California Department of
Transportation. If no additional
requestors come forward, transfer of
control of the human remains and
associated funerary objects to the lineal
descendants, Indian tribes, or Native
Hawaiian organizations stated in this
notice may proceed.
SUMMARY:
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Lineal descendants or
representatives of any Indian tribe or
Native Hawaiian organization not
identified in this notice that wish to
request transfer of control of these
human remains and associated funerary
objects should submit a written request
with information in support of the
request to the California Department of
Transportation at the address in this
notice by February 26, 2016.
ADDRESSES: Tina Biorn, California
Department of Transportation, P.O. Box
942874 MS 27, Sacramento, CA 94271–
0001, telephone (916) 653–0013, email
tina.biorn@dot.ca.gov.
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 physical custody
of the Fowler Museum at UCLA and
under the control of the California
Department of Transportation. The
human remains and associated funerary
objects were removed from Santa
Barbara and Ventura Counties, CA.
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 and
associated funerary objects. The
National Park Service is not responsible
for the determinations in this notice.
DATES:
Consultation
A detailed assessment of the human
remains was made by the Fowler
Museum at UCLA professional staff in
consultation with representatives of
Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Mission
Indians of the Santa Ynez Reservation,
California, and the following
nonfederally recognized Indian groups:
Barbareno Chumash Council;
Barbareno/Ventureno Band of Mission
Indians; Coastal Band of the Chumash
˜
Nation; Fernandeno Tataviam Band of
Mission Indians; Gabrielino/Tongva
Indians of California Tribe; Gabrielino/
Tongva Nation; Gabrieleno/Tongva
Tribal Council; Northern Chumash
Tribe; San Gabriel Band of Mission
Indians; Ti’at Society; and the
Traditional Council of Pimu.
History and Description of the Human
Remains and Associated Funerary
Objects
In 1966 and 1967, human remains
representing at minimum, 108
individuals were removed from Xucu
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asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 17 / Wednesday, January 27, 2016 / Notices
(CA–SBA–1) in Santa Barbara County,
CA. Excavations were undertaken by a
UCLA field course directed by Patrick
Finnerty for the State Division of
Highways prior to construction of
Highway 101. This work continued in
1967, in addition to excavations led by
Gary Stickel within an adjacent
cemetery. Both sets of collections were
curated upon completion of analysis as
provided in the permits. Not all of the
1966 burials were curated at UCLA, and
their current location is unknown.
Radiocarbon dates have occupation
from 5500 B.C. through Spanish contact
periods. In 1966, formal burials and
fragmentary human remains were
discovered and removed for curation.
The total minimum number of
individuals represented are 28,
identified as 16 adults (1 male, 1 female,
and 14 unidentified), 2 sub-adults, 2
juvenile, and 3 infants. Another 5
individuals were too fragmentary to
identify age or sex. In 1967, 43 burials
were formally identified, however
several where left in-situ after recording
them. In addition, fragmentary human
remains were recovered. In total, a
minimum number of 80 individuals can
be identified as 60 adults, 3 sub-adults,
12 juveniles, 3 infants, and 2 perinatal.
In addition 21 were identifiable as male
and 11 as female. No known individuals
were identified. No associated funerary
objects were identified for the burials
found in 1966. The 726 associated
funerary objects excavated in 1967
included 19 pieces and 1 bag of
asphaltum fragments; 20 pieces of
worked bone; 189 pieces and 3 bags of
unmodified animal bone; 1 piece of
charcoal; 12 pieces of hematite; 14
pieces of limonite; 1 fragment of a paper
candlewick; 2 bags of soil samples; 1
wood fragment; 123 pieces and 2 bags
of unmodified shell; 2 asphaltum
plugged abalone shells; 22 shell beads;
7 bowl/mortar fragments; 167
groundstone tools and fragments; 139
chipped stone tools and flakes; and 1
steatite pipe.
In 1969–1970, human remains
representing, at minimum, one
individual were removed from Kasil
(CA–SBA–87) in Santa Barbara County,
CA. Excavations by G. James West
occurred at the request of the Division
of Highways as a salvage project
undertaken prior to highway
construction on Highway 101.
