[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 185 (Friday, September 24, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58433-58435]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-23901]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Inventory Completion: Brigham Young University, Museum 
of Peoples and Cultures, Provo, UT

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 and associated funerary 
objects in the possession of the Brigham Young University, Museum of 
Peoples and Cultures, Provo, UT. The human remains and associated 
funerary objects were removed from Kane and San Juan Counties, UT.
    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.
    Between 1993 and 1996, a detailed assessment of the human remains 
and associated funerary objects was made by the Brigham Young 
University, Museum of Peoples and Cultures, professional staff in 
consultation with representatives of the Hopi Tribe of Arizona; Kaibab 
Band of Paiute Indians of the Kaibab Indian Reservation, Arizona; 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 Felipe, 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 Santo 
Domingo, New Mexico; Pueblo of Taos, New Mexico; Pueblo of Tesuque, New 
Mexico; Pueblo of Zia, New Mexico; and Zuni Tribe of the Zuni 
Reservation, New Mexico.
    At an unknown date, human remains representing a minimum of 23 
individuals were removed from four unidentified caves in San Juan 
County, UT. Between 1893 and 1894, Mr. Charles Lang and Mr. Platte 
Lyman donated the human remains to the Deseret Museum, Salt Lake City, 
UT, which was later incorporated into the Church History Museum of the 
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Salt Lake City, UT. The 
collection became known as the Lang-Lyman Collection, and was acquired 
by the Museum of Peoples and Cultures through museum transfers in 1966 
and 1995, and accessioned (Catalog Nos. 1966.55.1.1, 1966.56.1.1, 
1966.57.2.1, 1966.57.3.1. 1966.57.7.1, 1966.58.1.0, 1966.58.2.0, 
1966.58.3.1, 1966.58.4.1, 1966.58.5.1, 1966.58.5.2, 1966.58.6.1, 
1966.58.7.1, 1966.58.8.1, 1966.58.9.1, 1966.58.10.1, 1966.59.1.1, 
1966.60.1.1, 1966.61.1.1, 1966.62.1.1, 1966.62.2.1, 1966.62.4.0, and 
1966.64.01.1). No known individuals were identified. The 127 associated 
funerary objects are 1 spear, 1 small spear, 9 sandals, 6 animal skins, 
1 net bag, 1 net, 5 atlatl darts, 2 feathered blankets, 2 buckskin 
pouches, 8 baskets, 1 piece of leather, 1 moccasin, 1 pipe, 1 onyx pipe 
bowl, 14 turkey feathers, 1 bundle of human hair, 1 mug, 1 leather 
pouch, 1 piece of buckskin, 1 gourd container, 60 feathers, 1 bone awl, 
1 stone implement, 1 ceramic bowl, 1 wooden pillow, 1 throwing stick 
and 3 ceramic vessels.
    At an unknown date, human remains representing a minimum of one 
individual were removed from an unknown site, in either Kane or San 
Juan County, UT. These remains are also part of the previously 
mentioned Lang-Lyman Collection, acquired and accessioned by the Museum 
of Peoples and Cultures through museum transfers in 1966 (Catalog No. 
1966.63.1.1). No known individual was identified. The four associated 
funerary objects are one basket, one feather and yucca blanket, one lot 
of seed corn and one feather blanket.
    Documentation surrounding the Lang-Lyman expedition indicates that 
all the burials were found within various dry cave locations. This is 
consistent with the deposition of other known prehistoric Puebloan 
burials. In addition, the typology of the objects found with the human 
remains supports the determination that these burials are affiliated 
with the prehistoric Anasazi culture.
    At an unknown date, human remains representing a minimum of three 
individuals were removed from an unknown location in Iceberg Canyon 
near Lake Powell, San Juan County, UT, by private individuals. No 
further geographical information is known. In 1971, the human remains 
were donated to the Museum of Peoples and Cultures and were accessioned 
(Catalog No. 1971.11.5.0). No known individuals were identified. The 
one associated funerary objects is one lot of clothing fragments.
    A twisted fragment of animal hide present on one of the sets of the 
human remains may represent the remains of a Basketmaker-style 
rabbitskin robe. Based on the presence of the clothing fragments, it is 
reasonably determined that the burials date to either the late 
Basketmaker or early Pueblo era of the Anasazi culture. Based on the 
period to which the burials date and the general location in which they 
were found, museum officials have determined that the burials are 
prehistoric Anasazi and affiliated with modern Puebloan cultures.
    In 1971, human remains representing a minimum of one individual 
were removed from 42Sa2110, Nancy Patterson Village, in Montezuma 
Canyon, San Juan County, UT, by Nancy Patterson. The human remains were

