Notice2023-00464
Notice of Inventory Completion: New Mexico State University Museum, Las Cruces, NM; U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management, New Mexico State Office, Las Cruces, NM; and U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Gila National Forest, Silver City, NM, and Apache Sitgreaves National Forest, Springerville, AZ
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
January 12, 2023
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentNational Park Service
Abstract
In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the New Mexico State University Museum; U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management, New Mexico State Office; and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Gila National Forest and Apache Sitgreaves National Forest have completed an inventory of human remains and associated funerary objects and have determined that there is a cultural affiliation between the human remains and associated funerary objects and Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice. The human remains and associated funerary objects were removed from Apache County AZ, Do[ntilde]a Ana County, NM, Grant County, NM, Lincoln County, NM, Luna County, NM, Otero County, NM, Sierra County, NM and, in certain instances, from locations unknown.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 8 (Thursday, January 12, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 8 (Thursday, January 12, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2129-2132]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-00464]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0035093; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Inventory Completion: New Mexico State University
Museum, Las Cruces, NM; U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land
Management, New Mexico State Office, Las Cruces, NM; and U.S.
Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Gila National Forest, Silver
City, NM, and Apache Sitgreaves National Forest, Springerville, AZ
AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and
Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the New Mexico State University Museum; U.S.
Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management, New Mexico State
Office; and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Gila
National Forest and Apache Sitgreaves National Forest have completed an
inventory of human remains and associated funerary objects and have
determined that there is a cultural affiliation between the human
remains and associated funerary objects and Indian Tribes or Native
Hawaiian organizations in this notice. The human remains and associated
funerary objects were removed from Apache County AZ, Do[ntilde]a Ana
County, NM, Grant County, NM, Lincoln County, NM, Luna County, NM,
Otero County, NM, Sierra County, NM and, in certain instances, from
locations unknown.
DATES: Repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary
objects in this notice may occur on or after February 13, 2023.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Fumi Arakawa, New Mexico State
University Museum Director's Office, 1525 Stewart, Room 331, P.O. Box
30001, MSC:3BV, Las Cruces, NM 88003-8001, email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#b3d5d2c1d2d8d2c4d2f3dddec0c69dd6d7c6"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="b6d0d7c4d7ddd7c1d7f6d8dbc5c398d3d2c3">[email protected]</span></a>.
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 under
the control of the New Mexico State University Museum (University
Museum); U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management,
New Mexico State Office (BLM); and the U.S. Department of Agriculture,
Forest Service, Gila National Forest, Silver City, NM (Gila NF), and
Apache Sitgreaves National Forest, Springerville, AZ (Apache Sitgreaves
NF), and in the physical custody of the New Mexico State University
Museum.
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 University Museum, BLM,
Gila NF, or Apache Sitgreaves NF. The National Park Service is not
responsible for the determinations in this notice. Additional
information on the determinations in this notice, including the results
of consultation, can be found in the inventory or related records held
by the University Museum.
Description
Between 1950 and 2001, human remains representing a minimum of 288
individuals and 1,079 associated funerary objects were acquired by the
University Museum by various means. The University acquired many human
remains and associated funerary objects through donations by private
individuals from sites on private land. In several instances, the exact
location and/or land status from which the donated human remains and
associated funerary objects were removed is unknown. Human remains and
associated funerary objects in custody of the University Museum that
originate from federal land belonging to either BLM, Gila NF, or Apache
Sitgreaves NF were acquired through archeological excavations or
surveys that were sanctioned by the respective managing agency. The
University Museum has control of the human remains and associated
funerary objects removed from private lands that were acquired by means
of donation and has custody of the human remains and associated
funerary objects removed from federal land belonging either to the BLM,
Gila NF, or Apache Sitgreaves NF.
Aiken-Dearholt--Human remains representing, at minimum, four
individuals were removed from a pueblo ruin in Chavez County, NM. In
1932, human remains representing, at minimum, two individuals were
removed by Mr. and Mrs. Aiken. On December 21, 1987, Mrs. Zelma Aiken
donated a stone fetish and a small ceramic jar from known burial
contexts at the pueblo to the University Museum. In 1999, the stone
fetish and ceramic jar were identified as being ``unassociated funerary
objects.'' On March 21, 2001, Mrs. Aiken's grandson, William R.
