Notice of Intended Disposition: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Coronado National Forest, Tucson, AZ, 12758-12759 [2025-04611]

Download as PDF 12758 Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 52 / Wednesday, March 19, 2025 / Notices ownership of their properties and any items associated with them. Henry Moses acquired these items from yet another person who is not specified in our records, but it is clear that at the time these screens were separated from the original knowledge keepers and rightful owners of this property, and at the time they fell into the hands of the unidentified person, the United States Government had so undermined the traditional inheritance systems and enacted measures of such extreme assimilation as to guarantee that these screens were relinquished or abandoned under a situation of extreme duress. lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1 Determinations The Denver Art Museum has determined that: • The Raven Screen is an object of cultural patrimony and as described in this notice has ongoing historical, traditional, or cultural importance central to the Native American group, including any constituent sub-group (such as a band, clan, lineage, ceremonial society, or other subdivision), according to the Native American traditional knowledge of an Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization. • There is a reasonable connection between the cultural item described in this notice and the Central Council of the Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribe who have upon multiple consultations alerted the DAM to the screen’s ongoing cultural significance and their importance in ensuring cultural knowledge persists into the future. Requests for Repatriation Additional, written requests for repatriation of the cultural item 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 item in this notice to a requestor may occur on or after April 18, 2025. If competing requests for repatriation are received, the Denver Art Museum must determine the most appropriate requestor prior to repatriation. Requests for joint repatriation of the cultural item are considered a single request and not competing requests. The Denver Art Museum is responsible for sending a copy of this notice to the Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:11 Mar 18, 2025 Jkt 265001 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: February 19, 2025. Melanie O’Brien, Manager, National NAGPRA Program. [FR Doc. 2025–04606 Filed 3–18–25; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4312–52–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR National Park Service [NPS–WASO–NAGPRA–NPS0039574; PPWOCRADN0–PCU00RP14.R50000] Notice of Intended Disposition: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Coronado National Forest, Tucson, AZ National Park Service, Interior. Notice. AGENCY: ACTION: In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Coronado National Forest intends to carry out the disposition of human remains, associated funerary objects, unassociated funerary objects, sacred objects, or objects of cultural patrimony removed from Federal or Tribal lands to the lineal descendants, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization with priority for disposition in this notice. DATES: Disposition of the human remains or cultural items in this notice may occur on or after April 18, 2025. If no claim for disposition is received by March 19, 2026, the human remains or cultural items in this notice will become unclaimed human remains or cultural items. SUMMARY: David Mehalic, Coronado National Forest, Supervisor’s Office, 300 W Congress Street, Tucson, AZ 85701, telephone (520) 388–8395, email david.mehalic@usda.gov. 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 the Coronado National Forest, and additional information on the human remains or cultural items in this notice, including the results of consultation, can be found in the related records. The National Park Service is not responsible for the identifications in this notice. ADDRESSES: PO 00000 Frm 00063 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Abstract of Information Available The 47 objects of cultural patrimony are ceramic sherds. Eight of the sherds are Mimbres Classic Black-on-white, two sherds are corrugated brownwares, eight sherds are undecorated whitewares, and 29 sherds are undecorated brownwares or buffwares. These materials were gathered from Forest Service site number AR03–05– 04–101. This site is informally known as Hawk Peak Shrine. AR03–05–04–101 contains an oval hole surrounded by a rock ring and cairn and is interpreted to be a shrine associated with Mogollon use of the area. This site is located on the summit