Notice2025-17876
Notice of Intended Repatriation: Sonoma State University, Rohnert Park, CA
Primary source
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Published
September 16, 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 unassociated funerary objects, sacred objects, and/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 177 (Tuesday, September 16, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 177 (Tuesday, September 16, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44701-44702]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-17876]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[N6531; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0041084; 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
unassociated funerary objects, sacred objects, and/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 October 16, 2025.
ADDRESSES: Send additional, written requests for repatriation of the
cultural items in this notice to Elise-Alexandria Green, Sonoma State
University, 1801 East Cotati Avenue, Rohnert Park, CA 94928, email
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#096c65607a6c276e7b6c6c67497a6667666468276c6d7c"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="3b5e5752485e155c495e5e557b48545554565a155e5f4e">[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 12,078 lots of cultural items have been requested for
repatriation. Of the cultural items being requested for repatriation
247 lots are being claimed as unassociated funerary items. The
remaining 11,831 lots are being claimed as objects of cultural
patrimony.
A total of 65 lots of unassociated funerary objects were removed
from CA-SON-567H near Lake Sonoma in Sonoma County, California. There
was no information found on how or why the collection was collected and
came to Sonoma State University. The cultural items include faunal bone
and shell. The cultural items have been housed at Sonoma State
University since 1986 under Accession Number 86-01.
A total of one lot of unassociated funerary objects was removed
from CA-SON-1163H near Lake Sonoma in Sonoma County, California. There
was no information found on how or why the collection was collected and
came to Sonoma State University. The cultural item is faunal bone. The
cultural item has been housed at Sonoma State University since 1986
under Accession Number 86-01.
A total of nine lots of unassociated funerary objects were removed
from CA-SON-1165H near Lake Sonoma in Sonoma County, California. There
was no information found on how or why the collection was collected and
came to Sonoma State University. The cultural items include faunal bone
and shell. The cultural items have been housed at Sonoma State
University since 1986 under Accession Number 86-01.
A total of two lots of objects of cultural patrimony were removed
from CA-SON-1569 near Lake Sonoma in Cloverdale, Sonoma County
California. The cultural items were removed from the site by the Sonoma
State Academic Foundation during a mix-strategy archaeological field
survey contracted by Sonoma County Planning Department. The purpose of
this study was to identify and record precolonial and historic
resources, make a preliminary evaluation of resource significance,
assess potential impact to the resources as a result of development of
the area, and formulate recommendations on how to reduce or eliminate
impacts to the sites. The cultural items are a flaked stone tool and
debitage. The cultural items have been housed at Sonoma State
University since 1987 under Accession Number 87-01.
A total of 12,001 lots of cultural items are being requested for
repatriation from sites CA-SON-1470, CA-SON-1471H and CA-SON-1475. The
11,829 lots of objects of cultural patrimony and 172 unassociated
funerary objects were removed from CA-SON-1470, CA-SON-1471H, and CA-
SON-1475 near Lake Sonoma in Cloverdale, Sonoma County California.
These cultural items were removed from these sites during The Rockpile
Road Upgrade Project which consisted of improving a segment of Rockpile
Road to connect with Kelly Road. The Anthropological Studies Center
(ASC) at Sonoma State University performed an initial intensive
cultural resource survey in 1985 which identified archaeological and
historic sites. The Army Corp of Engineers in collaboration with the
California State Historic Preservation Officer concluded that some of
the sites may be eligible for the National Register of Historic Places.
Further excavations of CA-SON-1471H were performed by the ASC in 1986
and 1987 to evaluate if the site met the qualification of the National
Register. The cultural items include debitage, groundstone tools,
flaked stone tools, projectile points, historic material, faunal bone,
seeds, and soil. The cultural items have been housed at Sonoma State
University since 1985, 1986, and 1987 under Accession Numbers 85-01,
86-04, 86-05, and 87-09.
Based on records concerning the unassociated funerary objects and
objects of cultural patrimony and the institution in which they were
housed, there is no evidence of the cultural items being treated with
hazardous substances.
Determinations
The Sonoma State University has determined that:
<bullet> The 247 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 11,831 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.
[[Page 44702]]
<bullet> There is a reasonable connection between the cultural
items described in this notice and the Cloverdale Rancheria of Pomo
Indians of California; Dry Creek Rancheria Band of Pomo Indians,
California; and the Kashia Band of Pomo Indians of the Stewarts Point
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 October 16, 2025. If competing requests for
repatriation are received, the Sonoma State University 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 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: September 4, 2025.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2025-17876 Filed 9-15-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on September 16, 2025.
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