Notice2025-01011
Notice of Intended Repatriation: University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA
Primary source
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Published
January 16, 2025
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentNational Park Service
Abstract
In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the University of California, Riverside intends to repatriate certain cultural items that meet the definition of unassociated funerary objects or objects of cultural patrimony and that have a cultural affiliation with the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 10 (Thursday, January 16, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 10 (Thursday, January 16, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4789-4792]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-01011]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0039318; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Intended Repatriation: University of California,
Riverside, Riverside, CA
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 University of California, Riverside
intends to repatriate certain cultural items that meet the definition
of unassociated funerary objects or objects of cultural patrimony and
that have a cultural affiliation with the Indian Tribes or Native
Hawaiian organizations in this notice.
DATES: Repatriation of the cultural items in this notice may occur on
or after February 18, 2025.
ADDRESSES: Megan Murphy, University of California, Riverside, 900
University Avenue, Riverside, CA 92517-5900, telephone (951) 827-6349,
email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#fd90989a9c93d390888f8d9584bd889e8fd3989988"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="5e333b393f3070332b2c2e36271e2b3d2c703b3a2b">[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
University of California, Riverside, and additional information on the
determinations in this notice, including the results of consultation,
can be found in the summary or related records. The National Park
Service is not responsible for the determinations in this notice.
Abstract of Information Available
A total of 82 cultural items have been requested for repatriation.
The five unassociated funerary objects are one lot of ceramic sherds,
one lot of lithics, one lot of faunal remains, one lot of geological
materials, and one pipe fragment. The 77 of objects of cultural
patrimony are 16 lots of lithics, eight lots of metal, 11 lots of
faunal, seven lots of botanical materials, two lots of mineralogical
materials, one lot of unmodified shell, three lots of ceramics, four
lots of glass, one lot of wood, six lots of geological materials, two
lots of charcoal, one lot of textile fragments, one lot of rope, one
lot of flotation samples, one lot of soil, one lot of plastic, four
lots of shell beads, three lots of fire affected rock, two lots of
grinding stones, one lot of modified shell, and one steatite ring.
In 1965, the University of California, Riverside Archaeological
Research Unit (UCR-ARU) was contracted by the Southern California Gas
Company to examine the region surrounding a pipeline along the lower
Crowder Canyon area and Cajon Creek. The project, ``The Sayles Complex,
A Late Milling Stone Assemblage from Cajon Pass, and the Ecological
Implications of its Scraper Planes'', was led by Makoto Kowta and
carried out by anthropology students from Pasadena City College and the
University of California, Riverside. Archaeologists described the site
as consisting of a prehistoric midden and historical-period culvert. A
total of 1,294 artifacts, including 88 surface specimens, were
recovered from the site. The artifacts recovered were several manos
(both small and large), pendants, painted stones, milling stones,
projectile points and blades, scrapers, bifacial choppers,
[[Page 4790]]
hammerstones, cores, and miscellaneous small, flaked objects, animal
bone, floral material, mineralogical objects, and unmodified shell.
Kowta described the site as being ``one of the best Milling Stone
Horizon sites'' in San Bernardino County. All artifacts were cleaned,
cataloged, and housed with the Department of Anthropology, University
of California, Riverside as accession number 11.