of a high-altitude peak in the Pinaleño Mountains, approximately 13 miles southwest of Safford, Arizona. The site is located on lands administered by the Coronado National Forest, in the Safford Vista Ranger District within Graham County, Arizona. On May 23, 2000, four ceramics were gathered from the surface of AR03–05–04–101. In addition to material gathered in 2000, ceramics associated with the site were gathered on October 20, 1987. Based on the information available, human remains representing, at least, two individuals have been reasonably identified. No associated funerary objects are present. The two individuals were identified in faunal collections at the Arizona State Museum (ASM) associated with Forest Service site number AR03–05–05–213. This site is informally known as the Romero Site because of the Historic occupation of the Romero Family ca. 1844. The site is also a large Hohokam site with an occupation dating from A.D. 425 to A.D. 1450. The site is located on lands administered by the Coronado National Forest, Santa Catalina Ranger District and permitted to the State of Arizona for Catalina State Park. The site location is in Pima County, AZ. In 1987, the Institute for American Research (Desert Archaeology) conducted an archaeological collection survey in Catalina State Park, focusing on the site. All artifacts, reports, and photo material were curated at ASM. Additional test excavations were conducted in 1990 and 1993 and all archaeological material was curated at ASM. This collection went through repatriation and disposition by ASM to the Tohono O’odham Nation on behalf of Coronado National Forest in 2009 (ASM #r DP–2009–7). Subsequently, in 2016 ASM conducted a review of the faunal remains from the excavations. The human remains of two individuals were identified in these collections. E:\FR\FM\19MRN1.SGM 19MRN1 lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1 Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 52 / Wednesday, March 19, 2025 / Notices Based on the information available, human remains representing, at least, two individuals have been reasonably identified. No associated funerary objects are present. The 4,707 unassociated funerary objects are 4,232 ceramics, 457 pieces of flaked stone, four groundstone fragments, and 14 faunal remains. The two individuals were identified during efforts to restore and stabilize unauthorized excavations at Forest Service site number AR03–05– 05–213. This site is informally known as the Romero Site because of the Historic occupation of the Romero Family ca. 1844. The site is also a large Hohokam site with an occupation dating from A.D. 425 to A.D. 1450. The site is located on lands administered by the Coronado National Forest, Santa Catalina Ranger District and permitted to the State of Arizona for Catalina State Park. The site location is in Pima County, AZ. The project included the restoration of up to six unauthorized excavations, here referred to as ‘‘pits.’’ The excavations were conducted in accordance with the requirements of an ARPA permit issued by Coronado National Forest to Archaeology Southwest pursuant to the Archaeological Resources Protection Act. On Wednesday April 13, 2022, a team of archaeologists from Archaeology Southwest and Gila River Indian Community excavated the back dirt pile from one pit. The back dirt was screened for artifacts, and large rocks were set aside for later volumetric computation, to be returned to the pit during final backfill and stabilization. Nearly all the back dirt pile had been processed when human remains of what is likely an individual of Native American heritage were found. As per the Forest Service protocol for inadvertent discoveries, all work was stopped at the location and the area was secured with a tarp and large rocks. The team moved to another pit and began the same work processing the back dirt pile. The work continued the following day April 14th and again, the back dirt pile was nearly processed when human remains of what is likely an individual of Native American heritage were found. Again, work was stopped, and the area was secured. Dr. James Watson of the Arizona State Museum confirmed the remains are consistent with human. The 436 objects of cultural patrimony are 392 ceramics, one flake, one hammerstone, one deer tooth fragment, one piece of worked wood, six tobacco twigs, one twig segment, nine cane tubes, one saltpeter crystal, two stone mosaic pieces, three shell disk beads, two stone disk beads, 10 turquoise disk VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:11 Mar 18, 2025 Jkt 265001 beads, one turquoise pendant, one piece of unworked turquoise, and four charcoal samples. Many of the ceramics are sherd disks or modified into secondary vessels. These