Dearholt, donated additional funerary objects and human remains from
the same pueblo. The donation included human remains representing, at
minimum, two individuals. No known individuals were identified. The
previous donated materials of a stone fetish and ceramic jar by Mrs.
Zelma Aiken appear to have derived from the same burial contexts from
which the two individuals were taken from. The 44 donated funerary
objects by Mrs. Aiken and Mr. Dearholt together represent one red-on-
white bowl, one stone animal fetish, 12 Mimbres Black-on-white
(oxidized) pottery sherds, and 30 Mimbres Black-on-white pottery
sherds. Artifact typologies indicate the site dates to circa A.D. 750-
1150 suggesting a Mimbres-Mogollon cultural affiliation.
Berrenda Creek (LA 12992)--In 1976, human remains representing, at
minimum, eight individuals were removed by a New Mexico State
University field school directed by J.R. Gomolak and Dabney Ford from
the Berrenda Creek site Sierra County, NM. The site is on land managed
by the Gila
[[Page 2130]]
NF. No known individuals were identified. The 107 associated funerary
objects include four shell bracelets, one turquoise bead, one mineral
sample, two manos, two metates, two flagstones, 72 shell beads, one
shell strand, one shell pendant, two turquoise pendants, four snail
shells, three Classic Mimbres Black-on-white ceramic bowls, three soil
samples, eight pollen samples, and one carbon sample. Cultural items
associated with the individuals are diagnostic of Mimbres-Mogollon
cultural traditions. Habitation of the Berrenda Creek site dates from
approximately A.D. 1000 to 1350.
Breland Co-mingled--Human remains representing, at minimum, 138
individuals were removed from unknown locations in New Mexico. The
Breland Co-mingle is a research collection of New Mexico State
University's Department of Anthropology that is made up of various
elements from multiple human remains that have no known provenience. No
known individuals were identified. The 122 associated funerary objects
include potsherds consisting of black-on-white ceramic fragments,
ceramic sherds, ceramic bowls, sandstone tools, polished bone, stone
flakes, pebbles, and charcoal fragments. Artifact typologies indicate
the individuals are from multiple sites within New Mexico and may date
to between A.D. 750 and A.D.1450.
Camien--In 1950, human remains representing, at minimum, one
individual were donated to the University Museum by Professor Emeritus,
Laiten L. Camien. Notes associated with the collection indicate that
the individual was removed at an unknown date from a rock shelter in
Pickett Spring Canyon near Kingston in Sierra County, NM. No known
individual was identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
There is insufficient information to estimate the age of the human
remains.
Chavez Cave (LA 5220)--Prior to 1977, human remains representing,
at minimum, one individual were removed by private individuals from
Chavez Cave near Las Cruces, Do[ntilde]a Ana County, NM. The site is on
land managed by the BLM. The human remains were donated to the
University Museum in 1976. No known individual was identified. No
associated funerary objects are present. Mogollon habitation of
Do[ntilde]a Ana County generally dates between approximately A.D. 200
and 1400-1450.
Cox Ranch (LA 923)--Human remains representing, at minimum, 30
individuals were removed during a survey along a drainage system from
the Black Range, east of the Continental Divide and west of Truth or
Consequences, Sierra County, NM. No known individuals were identified.
The 96 associated funerary objects include one bag of corn cob
fragments, 23 lithic fragments, one metate, one mano, three stone
tools, one shell bead, one donut stone, one bone needle fragment, one
bone tool, one lump, one lot of red ochre, one lump white ochre, 17
lithic flakes, one projectile point, and 42 potsherds. Cultural items
excavated from the Cox Ranch site are diagnostic of Mimbres-Mogollon
cultural traditions. Habitation of the Cox site dates from
approximately A.D. 1000 to 1175.
Dines Site--At an unknown date, human remains representing, at
minimum, one individual were donated to the University Museum. No known
individual was identified. Records indicate the individual was
recovered from private land. No report with exact location coordinates
or history of the collection is available. The 100 associated funerary
objects include 25 lithic flakes and tools, one metate fragment, 53
potsherds consisting of brownware and redware ceramic sherds, four Gila
Polychrome ceramic sherds, one Playas Red ceramic sherd, five Chupadero
Black-on-white sherds, seven Mimbres and Reserve style corrugated
sherds, and four indented corrugated ceramic sherds. Cultural items
associated with the individual are diagnostic of Mimbres-Mogollon and
Salado cultural traditions. Artifact typologies indicate the Dines site
dates between A.D. 750 and 1350.