Collections were accessioned at UCLA
as they returned from the field. The
village dates from A.D. 300 to 1500.
Human remains consist of a single
burial representing an adult male. The
burial was disturbed when a bulldozer
cut a trench on the upper terrace.
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Further investigation of the trench failed
to show the exact burial location. No
known individuals were identified. No
associated funerary objects were
identified.
From 1961 to 1963, human remains
representing, at minimum, five
individuals were removed from Rincon
Point (CA–SBA–119) in Santa Barbara
County, CA. Excavations in 1961 and
1962 were led by Patrick Finnerty while
still in high school. Most of the human
remains and artifacts have not been
located, however at least some of three
burials and objects have been found and
curated at the Fowler Museum at UCLA.
In 1963, excavations were directed by
Keith Johnson with the UCLA
Archaeological Survey preliminary as a
salvage excavation due to the re-location
of U.S. Highway 101 which would pass
through the site. The collection was
curated at UCLA upon completion of
the field work. The site dates from 1735
to 1320 B.C. The human remains consist
of a single burial with a minimum of
two individuals: A sub-adult male and
an adult, sex unknown. The three
relocated burials represent a minimum
of three individuals, one adult male, one
juvenile, and one adult with
undetermined sex. No known
individuals were identified. The 16
associated funerary objects include 8
sandstone mortar fragments from a 1962
burial and 2 shell fragments, 1 bone
hairpin, 3 biface, 1 unmodified animal
bone, and 1 serpentine pendant from a
1963 burial.
In 1968 and 1969, human remains
representing, at minimum, 16
individuals were removed from Pitas
Point (CA–VEN–27) in Ventura County,
CA. Excavations were conducted by a
University of California Archaeological
Survey crew under the direction of
Chester King. The excavation was part
of a salvage project for the realignment
of Highway 101, and took place on land
owned by Caltrans. This collection was
curated at UCLA after analysis was
complete. Analysis of the artifacts
places the site occupation to A.D. 1000–
1550. Three formal burials and
fragmentary human remains recovered
from midden contexts include 13 adults
(2 male, 1 female, and 10 unidentified),
1 juvenile, and 1 infant. One
fragmentary remain could not be aged or
sex determined. No known individuals
were identified. The 50 associated
funerary objects include 2 bags and 6
pieces of unmodified animal bone, 2
worked bone fragments, 1 bag of
charcoal, 6 bags of asphaltum, 1 bag and
2 individual tarring pebbles, 5 bags of
unmodified shell, 1 shell fishhook
fragment, 1 shell bead fragment, 21
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chipped stone flakes and tools, 1 fire
cracked rock, and 1 pestle.
The sites detailed in this notice have
been identified through tribal
consultation to be within the traditional
territory of the Chumash people. These
locations are consistent with
ethnographic and historic
documentation of the Chumash people.
The Chumash territory,
anthropologically defined first on the
basis of linguistic similarities, and
subsequently on broadly shared material
and cultural traits, reaches from San
Luis Obispo to Malibu on the coast,
inland to the western edge of the San
Joaquin Valley, to the edge of the San
Fernando Valley, and includes the four
Northern Channel Islands. At the
southern and southeastern boundaries
of the territory there is evidence of the
physical co-existence of Chumash,
Tataviam, and Gabrielino/Tongva
languages and beliefs systems. At the
northern boundary of the territory there
is evidence of the physical co-existence
of Chumash and Salinan groups. The
sites in this notice are located in
Ventura and Santa Barbara counties and
fall within the geographical area
identified as Chumash. Some tribal
consultants state that these areas were
the responsibility of regional leaders,
who were themselves organized into a
pan-regional association of both
political power and ceremonial
knowledge. Further, these indigenous
areas are identified by some tribal
consultants to be relational with clans
or associations of traditional
practitioners of specific kinds of
indigenous medicinal and ceremonial
practices. Some tribal consultants
identified these clans as existing in the
pre-contact period and identified some
clans as also existing in the present day.
Other tribal consultants do not
recognize present-day geographical
divisions to be related to clans of
traditional practitioners. However, they
do state that Chumash, Tataviam, and
Gabrielino/Tongva territories were and
are occupied by socially distinct, yet
interrelated, groups which have been
characterized by anthropologists.