materials were gathered from Forest Service site number AR03–05–03–78. This site is informally known as Red Cave. The site is located within a large cave in the Whetstone Mountains, approximately 13 miles southwest of Benson, Arizona. The site is located on lands administered by the Coronado National Forest, in the Sierra Vista Ranger District within Pima County, Arizona. AR03–05–03–78 contains a waterfilled basin where much of the gathered material was deposited. The site is interpreted to be a shrine. The large number of Middle Rincon and Late Rincon red-on-brown pottery suggests the site was used by the Hohokam from A.D. 1000 to A.D. 1150. On February 26, 1993, 16 objects were gathered from AR03–05–03–78: one sherd disk, one unworked sherd, one flake, one hammerstone, three cane tubes, one twig, six tobacco stems, one piece of worked wood, and one piece of charcoal. The tobacco is associated with the cane tube. In addition to material gathered in 1993, sherd disks and other modified sherds, wood fragments, cane tubes, saltpeter, and shell and turquoise beads were collected, totaling 420 objects, between March 18, 1973 and August 8, 1990. Determinations The Coronado National Forest has determined that: • The human remains described in this notice represent the physical remains of four individuals of Native American ancestry. • The 4,707 unassociated funerary objects described in this notice are reasonably believed to have been placed intentionally with or near human remains, and are connected, either at the time of death or later as part of the death rite or ceremony of a Native American culture according to the Native American traditional knowledge of a lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization. The unassociated funerary objects have been identified by a preponderance of the evidence as related to human remains, specific individuals, or families, or removed from a specific burial site or burial area of an individual or individuals with cultural affiliation to an Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization. • The 483 objects of cultural patrimony described in this notice have ongoing historical, traditional, or cultural importance central to the PO 00000 Frm 00064 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 9990 12759 Native American group, including any constituent sub-group (such as a band, clan, lineage, ceremonial society, or other subdivision), according to the Native American traditional knowledge of an Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization. • The Ak-Chin Indian Community; Gila River Indian Community of the Gila River Indian Reservation, Arizona; Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community of the Salt River Reservation, Arizona and the Tohono O’odham Nation of Arizona have priority for disposition of the human remains or cultural item described in this notice. Claims for Disposition Written claims for disposition of the human remains or cultural items in this notice must be sent to the appropriate official identified in this notice under ADDRESSES. If no claim for disposition is received by March 19, 2026, the human remains or cultural items in this notice will become unclaimed human remains or cultural items. Claims for disposition may be submitted by: 1. Any lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization identified in this notice. 2. Any lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice who shows, by a preponderance of the evidence, that they have priority for disposition. Disposition of the human remains or cultural items in this notice may occur on or after April 18, 2025. If competing claims for disposition are received, the Coronado National Forest must determine the most appropriate claimant prior to disposition. Requests for joint disposition of the human remains or cultural items are considered a single request and not competing requests. The Coronado National Forest is responsible for sending a copy of this notice to the lineal descendants, 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. 3002, and the implementing regulations, 43 CFR 10.7. Dated: February 19, 2025. Melanie O’Brien, Manager, National NAGPRA Program. [FR Doc. 2025–04611 Filed 3–18–25; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4312–52–P E:\FR\FM\19MRN1.SGM 19MRN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 52 (Wednesday, March 19, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12758-12759]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-04611]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0039574; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Intended Disposition: U.S. Department of Agriculture, 
Forest Service, Coronado National Forest, Tucson, AZ

