[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 197 (Thursday, October 10, 2002)] [Notices] [Pages 63152-63153] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 02-25872] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR National Park Service Notice of Inventory Completion for Native American Human Remains and Associated Funerary Objects in the Possession of California State University, Bakersfield, CA AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior. 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 in the possession of California State University, Bakersfield, CA. This notice is published as part of the National Park Service's administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA, 43 CFR 10.2 (c). The determinations within this notice are the sole responsibility of the museum, institution, or Federal agency that has control of these Native American human remains and associated funerary objects. The National Park Service is not responsible for the determinations within this notice. A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by California State University, Bakersfield, professional staff in consultation with representatives of the Tule River Indian Tribe of the Tule River Reservation, California. In 1976, the Kern County Archaeological Society conducted salvage excavations at the Crest Drive-In [[Page 63153]] site (CA-KER-480H) in Bakersfield, CA. The Crest Drive-In site consisted of a shallow, mass grave containing the skeletal remains of approximately 100 individuals, all but eight of which were subsequently reburied. The remains of these eight individuals were subsequently accessioned by California State University, Bakersfield. No known individuals were identified. No associated funerary objects are present. Osteological examination of the remains of the eight individuals in the possession of California State University, Bakersfield revealed significantly worn teeth and shovel-shaped incisors, which may be indicative of prehistoric or protohistoric Native American populations. Midden material found associated with some of the human remains in the 1976 excavations is consistent with a prehistoric or protohistoric date for some of the burials. The Crest Drive-In site was long recognized by local residents as an old Indian burial ground. However, historic period artifacts recovered during the 1976 excavations indicate that the latest burials date to the latter part of the 19th century, after the local Yokut Indians that had traditionally used the area had been relocation to the first Tule River Indian Reservation (called the Alta Vista Reservation) in 1857. The stratigraphic context encountered during the 1976 excavations was highly disturbed. According to local residents, around 1947 or 1948 the land-owner at the time attempted to level the burial ground area. When human remains were discovered, he reportedly scooped out a shallow pit, placed the remains in the hole, and covered the bones and associated funerary objects with a thin layer of dirt. None of the funerary objects recovered in 1976 are in the possession or control of California State University, Bakersfield. While there is a possibility that some of the eight human remains in the possession of California State University, Bakersfield are of other than Native American ancestry, the preponderance of the evidence supports a determination that they are Native American. Based on the above-mentioned information, officials of California State University, Bakersfield have determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 (d)(1), the human remains listed above represent the physical remains of eight individuals of Native American ancestry. Officials of California State University, Bakersfield also have determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 (e), there is a relationship of shared group identity that can be reasonably traced between these Native American human remains and the Tule River Indian Tribe of the Tule River Reservation, California. This notice has been sent to officials of the Tule River Indian Tribe of the Tule River Reservation, California. Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to be culturally affiliated with these human remains should contact Dr. Robert M. Yohe II, Department of Sociology and Anthropology, California State University, Bakersfield, CA 93311-1099, telephone (661) 664-3457, before November 12, 2002. Repatriation of the human remains to the Tule River Indian Tribe of the Tule River Reservation, California may begin after that date if no additional claimants come forward. Dated: August 28, 2002. Robert Stearns, Manager, National NAGPRA Program. [FR Doc. 02-25872 Filed 10-9-02; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-70-S