Ethnographic evidence suggests that the
social and political organization of the
pre-contact Channel Islands were
primarily at the village level, with a
hereditary chief, in addition to many
other specialists who wielded power.
The associated funerary objects
described in this notice are consistent
with those of groups ancestral to the
present-day Chumash, Tataviam, and
Gabrielino/Tongva people. The material
cultures of earlier groups living in the
geographical areas mentioned in this
notice are characterized by archeologists
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Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 17 / Wednesday, January 27, 2016 / Notices
as having passed through stages over the
past 10,000 years. Many local
archeologists assert that the changes in
the material culture reflect evolving
ecological adaptations and related
changes in social organization of the
same populations and do not represent
population displacements or
movements. The same range of artifact
types and materials were used from the
early pre-contact period until historic
times. Tribal consultants explicitly state
that population mixing, which did
occur on a small scale, would not alter
the continuity of the shared group
identities of people associated with
specific locales. Based on this evidence,
continuity through time can be traced
for all sites listed in this notice with
present-day Chumash people,
specifically the Santa Ynez Band of
Chumash Mission Indians of the Santa
Ynez Reservation, California.
Determinations Made by the California
Department of Transportation
Officials of the California Department
of Transportation have determined that:
• Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the
human remains described in this notice
represent the physical remains of 130
individuals of Native American
ancestry.
• Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A),
the 792 objects described in this notice
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 Santa Ynez Band of Chumash
Mission Indians of the Santa Ynez
Reservation, California.
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Additional Requestors and Disposition
Lineal descendants or representatives
of any Indian tribe or Native Hawaiian
organization not identified in this notice
that wish to request transfer of control
of these human remains and associated
funerary objects should submit a written
request with information in support of
the request to Tina Biorn, California
Department of Transportation, P.O. Box
942874 MS 27, Sacramento, CA 94271–
0001, telephone (916) 653–0013, email
tina.biorn@dot.ca.gov, by February 26,
2016. After that date, if no additional
requestors have come forward, transfer
of control of the human remains and
associated funerary objects to Santa
Ynez Band of Chumash Mission Indians
of the Santa Ynez Reservation,
California, may proceed.
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The California Department of
Transportation is responsible for
notifying the Santa Ynez Band of
Chumash Mission Indians of the Santa
Ynez Reservation, California, that this
notice has been published.
Dated: December 21, 2015.
Melanie O’Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2016–01594 Filed 1–26–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312–50–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[NPS–WASO–NAGPRA–20021;
PPWOCRADN0–PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Intent To Repatriate Cultural
Items: Fowler Museum at the
University of California Los Angeles,
Los Angeles, CA, and California
Department of Transportation,
Sacramento, CA
National Park Service, Interior.
Notice.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
The Fowler Museum at the
University of California Los Angeles
(UCLA) and California Department of
Transportation, in consultation with the
appropriate Indian tribes or Native
Hawaiian organizations, have
determined that the cultural items listed
in this notice meet the definition of
unassociated funerary objects. Lineal
descendants or representatives of any
Indian tribe or Native Hawaiian
organization not identified in this notice
that wish to claim these cultural items
should submit a written request to the
California Department of
Transportation. If no additional
claimants come forward, transfer of
control of the cultural items to the lineal
descendants, Indian tribes, or Native
Hawaiian organizations stated in this
notice may proceed.
DATES: Lineal descendants or
representatives of any Indian tribe or
Native Hawaiian organization not
identified in this notice that wish to
claim these cultural items should
submit a written request with
information in support of the claim to
the California Department of
Transportation at the address in this
notice by February 26, 2016.
ADDRESSES: Tina Biorn, California
Department of Transportation, P.O. Box
942874 MS 27, Sacramento, CA 94271–
0001, telephone (916) 653–0013, email
tina.biorn@dot.ca.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice is
here given in accordance with the
Native American Graves Protection and
SUMMARY:
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Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), 25 U.S.C.
3005, of the intent to repatriate cultural
items under the control of the California
Department of Transportation that meet
the definition of unassociated funerary
objects under 25 U.S.C. 3001.