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and 
Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest 
Service, Coronado National Forest intends to carry out the disposition 
of human remains, associated funerary objects, unassociated funerary 
objects, sacred objects, or objects of cultural patrimony removed from 
Federal or Tribal lands to the lineal descendants, Indian Tribe, or 
Native Hawaiian organization with priority for disposition in this 
notice.

DATES: Disposition of the human remains or cultural items in this 
notice may occur on or after April 18, 2025. If no claim for 
disposition is received by March 19, 2026, the human remains or 
cultural items in this notice will become unclaimed human remains or 
cultural items.

ADDRESSES: David Mehalic, Coronado National Forest, Supervisor's 
Office, 300 W Congress Street, Tucson, AZ 85701, telephone (520) 388-
8395, email [email protected].

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 the 
Coronado National Forest, and additional information on the human 
remains or cultural items in this notice, including the results of 
consultation, can be found in the related records. The National Park 
Service is not responsible for the identifications in this notice.

Abstract of Information Available

    The 47 objects of cultural patrimony are ceramic sherds. Eight of 
the sherds are Mimbres Classic Black-on-white, two sherds are 
corrugated brownwares, eight sherds are undecorated whitewares, and 29 
sherds are undecorated brownwares or buffwares. These materials were 
gathered from Forest Service site number AR03-05-04-101. This site is 
informally known as Hawk Peak Shrine. AR03-05-04-101 contains an oval 
hole surrounded by a rock ring and cairn and is interpreted to be a 
shrine associated with Mogollon use of the area. This site is located 
on the summit of a high-altitude peak in the Pinale[ntilde]o Mountains, 
approximately 13 miles southwest of Safford, Arizona. The site is 
located on lands administered by the Coronado National Forest, in the 
Safford Vista Ranger District within Graham County, Arizona. On May 23, 
2000, four ceramics were gathered from the surface of AR03-05-04-101. 
In addition to material gathered in 2000, ceramics associated with the 
site were gathered on October 20, 1987.
    Based on the information available, human remains representing, at 
least, two individuals have been reasonably identified. No associated 
funerary objects are present. The two individuals were identified in 
faunal collections at the Arizona State Museum (ASM) associated with 
Forest Service site number AR03-05-05-213. This site is informally 
known as the Romero Site because of the Historic occupation of the 
Romero Family ca. 1844. The site is also a large Hohokam site with an 
occupation dating from A.D. 425 to A.D. 1450. The site is located on 
lands administered by the Coronado National Forest, Santa Catalina 
Ranger District and permitted to the State of Arizona for Catalina 
State Park. The site location is in Pima County, AZ.
    In 1987, the Institute for American Research (Desert Archaeology) 
conducted an archaeological collection survey in Catalina State Park, 
focusing on the site. All artifacts, reports, and photo material were 
curated at ASM. Additional test excavations were conducted in 1990 and 
1993 and all archaeological material was curated at ASM. This 
collection went through repatriation and disposition by ASM to the 
Tohono O'odham Nation on behalf of Coronado National Forest in 2009 
(ASM #r DP-2009-7). Subsequently, in 2016 ASM conducted a review of the 
faunal remains from the excavations. The human remains of two 
individuals were identified in these collections.

[[Page 12759]]

    Based on the information available, human remains representing, at 
least, two individuals have been reasonably identified. No associated 
funerary objects are present. The 4,707 unassociated funerary objects 
are 4,232 ceramics, 457 pieces of flaked stone, four groundstone 
fragments, and 14 faunal remains. The two individuals were identified 
during efforts to restore and stabilize unauthorized excavations at 
Forest Service site number AR03-05-05-213. This site is informally 
known as the Romero Site because of the Historic occupation of the 
Romero Family ca. 1844. The site is also a large Hohokam site with an 
occupation dating from A.D. 425 to A.D. 1450. The site is located on 
lands administered by the Coronado National Forest, Santa Catalina 
Ranger District and permitted to the State of Arizona for Catalina 
State Park. The site location is in Pima County, AZ.
    The project included the restoration of up to six unauthorized 
excavations, here referred to as ``pits.'' The excavations were 
conducted in accordance with the requirements of an ARPA permit issued 
by Coronado National Forest to Archaeology Southwest pursuant to the 
Archaeological Resources Protection Act. On Wednesday April 13, 2022, a 
team of archaeologists from Archaeology Southwest and Gila River Indian 
Community excavated the back dirt pile from one pit. The back dirt was 
screened for artifacts, and large rocks were set aside for later 
volumetric computation, to be returned to the pit during final backfill 
and stabilization. Nearly all the back dirt pile had been processed 
when human remains of what is likely an individual of Native American 
heritage were found. As per the Forest Service protocol for inadvertent 
discoveries, all work was stopped at the location and the area was 
secured with a tarp and large rocks. The team moved to another pit and 
began the same work processing the back dirt pile. The work continued 
the following day April 14th and again, the back dirt pile was nearly 
processed when human remains of what is likely an individual of Native 
American heritage were found. Again, work was stopped, and the area was 
secured. Dr. James Watson of the Arizona State Museum confirmed the 
remains are consistent with human.
    The 436 objects of cultural patrimony are 392 ceramics, one flake, 
one hammerstone, one deer tooth fragment, one piece of worked wood, six 
tobacco twigs, one twig segment, nine cane tubes, one saltpeter 
crystal, two stone mosaic pieces, three shell disk beads, two stone 
disk beads, 10 turquoise disk beads, one turquoise pendant, one piece 
of unworked turquoise, and four charcoal samples. Many of the ceramics 
are sherd disks or modified into secondary vessels. These materials 
were gathered from Forest Service site number AR03-05-03-78. This site 
is informally known as Red Cave. The site is located within a large 
cave in the Whetstone Mountains, approximately 13 miles southwest of 
Benson, Arizona. The site is located on lands administered by the 
Coronado National Forest, in the Sierra Vista Ranger District within 
Pima County, Arizona.
    AR03-05-03-78 contains a water-filled basin where much of the 
gathered material was deposited. The site is interpreted to be a 
shrine. The large number of Middle Rincon and Late Rincon red-on-brown 
pottery suggests the site was used by the Hohokam from A.D. 1000 to 
A.D. 1150. On February 26, 1993, 16 objects were gathered from AR03-05-
03-78: one sherd disk, one unworked sherd, one flake, one hammerstone, 
three cane tubes, one twig, six tobacco stems, one piece of worked 
wood, and one piece of charcoal. The tobacco is associated with the 
cane tube. In addition to material gathered in 1993, sherd disks and 
other modified sherds, wood fragments, cane tubes, saltpeter, and shell 
and turquoise beads were collected, totaling 420 objects, between March 
18, 1973 and August 8, 1990.