In 1972 an archaeological excavation of CA-RIV-502 (Nibbled Rock
Ridge site) in the Jurupa Hills (Riverside, County) was led by Thomas
King of the University of California, Riverside Archaeological Research
Unit (UCR-ARU). The excavations were undertaken during construction on
Route 60 in Riverside County to convert the expressway to full freeway
standards. The site was reported by King to have been a large ``seed
processing site'' with a number of grinding ``slicks'' or metates. In
King's 1972 paper, ``Nibbled Rock Ridge (CA-RIV-502): A prehistoric
milling station in the Jurupa Mountains, Riverside County,
California'', he notes that fifteen bedrock grinding slicks were
recorded in the site area and estimated a total of 60 slicks existed in
the surrounding area. According to King's report burned bones and the
``bulk of all cultural materials'' were found on the east side of the
ridge in a layer of ``darkened soil''. A reported ``hearth feature''
was also found in the same layer with a rhyolite projectile point and a
mano. Archaeologists have asserted that Serrano peoples have
continuously occupied the San Bernardino Mountains and the Santa Ana
River Watershed for up to 5,000-6,000 years BP. Ethnographer John
Peabody Harrington recorded several Serrano place names throughout the
Watershed during his interviews with Yuhaaviatam leader, Santos Manuel
in 1918. Manuel told Harrington that the Santa Ana River is called
hu'napat patr, meaning ``bears water''.
In 1975, the University of California, Riverside Archaeological
Research Unit (UCR-ARU) was contracted to conduct an archaeological
evaluation of cultural resources within the Cucamonga Creek and
Tributaries Project. The project, UCR-ARU #165, ``Environmental Impact
Evaluation: Bi-weekly Report of Cultural Resource Survey of Cucamonga,
Demens, Deer, and Hillside Creek Channels, San Bernardino and Riverside
Counties California'', was led by Patricia Martz and Nelson Leonard.
The investigation included an on-foot survey of the project area and
excavation of four test units in archaeological site CA-SBR-895. It was
identified by Leonard who noted what he believed was a cooking hearth.
He believed that the site likely represents a temporary or seasonal
camp near the Marrya'yam (Serrano) village of Cucamonga. Archaeologists
recovered 14 cultural objects including lithic flakes, ground stones,
and faunal remains. The site lies within the boundaries of what
representatives of the Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation (also known as
the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians) have identified as being part
of Serrano ancestral territory.
In 1976 Yucaipa Valley Water District contracted the University of
California, Riverside Archaeological Research Unit (UCR-ARU) to
evaluate archaeological site CA-SBR-1000 which was likely to be
affected by a sewage project in the area. The site is believed to
represent the Maara'yam (Serrano) village of Yukaipa't and was first
recorded by Gerald Smith of the San Bernardino County Museum (SBCM) in
1974. The site was excavated in multiple phases by UCR archaeology
students under the supervision of UCR graduate students Patricia Martz
and Eric Ritter, and Nelson Leonard, director of the UCR-ARU. During
the first phase of excavation, in August and October of 1976,
approximately 903 objects were removed from the site and housed at the
San Bernardino County Museum. The second phase of excavations took
place in October of 1976 with 2612 cultural objects being removed and
stored at SBCM. The final phase of excavation took place in the spring
of 1977 which resulted in the recovery of about 143 cultural objects
that were subsequently stored at UCR. During this part of the
excavation fragments of a human cranium were excavated from unit N-12,
which was reportedly a few meters from an area where a burial was
excavated in 1958. The human remains were repatriated by UCR to the
Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation (also known as the San Manuel Band of
Mission Indians) in 2008, but the cultural materials were not included
in the repatriation. In 2022, during NAGPRA consultation, tribal
representatives of the Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation identified the
remaining items in the collection as being unassociated funerary
objects. In 2024 the Morongo Band of Mission Indians also identified
CA-SBR-1000 as an important village site to their tribal history.
In 1971 the University of California, Riverside Archaeological
Research Unit was contacted by the Mojave River Museum Association
requesting an emergency salvage excavation of archaeological site CA-
SBR-554 (Jellyroll Cave). The members of the association discovered
vandalism and looting of the cave resulting in the damage to artifacts
and the removal of baskets and other perishable objects. The cave is a
small dry cave located in the Ord Mountains that was found by the UCR-
ARU to contain well preserved perishable artifacts including a possible
rodent snare, cordage and basketry fragments, and botanical materials
such as seed and cacti. The roof of the cave appeared to be smoke-
blackened and a midden deposit seemed to have formed at the floor of
the valley about 5 meters below the mouth of the cave. Materials
collected during the excavation were housed at UCR under accession
number 48, but were never cataloged or analyzed. In 2022 tribal
representatives from the Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation (also known
as the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians reviewed the collection and
identified it as being a Serrano cache or bundle. A considerable amount
of tortoise shell was also found in the cave which tribal
representatives noted might have been used in a ceremonial context.