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 cultural items. The National
Park Service is not responsible for the
determinations in this notice.
History and Description of the Cultural
Items
In February 1997, 4,280 burial objects
were removed from CA–LAN–2233 in
Los Angeles County, CA. The California
Department of Transportation initiated
an emergency recovery effort of burials
in the path of construction to improve
State Route 126. An archeologist had
previously found a burial on an adjacent
private property and notified the
California Department of Transportation
(Caltrans) as construction began. During
staff efforts to locate the burial, evidence
of additional burials were found. Staff
terminated the exploratory effort and
came back with a crew consisting of
trained osteologists from the
Archaeological Research Center,
California State University, Sacramento,
and Caltrans staff, under the direction of
Dr. Georgie Waugh, to recover the
burials. In August 1997, six more burials
were found during highway
construction and additional recovery
excavations were conducted by Dr.
Phillip Walker and students of
University of California (UC) Santa
Barbara. Over the course of the project,
a total of 45 burials were located and
transported to UC Santa Barbara for
analysis. All human remains and nonartifactual and artifactual grave
associated items identified were
reburied as directed by the Most Likely
Descendant designated by the California
Native American Heritage Commission.
Recent consultations resulted in the
identification of additional funerary
objects because of their proximity to the
burials. The unassociated funerary
objects are 1 stone core, 1,415 pieces of
stone debitage, 3 pieces of modified
bone, 2,828 pieces of unmodified faunal
bone, 1 soil sample, 6 bags of charcoal
samples, and 24 fragments and 2 bags of
seed/nut pieces. Two components were
identified: An earlier Millingstone
adaptation that occurred at least prior to
2000 years ago, and perhaps as early as
3000–4000 years ago, and a later
component securely dated to at least
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 17 (Wednesday, January 27, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4646-4648]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-01594]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-20020; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Inventory Completion: Fowler Museum at the University
of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, and California Department
of Transportation, Sacramento, CA
AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Fowler Museum at the University of California Los Angeles
(UCLA) and the California Department of Transportation have completed
an inventory of human remains and associated funerary objects, in
consultation with the appropriate Indian tribes or Native Hawaiian
organizations, and have determined that there is a cultural affiliation
between the human remains and associated funerary objects and present-
day Indian tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations. Lineal descendants
or representatives of any Indian tribe or Native Hawaiian organization
not identified in this notice that wish to request transfer of control
of these human remains and associated funerary objects should submit a
written request to the California Department of Transportation. If no
additional requestors come forward, transfer of control of the human
remains and associated funerary objects to the lineal descendants,
Indian tribes, or Native Hawaiian organizations stated in this notice
may proceed.
DATES: Lineal descendants or representatives of any Indian tribe or
Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice that wish to
request transfer of control of these human remains and associated
funerary objects should submit a written request with information in
support of the request to the California Department of Transportation
at the address in this notice by February 26, 2016.
ADDRESSES: Tina Biorn, California Department of Transportation, P.O.
Box 942874 MS 27, Sacramento, CA 94271-0001, telephone (916) 653-0013,
email tina.biorn@dot.ca.gov.
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 physical custody of the Fowler
Museum at UCLA and under the control of the California Department of
Transportation. The human remains and associated funerary objects were
removed from Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties, CA.
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 and associated funerary objects. The National
Park Service is not responsible for the determinations in this notice.
Consultation
A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by the Fowler
Museum at UCLA professional staff in consultation with representatives
of Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Mission Indians of the Santa Ynez
Reservation, California, and the following nonfederally recognized
Indian groups: Barbareno Chumash Council; Barbareno/Ventureno Band of
Mission Indians; Coastal Band of the Chumash Nation; Fernande[ntilde]o
Tataviam Band of Mission Indians; Gabrielino/Tongva Indians of
California Tribe; Gabrielino/Tongva Nation; Gabrieleno/Tongva Tribal
Council; Northern Chumash Tribe; San Gabriel Band of Mission Indians;
Ti'at Society; and the Traditional Council of Pimu.
