[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 245 (Monday, December 22, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 76364-76365]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-29911]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-17144; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: Bowers Museum, Santa Ana, CA

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Bowers Museum has completed an inventory of human remains 
and associated funerary objects, in consultation with the appropriate 
Indian tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations, and has determined that 
there is a cultural affiliation between the human remains and 
associated funerary objects and present-day Indian tribes or Native 
Hawaiian organizations. Lineal descendants or representatives of any 
Indian tribe or Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this 
notice that wish to request transfer of control of these human remains 
and associated funerary objects should submit a written request to the 
Bowers Museum. If no additional requestors come forward, transfer of 
control of the human remains and associated funerary objects to the 
lineal descendants, Indian tribes, or Native Hawaiian organizations 
stated in this notice may proceed.

DATES: Lineal descendants or representatives of any Indian tribe or 
Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice that wish to 
request transfer of control of these human remains and associated 
funerary objects should submit a written request with information in 
support of the request to the Bowers Museum at the address in this 
notice by January 21, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Julie Perlin Lee, Vice President of Collections and 
Exhibition Development, Bowers Museum, 2002 N Main St., Santa Ana, CA 
92706, telephone (714) 567-3656, email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice is here given in accordance with the 
Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), 25 
U.S.C. 3003, of the completion of an inventory of human remains and 
associated funerary objects under the control of the Bowers Museum, 
Santa Ana, CA. The human remains and associated funerary objects were 
removed from the Kilowatt Mound near Wasco, in Kern County, CA.
    This notice is published as part of the National Park Service's 
administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA, 25 U.S.C. 3003(d)(3). The 
determinations in this notice are the sole responsibility of the 
museum, institution, or Federal agency that has control of the Native 
American human remains and associated funerary objects. The National 
Park Service is not responsible for the determinations in this notice.

Consultation

    A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by the Bowers 
Museum professional staff in consultation with representatives of the 
Santa Rosa Indian Community of the Santa Rosa Rancheria, California. 
The Santa Rosa Indian Community of the Santa Rosa Rancheria, 
California, has provided written documentation including a map, a 
journal article, a Smithsonian bulletin, and images supporting their 
claim over the remains and burial objects.

History and Description of the Remains

    Between 1927 and 1935, human remains representing, at minimum, one 
(1) individual were removed from the Kilowatt Mound near Wasco, Kern 
County, CA. The human remains were removed by an amateur archeologist 
and eventually donated to the Bowers Museum. The human remains are 17 
bone fragments. No known individuals were identified. The 32 associated 
funerary objects are 2 sets of shell beads, 1 set of stone beads, 16 
shell ornaments, 1 stone implement, 4 potsherds, 5 burnt basketry 
textiles, 2 burial pole fragments, and 1 bird bone with paint and 
textile fragments.
    Based on the location in which they were found, the Bowers Museum 
has determined that the human remains are `possibly Yokut.' Along with 
the location, the funerary objects in the museum's possession (i.e. 
burnt cloth, shells, etc.) that were buried with the individual appear 
to be in accordance with the practices of the Yokut at the time per the 
documentation provided by the Santa Rosa Indian Community of the Santa 
Rosa Rancheria, California. While a level of certainty cannot be 
determined because of the age of the remains, our records indicate they 
are ``possibly Yokut'' because of the origin of the burials.

Determinations Made by the Bowers Museum

    Officials of the Bowers Museum have determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice represent the physical remains of at least one (1) 
individual of Native American ancestry.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A), the thirty-two (32) 
objects described in this notice are reasonably believed to have been 
placed with or near individual human remains at the time of death or 
later as part of the death rite or ceremony.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(2), there is a relationship of 
shared group identity that can be reasonably traced between the Native 
American human remains and associated funerary objects and the Santa 
Rosa Indian Community of the Santa Rosa Rancheria, California, based on 
the information provided by the tribe.

Additional Requestors and Disposition

    Lineal descendants or representatives of any Indian tribe or Native 
Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice that wish to 
request transfer of control of these human remains and associated 
funerary objects should submit a written request with information in 
support of the request to Julie Perlin Lee, Vice President of 
Collections and Exhibition Development, Bowers Museum, 2002 North Main 
Street, Santa Ana, California 92706, telephone (714) 567-3656, email 
[email protected], by January 21, 2015. After that date, if no 
additional requestors have come forward, transfer of control of the 
human remains and associated funerary objects the Santa Rosa Indian 
Community of the Santa

[[Page 76365]]

Rosa Rancheria, California, may proceed.
    The Bowers Museum is responsible for notifying the Santa Rosa 
Indian Community of the Santa Rosa Rancheria, California, that this 
notice has been published.

    Dated: November 6, 2014.
Melanie O'Brien,
Acting Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2014-29911 Filed 12-19-14; 8:45 am]
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