Fort Cummings (LA 6900)--In 1989, human remains representing, at
minimum, one individual were removed from Dr. Edward Staski and New
Mexico State University students from Fort Cummings, Luna County, NM.
The individual is known to have been removed from the portion of the
site that is on land managed by the BLM. No known individual was
identified. The two associated funerary objects are one partial stone
bead and one ceramic sherd of San Francisco Red. The ceramic sherd is
representative of Mimbres-Mogollon ceramic traditions. Mimbres-Mogollon
habitation of Luna County generally dates from approximately A.D 200 to
1150.
Garfield/Rio Vista (LA 1082)--In 1973, human remains representing,
at minimum, two individuals were removed by Dr. Stanley Bussey and New
Mexico State University students from the Garfield/Rio Vista site,
Sierra County, NM. The individuals are known to have been removed from
the portion of the site that is on land managed by the BLM. The human
remains were accessioned by the University Museum in 1992. No known
individuals were identified. The 152 associated funerary objects
include one white pendant fragment, 53 black/white potsherds, 32
restorable potsherds, 21 random potsherds, one red-on-white rim sherd,
nine carbon and charcoal fragments, 31 animal bones, three pieces of
adobe, and one indeterminate plainware sherd. Cultural items associated
with the individuals are diagnostic of Mimbres-Mogollon cultural
traditions. Habitation of the Garfield/Rio Vista site dates from
approximately A.D. 600 to 1150.
Gila National Forest Survey--In the 1970s, human remains
representing, at minimum, six individuals were removed from an unknown
number of sites managed by the Gila NF. No known individuals were
identified. The removal of the individuals was connected to a group of
surveys undertaken in the 1970s on various parcels of land within the
Gila NF. The University Museum has no information regarding the exact
location of the surveys or the findings associated with that survey.
The eight associated funerary objects include one mineral specimen, one
fossil shell, one obsidian flake, one obsidian projectile point, one
ceramic handle, two rim sherds, and one maize corn cob. There is not
sufficient information to make a reasonable estimate of the age of the
individuals other than prehistoric.
Kilburn--At an unknown date, human remains representing, at
minimum, one individual were donated to the University Museum. No known
individuals were identified. No associated funerary objects are
present. No report was found associated with the Kilburn human remains,
so exact location coordinates is unknown.
Kingston Pueblo--At an unknown date, human remains representing, at
minimum, of one individual were removed by students of Dr. El-Najjar at
New Mexico State University from Kingston Pueblo in Sierra County, NM.
No known individuals were identified. No associated funerary objects
are present. Internal museum records note that the Kingston Pueblo site
is of Mimbres-Mogollon affiliation and dates from between A.D. 1000 and
1150/1200.
Los Tules (LA 16315)--In 1980, human remains representing, at
minimum, one individual were removed by Dr. Mahmoud El-Najjar and New
Mexico State University students from the Los Tules site in Do[ntilde]a
Ana County, NM. The individual is known to have been removed from the
portion of the site that is on land managed by the BLM. The human
remains were
[[Page 2131]]
accessioned by the University Museum in 1985. No known individuals were
identified. The 105 associated funerary objects include two lithic
flakes, one obsidian projectile point, 101 animal bone fragments, and
one piece of yellow ochre. Cultural items excavated from Los Tules are
diagnostic of Jornada-Mogollon cultural traditions. Jornada-Mogollon
habitation of the Los Tules site dates from approximately A.D. 750 to
1100.
Pe[ntilde]a Blanca Shelter (LA 2891)--In the 1980s, human remains
representing, at minimum, one individual were removed by Dr. Steadman
Upham and New Mexico State University students from the Pe[ntilde]a
Blanca Shelter, Do[ntilde]a Ana County, NM. The site is on land managed
by the BLM. The human remains were accessioned by the University Museum
in 1985. No known individuals were identified. No associated funerary
objects are present. Cultural items excavated from the Pe[ntilde]a
Blanca shelter are diagnostic of Jornada-Mogollon cultural traditions.
Jornada-Mogollon habitation of the site dates from approximately A.D.
578 to 1420.
Roth Site (LA 73942)--Human remains representing, at minimum, seven
individuals were removed from the Roth site, of which, five human
remains are currently missing from the collection. In 1976, human
remains representing a minimum of five individuals were removed from
the Roth site by individuals associated with the El Paso Archaeological
Society, but it is unknown where these human remains are. In 1982,
human remains representing a minimum of two individuals were removed
from the site as part of a New Mexico State University field school
directed by Dr. Fred Plog. No known individuals were identified. The
University Museum continues to look for the missing five individuals.
