Notice2025-04202
Notice of Intended Repatriation: Sonoma State University, Rohnert Park, CA
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
March 17, 2025
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentNational Park Service
Abstract
In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Sonoma State University intends to repatriate certain cultural items that meet the definition of 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 50 (Monday, March 17, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 50 (Monday, March 17, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12351-12352]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-04202]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0039421; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Intended Repatriation: Sonoma State University, Rohnert
Park, 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 Sonoma State University intends to
repatriate certain cultural items that meet the definition of 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 April 16, 2025.
ADDRESSES: Doshia Dodd, Sonoma State University, 1801 East Cotati
Avenue, Rohnert Park, CA 94928, telephone (530) 514-8472, email
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#21654e524948400f454e454561524e4f4e4c400f444554"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="feba918d96979fd09a919a9abe8d919091939fd09b9a8b">[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
Sonoma State University, 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 88 cultural items have been request for repatriation.
A lot of 61 cultural items have been requested for repatriation
from archaeological site CA-LAK-380 near Kelseyville, Lake County
California. The objects are flaked stone tools and debitage; ground
stone tools; unmodified faunal bone; soil samples, and unmodified
obsidian. The collections, Accession Numbers 74-07, 76-24 and 84-01,
have been housed at Sonoma State University since their curation in
1974, 1976 and 1984.
A lot of 27 cultural items have been requested for repatriation
from archaeological site CA-LAK-381 near Kelseyville in Lake County,
California. The lot of 27 of objects of cultural patrimony are
charmstone; flaked stone tools and debitage; faunal bone tools; ground
stone tools; modified faunal bone; and unmodified faunal bone. The
collections, Accession Number 73-23, 74-07, and 78-08, have been housed
at Sonoma State University since their curation in 1973, 1974 and 1978.
CA-LAK-380 was discovered by the landowner Julian Mostin in the
late 1960's. Archaeologists were invited to excavate the site in the
early 1970's. In 1973, the main focus of excavation was to salvage
burials which were eroding into Kelsey Creek in 1974. In a combined
field school, Sonoma State University and Cabrillo College excavated
CA-LAK-380, with a second phase of excavation focused on CA-LAK-381.
Based on records concerning the associated funerary objects and the
institution in which they are housed, there is no evidence of the
associated funerary objects being treated with hazardous substances.
Determinations
The Sonoma State University has determined that:
<bullet> The 88 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.
<bullet> There is a reasonable connection between the cultural
items described in this notice and the Big Valley Band of Pomo Indians
of the Big Valley Rancheria, 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 April 16, 2025. If competing requests for
repatriation are received, the Sonoma State University must
[[Page 12352]]
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 Sonoma State University
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 28, 2025.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2025-04202 Filed 3-14-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on March 17, 2025.
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