Notice of Inventory Completion: Sonoma State University, Rohnert Park, CA

Issuing agencies

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 203 (Thursday, October 22, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 203 (Thursday, October 22, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66730-66731]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-21547]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[N7591; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0044042; 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 November 23, 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#fa8e8d95889191ba89959495979bd49f9e8f"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="a2d6d5cdd0c9c9e2d1cdcccdcfc38cc7c6d7">[email&#160;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 were requested 
for repatriation. The 717 lots of associated funerary objects are 
unmodified shell, unmodified flakes, modified flakes, historic 
material, unmodified faunal bone, and cobble stone tools. The 
individuals and associated funerary objects were removed from CA-SON-
321 originating in Bodega Bay, California. The Ancestors and material 
was removed from the site due to a planned project to expand housing of 
the Bodega Bay Marine Lab. The material has been housed at SSU since 
1989.
    The 71 lots of associated funerary objects are flaked stone 
debitage, unmodified shell, and historic material. The associated 
funerary objects were removed from CA-SON-1526, CA-SON-1527, CA-SON-
1528, CA-SON-1529, CA-SON-1530, and CA-SON-1531/H in Santa Rosa, in 
Sonoma County, California. At the time of their removal no burials were 
identified. However, during an unrelated excavation at a later date 
burials were identified at CA-SON-1530. The material housed as Sonoma 
State University was removed from its location during an archaeological 
survey for a proposed sewerage system master plan for the South Wright 
Road Area. Since 1986 the cultural material has resided at Sonoma State 
University.
    The 21 lots of associated funerary objects are flaked stone 
debitage and modified flaked stone tools. The associated funerary 
objects were removed from CA-SON-1776/H originating in Eldridge, 
California. The material was removed from the site during an 
archaeological review of the site at the request of the property owners 
in accordance with Sonoma County Department of Planning regarding 
adjustments to property lines. The material has been housed at SSU 
since 1989.
    The 144 lots of associated funerary objects are flaked stone 
debitage, flaked stone tools, quartz crystals, groundstone tools, and 
unmodified faunal bone. The associated funerary objects were removed 
from CA-SON-1216 and CA-SON-1217 originating in El Verano, California. 
The material was removed from the sites during an archaeological review 
of the George Ranch. The material has been housed at SSU since 1982
    The 732 lots of associated funerary objects were removed from CA-
SON-298/H in Bodega Bay, California in Sonoma County. The cultural 
material was removed during an archaeological investigation to 
determine the impact to the site that may occur during the installation 
of the proposed sewerage facilities on the Bodega Bay Public Utility 
District. The items include groundstone tools, modified stone tools,

[[Page 66731]]

flaked stone debitage, flotation samples, unmodified faunal, organic 
material, unmodified shell, modified shell, clay, quartz, and 
historics. The cultural items have been at Sonoma State University 
since 1985.
    The 758 lots of associated funerary objects were removed from CA-
SON-40 in Kenwood, California in Sonoma County. The cultural material 
was removed during three different instances during the 1980s to 1990, 
all related to the construction of a winery. The items include 
groundstone tools, modified stone tools, flaked stone debitage, soil, 
unmodified faunal, modified faunal bone, organic material, unmodified 
shell, modified shell, quartz, and historics. The cultural items have 
been at Sonoma State University since they were removed from their 
location.
    The 13 lots of associated funerary objects were removed from CA-
SON-113 in Glen Ellen, California in Sonoma County. The cultural 
material was removed during two different instances in 1978 and 2009. 
The portion of the material from 1978 was removed related to an 
archaeological survey for the Glen Ellen Wastewater Collection System 
and the 2009 portion was donated to the university by the land owner. 
The items include groundstone tools, modified stone tools, flaked stone 
debitage, and historics. The cultural items have been at Sonoma State 
University since they were brought to the university.
    The three lots of associated funerary objects were removed from CA-
SON-24 in Santa Rosa, California in Sonoma County. The cultural 
material was removed during an archaeological survey of the Northern 
Sonoma Valley. The items include modified stone tools. The cultural 
items have been at Sonoma State University since 1984.
    Human remains representing at least one individual were requested 
for repatriation. The 23 lots of associated funerary objects are 
unmodified shell, unmodified flakes, modified flakes, historic 
material, unmodified faunal bone, organics, and soil. The Ancestor and 
associated funerary objects were removed from CA-SON-326 originating in 
Bodega Bay, California. Information related to why the ancestor and 
material was removed from the site was not located. The material has 
been housed at SSU since 1974.
    The one lot of associated funerary objects were removed from CA-
SON-302 in Bodega Bay, California in Sonoma County. Information related 
to why the material was removed from the site was not located.The items 
include modified stone tools. The cultural items have been at Sonoma 
State University since 1976.
    The six lots of associated funerary objects were removed from CA-
SON-306 in Bodega Bay, California in Sonoma County. The cultural 
material was removed during an archaeological survey related to housing 
development. The items include flaked stone debitage and quartz 
crystal. The cultural items have been at Sonoma State University since 
1982.
    The one lot of associated funerary objects are modified stone 
tools. The associated funerary objects were removed from CA-SON-338 
originating in Salmon Creek, California. No information as to why the 
item was removed from the site was located at this time. The material 
has been housed at SSU since 1993.
    The 110 lots of associated funerary objects include debitage, 
modified stone tools, modified shell, unmodified shell, and unmodified 
faunal bone. The cultural materials were removed from CA-SON-659 in 
Sereno del Mar, California in Sonoma county. The material was removed 
from the sites during an archaeological survey. The cultural material 
has been housed at SSU since 1975.
    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 ancestors and 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 2,600 lots of 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 November 
23, 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: October 15, 2026.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2026-21547 Filed 10-21-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P


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