The 78 associated funerary objects consist of one carbon sample, one
sand sample, one soil sample, two pollen samples, 38 potsherds, 28
lithic fragments, and seven beads. The associated funerary objects are
diagnostic of Jornada-Mogollon cultural traditions. Artifact typologies
indicate the Jornada-Mogollon habitation of the site dates between A.D.
1200 and 1300.
Ruidoso--In 1988, human remains representing, at minimum, two
individuals were removed from Gonzales Farm near Ruidoso, Lincoln
County, NM. It is unknown if the two individuals were recovered from
the same site near Ruidoso. No known individuals were identified. The
31 associated funerary objects include 25 Alma Plain ceramic sherds,
one San Francisco Red sherd, and five animal remains. The associated
funerary objects are diagnostic of Jornada-Mogollon cultural
traditions. Artifact typologies indicate the two individuals date to
between A.D. 400 and 1200.
Sheriff Donor--In 1967, human remains representing, at minimum, six
individuals were donated to the University Museum as part of a general
collection by Mr. Robert Sheriff. No provenience information was
provided in the donation documentation. All human remains were
identified as prehistoric Native Americans. No known individuals were
identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
Sonrisa Shelter (LA 104568)--In the 1980s, human remains
representing, at minimum, one individual were removed by Dr. Steadman
Upham and New Mexico State University students from Sonrisa Shelter,
Do[ntilde]a Ana County, NM. The site is on land managed by the BLM. The
human remains were accessioned by the University Museum in 1985. No
known individual was identified. No associated funerary objects are
present. Cultural items excavated from the Sonrisa Shelter are
diagnostic of Archaic period cultural traditions. Archaic habitation of
the site dates from approximately 1125 B.C. to 652 B.C.
Springerville (AZE 8-10)--In 1975, human remains representing, at
minimum, five individuals were removed by a New Mexico State University
field school under Dr. Stanley Bussey from several small Mogollon sites
near Springerville, Apache County, AZ. The selected Mogollon sites are
near the junction of the Cibola, Black River, and Mimbres River
Branches, AZ and are on lands managed by the Apache Sitgreaves NF. No
known individuals were identified. The 46 associated funerary objects
include four miscellaneous ceramic sherds, 24 black-on-red sherds, one
black-on-white vessel handle, 13 black-on-red bowl fragments, one paho
stick with three pieces, one wood pendant, one canine tooth, and one
soil sample. The sites are designated Ancestral Pueblo. Artifact
typologies indicate the sites date between A.D. 950 to 1150.
Tennant--At an unknown date, human remains representing, at
minimum, one individual were removed from Otero County, NM, and
subsequently came into the possession of the University Museum. No
known individual was identified. No associated funerary objects are
present. No report was found associated with the Tennant site.
Three Rivers (LA 4921)--Human remains representing, at minimum, six
individuals were removed from the Three Rivers site. In 1975, human
remains representing a minimum of three individuals along with three
lots of artifacts from the Three Rivers site were loaned to the
University Museum by the BLM. In 1976, human remains representing a
minimum of three individuals were removed from the Three Rivers site by
New Mexico University personnel with assistance from the U.S. Youth
Conservation Corp. The human remains were accessioned by the University
Museum in 1975 and 1984. No known individuals were identified. The 93
associated funerary objects include a San Andres Broadline Red-on-
Terracotta bowl, a groundstone mano, two ceramic handles, five
projectile points, five pieces of lithic debitage, 43 ceramic sherds of
Chupadero Black-on-white, indeterminate El Paso brownware,16 Red-on-
Terracotta bowl fragments, one green schist bar, 14 animal bones, one
carbon sample of unknown material, one Alma plainware sherd, one lithic
fragment, and two animal bones. Cultural items excavated from the Three
Rivers site are diagnostic of Jornada-Mogollon cultural traditions.
Jornada-Mogollon habitation of the site dates from approximately A.D.
500 to 1400-1450.