[[Page 58434]]

donated to the Museum of Peoples and Cultures later that same year and 
accessioned (Catalog No. 1971.46.3-13). No known individual was 
identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    In 1980, human remains representing a minimum of two individuals 
were removed from 42Sa2110, Nancy Patterson Village, in Montezuma 
Canyon, San Juan County, UT. The human remains were donated to the 
Museum of Peoples and Cultures later that same year and accessioned 
(Catalog Nos. 1980.9.16.0 and 1980.9.17.0). No known individuals were 
identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    The Nancy Patterson Village (42Sa2110) was principally excavated as 
a Brigham Young University field school from 1983-1986. The collections 
from this period are not held at the museum. Prior to that time, 
smaller collections were gathered from the surface of the site during 
various field trips, which were led by Brigham Young University 
Department of Anthropology faculty. Based on the presence of Anasazi-
type ceramics and architecture at the site, these burials have been 
determined to be prehistoric Anasazi and affiliated with modern 
Puebloan cultures.
    At an unknown date, human remains representing a minimum of one 
individual were removed from an unknown location within Montezuma 
Canyon, San Juan County, UT. In 1972, the human remains were donated to 
the Museum of Peoples and Cultures by a private individual and 
accessioned (Catalog Nos. 1972.51.0.0-1972.51.0.9). No further 
information regarding the collection is known. No known individual was 
identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    The human remains appear to date to approximately the Basketmaker/
Pueblo period. Based on the time period to which this burial dates and 
the general location of the site, museum officials have determined that 
this burial is prehistoric Anasazi and affiliated with modern Puebloan 
cultures.
    In 1974, human remains representing a minimum of one individual 
were removed from 42Sa3786, White Mesa, San Juan County, UT. This site 
was surveyed by Brigham Young University as part of a transmission line 
project contracted by Utah Power and Light. In 1976, the collection 
from that project was donated to the Museum of Peoples and Cultures and 
accessioned (Catalog Nos. 1976.52.45.1-16). No known individual was 
identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    In 1984, Dr. Dale Berge published a report on the collection from 
White Mesa entitled ``Archaeological Investigations of the Pinto-Abajo 
Transmission Line, San Juan County, Utah.'' Based on the presence of 
Anasazi-type ceramics and architecture at the site, the individual has 
been determined to be prehistoric Anasazi and affiliated with modern 
Puebloan cultures.
    At an unknown date, human remains representing a minimum of one 
individual were removed from an unknown site. In 1981, the Museum of 
Peoples and Cultures received and accessioned the human remains from a 
private individual (Catalog No. 1981.5.1.1). Museum records indicate 
that this individual received the human remains from a third source, 
who reportedly acquired the remains from a dry cave in San Juan County, 
west of Blanding, UT. No further provenience information is known. No 
known individual was identified. No associated funerary objects are 
present.
    Museum records indicate that the original collector reported the 
skull to be prehistoric Anasazi/Basketmaker. Based on the provenience 
and appearance of the human remains, and without the presence of 
contradictory information, museum personnel have reasonably concluded 
that this individual is most likely prehistoric Anasazi, and therefore 
affiliated with modern Puebloan cultures.
    In 1983, human remains representing a minimum of two individuals 
were removed from 42Ka2574, Hog Creek, on the north edge of Hog Creek 
Canyon, Kane County, UT, by Brigham Young University's Office of Public 
Archaeology, as part of a construction mitigation project for the 
relocation of US Highway 89. In 1984, the collection was donated to the 
Museum of Peoples and Cultures. No known individuals were identified. 
The six associated funerary objects are one bone pendant, one mano 
fragment, three stone beads and one lot of numerous bead fragments.
    The site was later reported in a 1987 publication: ``Archaeological 
Excavation at Hog Creek Canyon Dune Site 42Ka2574, Hog Creek Canyon, 
Kane County Utah.'' Based on a radiocarbon sample taken from the matrix 
of the burials, the Hog Creek site was determined to be prehistoric 
Basketmaker/Anasazi and affiliated with modern Puebloan cultures.
    Between 1969 and 1973, human remains representing a minimum of one 
individual were removed from 42Sa971, Monument Village, at the 
convergence of Montezuma Canyon and Monument Canyon, San Juan County, 
UT, by a Brigham Young University field school. In 1988, the human 
remains were donated and accessioned (Catalog No. 1988.164.168.0). No 
known individual was identified. No associated funerary objects are 
present.
    The collection was reported in two Brigham Young University 
publications. The first report, ``A Preliminary Study of an Anasazi 
Settlement (42Sa971) Prior to AD 900 in Montezuma Canyon, San Juan 
County, Southeastern Utah'' was written by Gregory Patterson. The 
second report, ``A Preliminary Classification of Anasazi Ceramics from 
Montezuma Canyon, San Juan County, Southeastern Utah'' was written by 
Dr. Donald Forsyth. Based on the presence of Anasazi-type ceramics and 
architecture at the site, the human remains were determined to be 
prehistoric Anasazi and affiliated with modern Puebloan cultures.
    Archeological data, artifact typology and cultural components at 
each of the above-mentioned sites supports the determination that the 
human remains are Ancestral Puebloan. The Ancestral Puebloans are a 
prehistoric culture, and are reasonably determined to be linked to 
modern Puebloan cultures through geography, culture history, oral 
history and anthropological information. The folklore of modern pueblos 
places them in the Ancestral Puebloan area since prehistoric times. In 
addition, anthropological studies have demonstrated a continuity of 
culture between the modern pueblos and the Ancestral Puebloans.
    Officials of the Museum of Peoples and Cultures have determined 
that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described above 
represent the physical remains of 36 individuals of Native American 
Ancestry. Officials of the Museum of Peoples and Cultures also have 
determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A), the 138 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. Lastly, officials of the Museum of Peoples 
and Cultures have determined that there is a relationship of shared 
group identity which can reasonably be traced between the human remains 
and associated funerary objects and the Hopi Tribe of Arizona; Kaibab 
Band of Paiute Indians of the Kaibab Indian Reservation, Arizona; 
Pueblo of Acoma, New Mexico; Pueblo of Laguna, New Mexico; Pueblo of 
Pojoaque, New Mexico; Pueblo of Sandia, New Mexico; Pueblo of San 
Felipe, New Mexico; Pueblo of San Ildefonso, New Mexico; Pueblo of 
Santa Clara, New Mexico; Pueblo of Santa