In 1979 the University of California, Archaeological Research Unit
(UCR-ARU) was contracted by the Southern California Edison Company to
provide cultural resource impact analysis on various portions of
transmission line corridors running through the Mojave Desert of
California and Nevada. The work mostly consisted of foot survey and
field sampling by archaeological surveyors from the UCR-ARU. The survey
resulted in the location 61 archaeological sites and 146 isolates and
artifacts collected from the surface were subsequently housed at the
University of California, Riverside under accession number 70. In 2022,
tribal representatives of the Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation (also
known as the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians) identified
archaeological site CA-SBR-2131, on the Baker Transmission Line, to be
a part of Serrano Ancestral territory. They identified a chalcedony
biface removed from the site as being an object of cultural patrimony
as it represents an important piece of Serrano history and culture.
The University of California, Riverside Archaeological Research
Unit (UCR-ARU) conducted an archaeological assessment of a three-mile
stretch of road leading from Dale Dry Lake to Amboy Road in 1986 at the
request of Western America Ore Company, ahead of potential
redevelopment. During the project, led by Adella Schroth of the UCR-
ARU, a field survey was conducted with the collection of surface
materials subsequently housed at UCR under
[[Page 4791]]
accession number 117. The survey uncovered one historic site and one
prehistoric site. The geographic area is known to the Yuhaaviatam of
San Manuel Nation (also known as the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians
and the Morongo Band of Mission Indians as Serrano ancestral territory.
In 2022, representatives of the Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation
reviewed the collection a identified the items as being objects of
cultural patrimony. The objects included metal, quartz, lithics, and
faunal remains.
In 1989, at the request of the Southwestern Portland Cement Company
(SPCC), the University of California, Riverside Archaeological Research
Unit (UCR-ARU) conducted a cultural resources assessment of 1028 acres
of land. The assessment, led by Joan Schneider and Brook Arkush,
consisted of a foot survey and test excavations. The project resulted
in the identification of eleven prehistoric archaeological sites. Of
these sites, archaeological materials were collected from nine sites
and housed at UCR under accession numbers 153 and 180 through 186.
These materials included lithics, glass, shell beads, faunal remains,
botanical materials, fire affected rock, metal, charcoal, manos and
metates, a steatite ring, and geological materials. The sites
identified consisted of grinding slicks and bedrock mortars, boulders
with cupules, hearths and roasting pits, and fire affected rock
scatters. In 2022, during tribal consultation, representatives of the
Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation (also known as the San Manuel Band of
Mission Indians) identified this project as falling within Serrano
ancestral territory.
In 1990, the University of California, Riverside Archaeological
Unit (UCRARU) conducted an archaeological assessment of 320 acres of
land located southwest of the City of Barstow, in western San
Bernardino County, California at the request of Tala-Lynwood, Inc.,
ahead of a development project. The project, UCRARU #1047,
``Environmental Impact Evaluation: An Archaeological Assessment of 320
Acres of Land Located near Barstow in San Bernardino County,
California'', was led by Robert Yohe II and Brooke Arkush. During the
assessment, an on-site survey was conducted with the collection of
surface materials subsequently housed at UCR under accession number
163. The survey uncovered nine prehistoric sites and seven prehistoric
isolates. The materials found within the area included lithic scatter,
consisting of less than 30 flakes. In 2024, during tribal consultation,
representatives of the Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation (also known as
the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians) and the Morongo Band of Mission
Indians identified this project as falling within Serrano ancestral
territory. Tribal representatives identified the lithic materials
collected during the project as being objects of cultural patrimony.
