Notice2026-06826
Notice of Inventory Completion: 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
April 9, 2026
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentNational Park Service
Abstract
In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), Sonoma State University has completed an inventory of human remains and associated funerary objects and has 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.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 68 (Thursday, April 9, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 68 (Thursday, April 9, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17994-17995]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-06826]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[N7071; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0042564; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Inventory Completion: 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), Sonoma State University has completed an
inventory of human remains and associated funerary objects and has
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.
DATES: Repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary
objects in this notice may occur on or after May 11, 2026.
ADDRESSES: Send written requests for repatriation of the human remains
and associated funerary objects in this notice to Kirsten Twork, Sonoma
State University, 1801 E Cotati Avenue, Rohnert Park, CA 94928, email
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#3d494a524f56567d4e525352505c13585948"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="85f1f2eaf7eeeec5f6eaebeae8e4abe0e1f0">[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 its inventory or related records. The National Park
Service is not responsible for the determinations in this notice.
Abstract of Information Available
Human remains representing, at least, two individuals have been
identified. The 1,660 associated funerary objects are modified faunal
bone, unmodified faunal bone, shell beads, modified obsidian,
historics, unmodified shell, flaked stone debitage, petrified wood,
groundstone, and modified stone tools. The individuals and associated
funerary objects were removed from CA-SON-1082 in Petaluma, California
in Sonoma County. Due to planned road widening at the site, Sonoma
State University conducted a survey, drilled auger borings, and
excavated two units in 1980. The resulting material has resided at
Sonoma State University since that time. During Tribal consultation two
individuals were identified associated with the work done in 1980. In
1982, additional items were collected during monitoring of a driveway
construction at CA-SON-1082. Since 1982 the material from this
monitoring has resided at Sonoma State University.
Human remains representing, at least, one individual has been
identified. The 8,167 lots of associated funerary objects are modified
obsidian, groundstone, unmodified shell, flaked stone tools, modified
faunal bone, quartz crystals, daub, petrified wood, lithics,
charmstones, unmodified stone, flaked stone debitage, modified shell,
clay, soil, unmodified faunal bone, ash, float samples, lithics,
historics. The individual and associated funerary objects were removed
from CA-SON-977, CA-SON-978, CA-SON-979, and CA-SON-980 in Santa Rosa,
California in Sonoma County. Due to planned construction of a holding
pond, in 1977 Sonoma State University engaged in field testing at the
sites within the construction area, CA-SON-977, CA-SON-978, CA-SON-979,
CA-SON-980. Work done included surface survey, auger borings, and
excavation at all four sites. In the catalog, remains from an
individual are listed from CA-SON-978, but no further information was
able to be located. Since 1977, the results of this work have been held
at Sonoma State University. Later, items from CA-SON-979 were donated
by Michael Joerger in 1979. Further circumstances of the acquisition
are unknown. Since 1979 the cultural items have resided at Sonoma State
University.
The 167 lots of associated funerary objects are flaked stone
debitage, modified stone tools, ground stone tools, unmodified faunal
bone, historic material. The associated funerary objects were removed
from CA-SON-1347 in Sebastopol, California in Sonoma county. The
cultural material was removed from the site during three different
archaeological projects. The first occurrence was in 1981, during the
Palms EIR Project. Additional cultural material was removed in 1990 and
1995. Additional information as to why material was removed during
these occurrences was not located. The cultural items have been at
Sonoma State University since their removal.
The four lots of associated funerary objects are shell beads and
obsidian. The associated funerary objects were removed from CA-SON-874
in Sebastopol, California in Sonoma county. The cultural material was
removed from the site during the Sebastopol Laguna site survey. The
cultural items have been at Sonoma State University since 1976.
[[Page 17995]]
The 14 lots of associated funerary objects are flaked stone tools,
flaked stone debitage, and shell beads. The associated funerary were
removed from CA-SON-1105/H in Sebastopol, California in Sonoma county.
The cultural items were removed during a property survey. The items
include flaked stone tools, flaked stone debitage, and shell beads. The
cultural items have been at Sonoma State University since 1978.
The four lots of associated funerary objects are lithics, historic
material, unmodified faunal bone, and unmodified shell. The associated
funerary objects were removed from CA-SON-721 in Sebastopol, California
in Sonoma county. Additional information as to why the material was
removed from the site was not located. The cultural items have been at
Sonoma State University since 1973.
The seven lots of associated funerary objects are modified stone
tools and flaked stone debitage. The associated funerary objects were
removed from CA-SON-1074 in Sebastopol, California in Sonoma county.
The cultural material was removed from the site during a property
survey. The cultural items have been at Sonoma State University since
1977.
The seven lots of associated funerary objects are modified obsidian
and flaked debitage. The associated funerary objects were removed from
CA-SON-1102 in Sebastopol, California in Sonoma county. The cultural
material was removed from the surface during the Ragel Ranch survey.
The cultural items have been at Sonoma State University since 1978.
The two lots of associated funerary objects are modified stone
tools. The associated funerary objects were removed from CA-SON-1317 in
Sebastopol, California in Sonoma county. Additional information as to
why the cultural material was collected was not located. The items
include modified stone tools. The cultural items have been at Sonoma
State University since 1981.
The two lots of associated funerary objects are flaked stone
debitage and modified stone tools. The associated funerary objects were
removed from the Harader Property Burnside Road project in Sebastopol,
California in Sonoma county and then donated to the university. The
cultural items have been at Sonoma State University since their
donation in 1982.
The one lot of associated funerary objects is unmodified obsidian.
The associated funerary objects were removed during a property survey
at the Baumgrass Property in Sebastopol, California in Sonoma county.
The items include unmodified obsidian from a float sample. The cultural
items have been at Sonoma State University since 1983.
The seven lots of associated funerary objects are unmodified
obsidian. The associated funerary objects were removed from CA-SON-1301
in Sebastopol, California in Sonoma county. Additional information as
to why the material was removed was not located. The cultural items
have been at Sonoma State University since 1986.
In the case of missing cultural items, all items when located will
also be repatriated from the collections discussed above. Based on
records concerning the cultural items and the institution in which they
are housed, there is no evidence of the items being treated with
hazardous substances.
Cultural Affiliation
Based on the information available and the results of consultation,
cultural affiliation is reasonably identified by the geographical
location or acquisition history of the human remains and associated
funerary objects described in this notice.
Determinations
Sonoma State University has determined that:
<bullet> The human remains described in this notice represent the
physical remains of three individuals of Native American ancestry.
<bullet> The 10,042 objects described in this notice are reasonably
believed to have been placed intentionally 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 connection between the human remains and
associated funerary objects described in this notice and the Federated
Indians of Graton Rancheria, California.
Requests for Repatriation
Written requests for repatriation of the human remains and
associated funerary objects in this notice must be sent to the
authorized representative identified in this notice under 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 an Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization with
cultural affiliation.
Repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects
described in this notice to a requestor may occur on or after May 11,
2026. If competing requests for repatriation are received, Sonoma State
University 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. 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 any other consulting
parties.
Authority: Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act,
25 U.S.C. 3003, and the implementing regulations, 43 CFR 10.10.
Dated: April 1, 2026.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2026-06826 Filed 4-8-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on April 9, 2026.
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