Native American human remains and associated funerary objects: Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History, CA; inventory,

[Federal Register: August 16, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 157)]

[Notices]

[Page 44535-44536]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr16au99-105]

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

Notice of Inventory Completion for Native American Human Remains from Woodlake, CA in the Possession of the Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History, Los Angeles, CA

AGENCY: National Park Service, DOI.

ACTION: Notice.

Notice is hereby given in accordance with provisions of the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), 43 CFR 10.9, of the completion of an inventory of human remains from Woodlake, CA in the possession of the Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History, Los Angeles, CA.

A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History professional staff in consultation with representatives of the Tule River Indian Tribe of the Tule River Reservation and the Santa Rosa Indian Community of the Santa Rosa Rancheria.

In 1932, human remains representing one individual were recovered from the Robla Lomas Ranch, Woodlake, CA under unknown circumstances by person(s) unknown. In 1972, these human remains were donated to the Los

[[Page 44536]]

Angeles County Museum of Natural History by Helen Phillips Spears. No known individual was identified. No associated funerary objects are present.

Collections documentation indicates this individual was found with ten other individuals on the Robla Lomas Ranch. Documentation also suggests that these human remains are probably those of an individual killed by the Spanish during a battle known to have occured at the Robla Lomas Ranch in 1832. Ethnohistoric information indicates that the Robla Lomas Ranch is within the historic territory traditionally occupied by the Southern Valley Yokuts, now represented by the present- day Tule River Indian Tribe of the Tule River Reservation. Consultation with representatives of the Tule River Indian Tribe of the Tule River Reservation confirm that these human remains are affiliated with the Tule River Indian Tribe of the Tule River Reservation.

Based on the above mentioned information, officials of the Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History have determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 (d)(1), the human remains listed above represent the physical remains of one individual of Native American ancestry. Officials of the Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History have determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 (e), there is a relationship of shared group identity which can be reasonably traced between these Native American human remains and the Tule River Indian Tribe of the Tule River Reservation.

This notice has been sent to officials of the Tule River Indian Tribe of the Tule River Reservation and the Santa Rosa Indian Community of the Santa Rosa Rancheria. Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to be culturally affiliated with these human remains should contact Dr. Margaret A. Hardin, Anthropology Section, Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History, 900 Exposition Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90007; telephone: (213) 763-3382; e-mail: Mhardin@nhm.org, before September 15, 1999. Repatriation of the human remains to the Tule River Indian Tribe of the Tule River Reservation may begin after that date if no additional claimants come forward. Dated: August 10, 1999. Richard Waldbauer, Acting Departmental Consulting Archeologist, Archeology and Ethnography Program.

[FR Doc. 99-21068Filed8-13-99; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310-70-F