[[Page 58435]]

Domingo, New Mexico; and Zuni Tribe of the Zuni Reservation, New 
Mexico.
    Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to 
be culturally affiliated with the human remains and associated funerary 
objects should contact Paul Stavast, Museum of Peoples and Cultures, 
Brigham Young University, 105 Allen Hall, Provo, UT 84602-3600, 
telephone (801) 422-0018, before October 25, 2010. Repatriation of the 
human remains and associated funerary objects to the Hopi Tribe of 
Arizona; Kaibab Band of Paiute Indians of the Kaibab Indian 
Reservation, Arizona; Pueblo of Acoma, New Mexico; Pueblo of Laguna, 
New Mexico; Pueblo of Pojoaque, New Mexico; Pueblo of Sandia, New 
Mexico; Pueblo of San Felipe, New Mexico; Pueblo of San Ildefonso, New 
Mexico; Pueblo of Santa Clara, New Mexico; Pueblo of Santa Domingo, New 
Mexico; and Zuni Tribe of the Zuni Reservation, New Mexico, may proceed 
after that date if no additional claimants come forward.
    The Museum of Peoples and Cultures are responsible for notifying 
the Hopi Tribe of Arizona; Kaibab Band of Paiute Indians of the Kaibab 
Indian Reservation, Arizona; Ohkay Owingehm New Mexico; 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 Felipe, 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 Santo 
Domingo, New Mexico; Pueblo of Taos, New Mexico; Pueblo of Tesuque, New 
Mexico; Pueblo of Zia, New Mexico; and Zuni Tribe of the Zuni 
Reservation, New Mexico, that this notice has been published.

    Dated: September 10, 2010
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2010-23901 Filed 9-23-10; 8:45 am]
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