History and Description of the Human Remains and Associated Funerary
Objects
In 1966 and 1967, human remains representing at minimum, 108
individuals were removed from Xucu
[[Page 4647]]
(CA-SBA-1) in Santa Barbara County, CA. Excavations were undertaken by
a UCLA field course directed by Patrick Finnerty for the State Division
of Highways prior to construction of Highway 101. This work continued
in 1967, in addition to excavations led by Gary Stickel within an
adjacent cemetery. Both sets of collections were curated upon
completion of analysis as provided in the permits. Not all of the 1966
burials were curated at UCLA, and their current location is unknown.
Radiocarbon dates have occupation from 5500 B.C. through Spanish
contact periods. In 1966, formal burials and fragmentary human remains
were discovered and removed for curation. The total minimum number of
individuals represented are 28, identified as 16 adults (1 male, 1
female, and 14 unidentified), 2 sub-adults, 2 juvenile, and 3 infants.
Another 5 individuals were too fragmentary to identify age or sex. In
1967, 43 burials were formally identified, however several where left
in-situ after recording them. In addition, fragmentary human remains
were recovered. In total, a minimum number of 80 individuals can be
identified as 60 adults, 3 sub-adults, 12 juveniles, 3 infants, and 2
perinatal. In addition 21 were identifiable as male and 11 as female.
No known individuals were identified. No associated funerary objects
were identified for the burials found in 1966. The 726 associated
funerary objects excavated in 1967 included 19 pieces and 1 bag of
asphaltum fragments; 20 pieces of worked bone; 189 pieces and 3 bags of
unmodified animal bone; 1 piece of charcoal; 12 pieces of hematite; 14
pieces of limonite; 1 fragment of a paper candlewick; 2 bags of soil
samples; 1 wood fragment; 123 pieces and 2 bags of unmodified shell; 2
asphaltum plugged abalone shells; 22 shell beads; 7 bowl/mortar
fragments; 167 groundstone tools and fragments; 139 chipped stone tools
and flakes; and 1 steatite pipe.
In 1969-1970, human remains representing, at minimum, one
individual were removed from Kasil (CA-SBA-87) in Santa Barbara County,
CA. Excavations by G. James West occurred at the request of the
Division of Highways as a salvage project undertaken prior to highway
construction on Highway 101. Collections were accessioned at UCLA as
they returned from the field. The village dates from A.D. 300 to 1500.
Human remains consist of a single burial representing an adult male.
The burial was disturbed when a bulldozer cut a trench on the upper
terrace. Further investigation of the trench failed to show the exact
burial location. No known individuals were identified. No associated
funerary objects were identified.
From 1961 to 1963, human remains representing, at minimum, five
individuals were removed from Rincon Point (CA-SBA-119) in Santa
Barbara County, CA. Excavations in 1961 and 1962 were led by Patrick
Finnerty while still in high school. Most of the human remains and
artifacts have not been located, however at least some of three burials
and objects have been found and curated at the Fowler Museum at UCLA.
In 1963, excavations were directed by Keith Johnson with the UCLA
Archaeological Survey preliminary as a salvage excavation due to the
re-location of U.S. Highway 101 which would pass through the site. The
collection was curated at UCLA upon completion of the field work. The
site dates from 1735 to 1320 B.C. The human remains consist of a single
burial with a minimum of two individuals: A sub-adult male and an
adult, sex unknown. The three relocated burials represent a minimum of
three individuals, one adult male, one juvenile, and one adult with
undetermined sex. No known individuals were identified. The 16
associated funerary objects include 8 sandstone mortar fragments from a
1962 burial and 2 shell fragments, 1 bone hairpin, 3 biface, 1
unmodified animal bone, and 1 serpentine pendant from a 1963 burial.
In 1968 and 1969, human remains representing, at minimum, 16
individuals were removed from Pitas Point (CA-VEN-27) in Ventura
County, CA. Excavations were conducted by a University of California
Archaeological Survey crew under the direction of Chester King. The
excavation was part of a salvage project for the realignment of Highway
101, and took place on land owned by Caltrans. This collection was
curated at UCLA after analysis was complete. Analysis of the artifacts
places the site occupation to A.D. 1000-1550. Three formal burials and
fragmentary human remains recovered from midden contexts include 13
adults (2 male, 1 female, and 10 unidentified), 1 juvenile, and 1
infant. One fragmentary remain could not be aged or sex determined. No
known individuals were identified. The 50 associated funerary objects
include 2 bags and 6 pieces of unmodified animal bone, 2 worked bone
fragments, 1 bag of charcoal, 6 bags of asphaltum, 1 bag and 2
individual tarring pebbles, 5 bags of unmodified shell, 1 shell
fishhook fragment, 1 shell bead fragment, 21 chipped stone flakes and
tools, 1 fire cracked rock, and 1 pestle.