Thorn Shelter (LA 104565)--In the 1980s, human remains
representing, at minimum, one individual were removed by Dr. Steadman
Upham and New Mexico State University students from Thorn Shelter,
Do[ntilde]a Ana County, NM. The site is on land managed by the BLM. The
human remains were accessioned by the University Museum in 1990. No
known individual was identified. The four associated funerary objects
are fragments of a rabbit fur cordage blanket. Cultural items excavated
from the Thorn Shelter are diagnostic of Jornada-Mogollon cultural
traditions. Jornada-Mogollon habitation of the site dates from
approximately A.D. 700 to 1420.
Unknown Donors--At an unknown date, human remains representing, at
minimum, 61 individuals were donated to the University Museum. No known
individuals were identified. These individuals and associated funerary
objects have no known provenience, and there is no information
regarding the original donation. The 91 associated funerary objects
include three rim sherds, four ``killed'' Mimbres bowls, 10 Mimbres
bowls, 13 Mimbres sherds, 21 potsherds, four Mimbres whiteware sherds,
three Alma Plain sherds, one ceramic handle, 17 stone flakes, one
sandstone sphere, one yucca sandal, one corn cob, and 12 clay samples.
The associated funerary objects are
[[Page 2132]]
diagnostic of Mimbres-Mogollon cultural traditions.
White Sands Missile Range--In 1978, human remains representing, at
minimum, two individuals were received by Dr. Mahmoud El-Najjar of New
Mexico State University and at some point, placed in the University
Museum. The only information about the human remains comes from a
handwritten note found in the records. It indicates the following:
``Jim'' from the Office of Installation/Command at White Sands Missile
Range had found two cranial fragments on a grated road on the range and
turned them into the Fairacres Post Office. The exact location of the
human remains was not indicated but likely originate from some location
in Do[ntilde]a Ana, Otero, or Sierra Counties, NM. The notes further
indicate the human remains were from two Native American individuals.
No known individuals were identified. No associated funerary objects
were present.
Cultural Affiliation
The human remains and associated funerary objects in this notice
are connected to one or more identifiable earlier groups, tribes,
peoples, or cultures. There is a relationship of shared group identity
between the identifiable earlier groups, tribes, peoples, or cultures
and one or more Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations. The
following types of information were used to reasonably trace the
relationship: anthropological information, archeological information,
and information derived during consultation.
Determinations
Pursuant to NAGPRA and its implementing regulations, and after
consultation with the appropriate Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian
organizations, the New Mexico State University Museum, Bureau of Land
Management, Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest, and Gila National Forest
have determined that:
<bullet> The human remains described in this notice represent the
physical remains of 288 individuals.
<bullet> The 1,079 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.
<bullet> There is a relationship of shared group identity that can
be reasonably traced between the human remains and associated funerary
objects described in this notice and the Comanche Nation, Oklahoma;
Hopi Tribe of Arizona; Navajo Nation, Arizona; Mescalero Apache Tribe
of the Mescalero Reservation, New Mexico; Pueblo of Acoma, New Mexico;
Pueblo of Jemez, New Mexico; Pueblo of Santa Ana, New Mexico; Pueblo of
Tesuque, New Mexico; Santo Domingo Pueblo (previously listed as Kewa
Pueblo, New Mexico, and as Pueblo of Santo Domingo); White Mountain
Apache Tribe of the Fort Apache Reservation, Arizona; Ysleta del Sur
Pueblo (previously listed as Ysleta Del Sur Pueblo of Texas); and the
Zuni Tribe of the Zuni Reservation, New Mexico.
Requests for Repatriation
Written requests for repatriation of the human remains and
associated funerary objects in this notice must be sent to the
Responsible Official identified in the For Further Information Contact
section. Requests for repatriation may be submitted by:
1. Any one or more of the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian
organizations 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 the requestor is a lineal
descendant or a culturally affiliated Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian
organization.
Repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects
in this notice to a requestor may occur on or after February 13, 2023.
If competing requests for repatriation are received, the museum or
federal agency in control of the human remains University Museum; BLM;
Gila NF or Apache Sitgreaves NF) must determine the most appropriate
requestor prior to repatriation. Requests for joint repatriation of the
human remains and associated funerary objects are considered a single
request and not competing requests. The University Museum is
responsible for sending a copy of this notice to the Indian Tribes and
Native Hawaiian organizations identified in this notice.
Authority: Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act,
25 U.S.C. 3003, and the implementing regulations, 43 CFR 10.9, 10.10,
and 10.14.
Dated: January 4, 2023.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2023-00464 Filed 1-11-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
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