In 1992, the University of California, Riverside Archaeological
Research Unit (UCRARU) conducted an archaeological assessment on 20
acres of land designated Tentative Parcel 13964, located in the Baldy
Mesa area of San Bernardino Country, California at the request of
Creative Boundaries, ahead of a proposed development project. The
project, UCRARU #1185, ``Cultural Resource Assessment: Tentative Parcel
13964 Located near Baldy Mesa in San Bernardino County, California'',
was led by Bruce Love and Michael Hogan. The project area is located to
the east of Oro Grande Wash, north of the Cajon Summit area of the San
Gabriel Mountains. During the assessment, an on-foot survey was
conducted with the collection of surface materials subsequently housed
at UCR under accession number 208. The survey uncovered two
archaeological sites. The archaeologists noted this site as a
prehistoric site consisting of a very dark concentration of ash, burned
and fire-cracked rock, and at least two formed artifacts, a mano
fragment and a quartzite cutting tool were recovered. The geographical
location of the area is known to have been occupied by the Marrya'yam
(Serrano) during the protohistoric time period.
In 2018, Dudek conducted cultural resources inventory on
approximately 686.9 areas of land in Lucerne Valley, San Bernardino
County, California at the request of Lendlease Energy Development,
ahead of the Calcite Solar Project. The project, ``Cultural Resources
Inventory and Evaluation Report for the Calcite Solar Project'', was
led by Micah Hale. The cultural resource study uncovered 14 sites,
seven historic roads, and five isolates in the project area. A total of
three test units were excavated, each measuring at approximately 0.5 x
0.25m with 20cm increments to depths no more than 40-60 cm. The
materials collected during the project was housed at the University of
California, Riverside under accession number 326. During tribal
consultation representatives of the Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation
(also known as the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians) and the Morongo
Band of Mission Indians identified this project as falling within
Serrano ancestral territory.
In 1989, the University of California, Riverside Archaeological
Research Unit (UCR-ARU) conducted a cultural resource assessment of
132.6 acres of land located in the Manix Basin region of western San
Bernardino Country at the request of Ting-Seng Ho, ahead of a
development project. The project, UCRARU #1002, ``Environmental Impact
Evaluation: An Archaeological Assessment of Assessor's Parcel 539-081-
03, Located in Manix Basin in San Bernardino County, California'', was
led by Philip Wilke and Brooke Arkush. During the assessment, an on-
foot survey was conducted with the collection of surface materials
subsequently housed at UCR under accession number 480. The assessment
uncovered three prehistoric sites and five prehistoric isolates. All
three sites are the result of lithic reduction activity, while all five
isolates are stone artifacts. The archaeologists noted the presences of
lithic cores, various types of flakes, biface fragments, ground stone
artifacts, a bifacial core, and one hammerstone. During tribal
consultation representatives of the Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation
(previously listed as San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, California)
and the Morongo Band of Mission Indians, California identified this
project as falling within Serrano ancestral territory.
Determinations
The University of California, Riverside has determined that:
<bullet> The five 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.
<bullet> The 77 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
[[Page 4792]]
of an Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization.
<bullet> There is a reasonable connection between the cultural
items described in this notice and the Morongo Band of Mission Indians,
California, and the Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation (previously listed
as San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, California).
Requests for Repatriation
Additional, written requests for repatriation of the cultural items
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 items in this notice to a requestor
may occur on or after February 18, 2025. If competing requests for
repatriation are received, the University of California, Riverside must
determine the most appropriate requestor prior to repatriation.
Requests for joint repatriation of the cultural items are considered a
single request and not competing requests. The University of
California, Riverside is responsible for sending a copy of this notice
to the 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. 3004 and the implementing regulations, 43 CFR 10.9.
Dated: January 6, 2025.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2025-01011 Filed 1-15-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
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