Notice2024-00434
Notice of Inventory Completion: Denver Museum of Nature & Science, Denver, CO
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 11, 2024
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentNational Park Service
Abstract
In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Denver Museum of Nature & Science (DMNS) has completed an inventory of human remains and has determined that there is a cultural affiliation between the human remains and Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice. The human remains were removed from the Magic Mountain site, 5JF223, Jefferson County, CO.
Full Text
<html>
<head>
<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 8 (Thursday, January 11, 2024)</title>
</head>
<body><pre>
[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 8 (Thursday, January 11, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1943-1944]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-00434]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0037219; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Inventory Completion: Denver Museum of Nature &
Science, Denver, CO
AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and
Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Denver Museum of Nature & Science (DMNS)
has completed an inventory of human remains and has determined that
there is a cultural affiliation between the human remains and Indian
Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice. The human
remains were removed from the Magic Mountain site, 5JF223, Jefferson
County, CO.
DATES: Repatriation of the human remains in this notice may occur on or
after February 12, 2024.
ADDRESSES: Michele L. Koons, Curator of Archaeology, Denver Museum of
Nature & Science, 2001 Colorado Boulevard, Denver, CO 80205, telephone
(303) 370-6457, email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#2964404a414c454c07624646475a694d44475a07465b4e"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="feb3979d969b929bd0b59191908dbe9a93908dd0918c99">[email protected]</span></a>.
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
Denver Museum of Nature & Science. 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 Denver Museum of Nature & Science.
Description
Between 1939 and 1941, human remains representing, at minimum, one
individual were removed from the Magic Mountain site, 5JF223, in
Jefferson County, CO, by Harold and Elizabeth (Betty) Huscher. In 1940,
the Huschers donated the collection to the Colorado Museum of Natural
History, now DMNS. In 2019, DMNS staff processed several bags labeled
``faunal remains'' from the Huscher excavation. Analysis shows that
nine of those ``faunal remains'' are actually human bone fragments
(A540.18-R). The Huschers excavated animal remains from the site and
inadvertently mixed in human remains. The bone fragments are associated
with the Early Ceramic period occupational component of the site, which
dates approximately 200 to 1000 C.E. No associated funerary objects are
present.
Between 1971 and 1972, human remains representing, at minimum, five
individuals were removed from the Magic Mountain site, 5JF223, in
Jefferson County, CO, by Metropolitan State College of Denver (now the
Metropolitan State University of Denver). In 2007, the Center of
[[Page 1944]]
Southwest Studies, Fort Lewis College, acquired part of the Magic
Mountain collection from the Rimrocker Historical Society. The Rimrock
Historical Society originally accepted the materials as part of a
larger donation in 1998 from Dr. Jonathan Kent of Metropolitan State
College of Denver (now the Metropolitan State University of Denver). In
April 2023, DMNS staff learned of the Center of Southwest Studies, Fort
Lewis College Magic Mountain collection. Both parties agreed to
transfer the materials to DMNS in 2023 since the Museum holds the
majority of the collections from the site. Prior to transfer analysis
conducted by Dr. Dawn Mulhern identified 31 bone fragments. No
associated funerary objects are present.
Cultural Affiliation
The human remains 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, biological information, folklore,
geographical information, historical information, kinship, linguistics,
oral tradition, other relevant information, or expert opinion.
Determinations
Pursuant to NAGPRA and its implementing regulations, and after
consultation with the appropriate Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian
organizations, the Denver Museum of Nature & Science has determined
that:
<bullet> The human remains described in this notice represent the
physical remains of six individuals of Native American ancestry.
<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 Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes,
Oklahoma; Northern Arapaho Tribe of the Wind River Reservation,
Wyoming; Northern Cheyenne Tribe of the Northern Cheyenne Indian
Reservation, Montana; Southern Ute Indian Tribe of the Southern Ute
Reservation, Colorado; Ute Indian Tribe of the Uintah & Ouray
Reservation, Utah; and the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe.
Requests for Repatriation
Written requests for repatriation of the human remains in this
notice must be sent to the Responsible Official identified in
ADDRESSES. 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 in this notice to a requestor may
occur on or after February 12, 2024. If competing requests for
repatriation are received, the Denver Museum of Nature & Science must
determine the most appropriate requestor prior to repatriation.
Requests for joint repatriation of the human remains are considered a
single request and not competing requests. The Denver Museum of Nature
& Science 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, 2024.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2024-00434 Filed 1-10-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
</pre><script data-cfasync="false" src="/cdn-cgi/scripts/5c5dd728/cloudflare-static/email-decode.min.js"></script></body>
</html>Indexed from Federal Register on January 11, 2024.
This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.