The sites detailed in this notice have been identified through
tribal consultation to be within the traditional territory of the
Chumash people. These locations are consistent with ethnographic and
historic documentation of the Chumash people.
The Chumash territory, anthropologically defined first on the basis
of linguistic similarities, and subsequently on broadly shared material
and cultural traits, reaches from San Luis Obispo to Malibu on the
coast, inland to the western edge of the San Joaquin Valley, to the
edge of the San Fernando Valley, and includes the four Northern Channel
Islands. At the southern and southeastern boundaries of the territory
there is evidence of the physical co-existence of Chumash, Tataviam,
and Gabrielino/Tongva languages and beliefs systems. At the northern
boundary of the territory there is evidence of the physical co-
existence of Chumash and Salinan groups. The sites in this notice are
located in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties and fall within the
geographical area identified as Chumash. Some tribal consultants state
that these areas were the responsibility of regional leaders, who were
themselves organized into a pan-regional association of both political
power and ceremonial knowledge. Further, these indigenous areas are
identified by some tribal consultants to be relational with clans or
associations of traditional practitioners of specific kinds of
indigenous medicinal and ceremonial practices. Some tribal consultants
identified these clans as existing in the pre-contact period and
identified some clans as also existing in the present day. Other tribal
consultants do not recognize present-day geographical divisions to be
related to clans of traditional practitioners. However, they do state
that Chumash, Tataviam, and Gabrielino/Tongva territories were and are
occupied by socially distinct, yet interrelated, groups which have been
characterized by anthropologists. Ethnographic evidence suggests that
the social and political organization of the pre-contact Channel
Islands were primarily at the village level, with a hereditary chief,
in addition to many other specialists who wielded power.
The associated funerary objects described in this notice are
consistent with those of groups ancestral to the present-day Chumash,
Tataviam, and Gabrielino/Tongva people. The material cultures of
earlier groups living in the geographical areas mentioned in this
notice are characterized by archeologists
[[Page 4648]]
as having passed through stages over the past 10,000 years. Many local
archeologists assert that the changes in the material culture reflect
evolving ecological adaptations and related changes in social
organization of the same populations and do not represent population
displacements or movements. The same range of artifact types and
materials were used from the early pre-contact period until historic
times. Tribal consultants explicitly state that population mixing,
which did occur on a small scale, would not alter the continuity of the
shared group identities of people associated with specific locales.
Based on this evidence, continuity through time can be traced for all
sites listed in this notice with present-day Chumash people,
specifically the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Mission Indians of the
Santa Ynez Reservation, California.
Determinations Made by the California Department of Transportation
Officials of the California Department of Transportation have
determined that:
Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described
in this notice represent the physical remains of 130 individuals of
Native American ancestry.
Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A), the 792 objects
described in this notice 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 Santa
Ynez Band of Chumash Mission Indians of the Santa Ynez Reservation,
California.
Additional Requestors and Disposition
Lineal descendants or representatives of any Indian tribe or Native
Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice that wish to
request transfer of control of these human remains and associated
funerary objects should submit a written request with information in
support of the request to Tina Biorn, California Department of
Transportation, P.O. Box 942874 MS 27, Sacramento, CA 94271-0001,
telephone (916) 653-0013, email tina.biorn@dot.ca.gov, by February 26,
2016. After that date, if no additional requestors have come forward,
transfer of control of the human remains and associated funerary
objects to Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Mission Indians of the Santa Ynez
Reservation, California, may proceed.
The California Department of Transportation is responsible for
notifying the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Mission Indians of the Santa
Ynez Reservation, California, that this notice has been published.
Dated: December 21, 2015.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2016-01594 Filed 1-26-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-50-P