Determinations

    The Coronado National Forest has determined that:
     The human remains described in this notice represent the 
physical remains of four individuals of Native American ancestry.
     The 4,707 unassociated funerary objects described in this 
notice are reasonably believed to have been placed intentionally with 
or near human remains, and are connected, either at the time of death 
or later as part of the death rite or ceremony of a Native American 
culture according to the Native American traditional knowledge of a 
lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization. The 
unassociated funerary objects have been identified by a preponderance 
of the evidence as related to human remains, specific individuals, or 
families, or removed from a specific burial site or burial area of an 
individual or individuals with cultural affiliation to an Indian Tribe 
or Native Hawaiian organization.
     The 483 objects of cultural patrimony described in this 
notice have ongoing historical, traditional, or cultural importance 
central to the Native American group, including any constituent sub-
group (such as a band, clan, lineage, ceremonial society, or other 
subdivision), according to the Native American traditional knowledge of 
an Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization.
     The Ak-Chin Indian Community; Gila River Indian Community 
of the Gila River Indian Reservation, Arizona; Salt River Pima-Maricopa 
Indian Community of the Salt River Reservation, Arizona and the Tohono 
O'odham Nation of Arizona have priority for disposition of the human 
remains or cultural item described in this notice.

Claims for Disposition

    Written claims for disposition of the human remains or cultural 
items in this notice must be sent to the appropriate official 
identified in this notice under ADDRESSES. If no claim for disposition 
is received by March 19, 2026, the human remains or cultural items in 
this notice will become unclaimed human remains or cultural items. 
Claims for disposition may be submitted by:
    1. Any lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian 
organization identified in this notice.
    2. Any lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian 
organization not identified in this notice who shows, by a 
preponderance of the evidence, that they have priority for disposition.
    Disposition of the human remains or cultural items in this notice 
may occur on or after April 18, 2025. If competing claims for 
disposition are received, the Coronado National Forest must determine 
the most appropriate claimant prior to disposition. Requests for joint 
disposition of the human remains or cultural items are considered a 
single request and not competing requests. The Coronado National Forest 
is responsible for sending a copy of this notice to the lineal 
descendants, 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. 3002, and the implementing regulations, 43 CFR 10.7.

    Dated: February 19, 2025.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2025-04611 Filed 3-18-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P

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