81 FR 4659 - Notice of Inventory Completion: Fowler Museum at the University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 17 (January 27, 2016)

The Fowler Museum at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) 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 no cultural affiliation between the human remains and associated funerary objects and any present-day Indian tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations. 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 Fowler Museum at UCLA. If no additional requestors come forward, transfer of control of the human remains and associated funerary objects to the Indian tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations stated in this notice may proceed.

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 17 (Wednesday, January 27, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4659-4662]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-01600]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-20017; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: Fowler Museum at the University 
of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Fowler Museum at the University of California Los Angeles 
(UCLA) 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 no 
cultural affiliation between the human remains and associated funerary 
objects and any present-day Indian tribes or Native Hawaiian 
organizations. 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 Fowler Museum at UCLA. 
If no additional requestors come forward, transfer of control of the 
human remains and associated funerary objects to the Indian tribes or 
Native Hawaiian organizations stated in this notice may proceed.

DATES: 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 Fowler Museum at UCLA at the address in this notice 
by February 26, 2016.

ADDRESSES: Wendy G. Teeter, Ph.D., Fowler Museum at UCLA, Box 951549, 
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1549, telephone (310) 825-1864, 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 Fowler Museum at 
UCLA, Los Angeles, CA. The human remains and associated funerary 
objects were removed from sites within Los Angeles 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) and 
43 CFR 10.11(d). 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 Fowler 
Museum at UCLA professional staff in consultation with representatives 
of Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Mission Indians of the Santa Ynez 
Reservation, California; San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, California 
(previously listed as the San Manual Band of Serrano Mission Indians of 
the San Manual Reservation); and the following nonfederally recognized 
Indian groups: Fernande[ntilde]o Tataviam Band of Mission Indians; 
Gabrielino/Tongva Indians of California Tribe; Gabrielino/Tongva 
Nation; Gabrieleno/Tongva Tribal Council; San Gabriel Band of Mission 
Indians; Ti'at Society; and the Traditional Council of Pimu.

History and Description of the Human Remains and Associated Funerary 
Objects

    In the spring of 1961, human remains representing, at minimum, 10 
individuals were removed from Sa'angna, the Admiralty Site in Los 
Angeles County, CA (CA-LAN-47). The site was excavated by Keith Johnson 
and F. Brauer in a volunteer salvage effort to preserve archeological 
human remains after sewer trenching initiated by the owner disturbed 
and exposed Burial 1. More burials were uncovered by workmen during 
construction of the Warehouse Restaurant in Marina Del Rey. The human 
remains were sent to UCLA's Archaeological Survey for analysis. The 
Admiralty Site is estimated to date to between A.D. 470 and 645, based 
on radiocarbon dating. Upon completion of analysis, the collection was 
accessioned at the Fowler Museum at UCLA in 1969. The human remains 
from all excavations at the site consist of a minimum of 10 individuals 
from six formally identified burials. Further analysis identified four 
adult females; one adult male; one adult, sex unknown; one juvenile (8-
9 years old); and three sets of human remains that were too fragmentary 
to provide age or sex. No known individuals were identified. The 140 
associated funerary objects are 1 modified object, 112 unmodified 
animal bones, 2 chert flakes, 2 projectile points, 11 bone harpoons, 1 
tarring pebble, 1 modified pebble, 1 worked serpentine fragment, 2 
modified crystals, 1 unmodified shell fragment, and 6 worked shell 
fragments.
    In 1983 and 1984, human remains representing, at minimum, three 
individuals were removed from Playa del Rey Site #1 (CA-LAN-59), also 
known as the Hughes Site, in Los Angeles County, CA. The site was 
excavated using a combination of heavy machinery and wet screening by 
Brian D. Dillon, David M. Van Horn, and James R. Murray. In 1994, 
fragmentary human remains were identified among the faunal remains 
during analysis at the UCLA Institute of Zooarchaeology Laboratory by 
Susan Colby. Upon notification of the situation in 1996, Van Horn 
indicated that he did not want the material returned. The entire 
collection was then accessioned into the Fowler Museum at UCLA for 
inclusion in UCLA's NAGPRA inventory as per the suggestion of Larry 
Myers, Executive Secretary of the California Native American Heritage 
Commission. Radiocarbon dating from Playa del Rey Site #1 is estimated 
to date to A.D. 430-870, with diagnostic artifacts from the

[[Page 4660]]

Early Period (5000-600 B.C.) present in the collection. There are three 
extremely fragmentary individuals of unknown age or sex. No known 
individuals were identified. No associated funerary objects are 
present.
    In 1984, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual was 
removed from Playa del Rey Site #2 (CA-LAN-61), also known as the 
Loyola Marymount Site, in Los Angeles County, CA. The site was 
excavated by the Archaeological Associates of Sun City. Fragmentary 
human remains were identified among faunal remains from the collection 
during analysis at the UCLA Institute of Zooarchaeology Laboratory by 
Susan Colby. Upon notification of the situation in 1996, Van Horn 
indicated that he did not want the material returned. The entire 
collection was accessioned into the Fowler Museum at UCLA for inclusion 
in UCLA's NAGPRA inventory as per the suggestion of Larry Myers, 
Executive Secretary of the California Native American Heritage 
Commission. Radiocarbon dating at Playa del Rey Site #2 estimates 
occupation to between 1390 B.C. and A.D. 440. One juvenile individual 
of unknown sex is represented by a single tooth. No known individuals 
were identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    In 1986, human remains representing, at minimum, 12 individuals 
were removed from Playa del Rey Site #4 (CA-LAN-63), also known as The 
Del Rey Site, in Los Angeles County, CA. The site was excavated by the 
Archaeological Associates of Sun City. Fragmentary human remains were 
identified among faunal remains from the collection during analysis at 
the UCLA Institute of Zooarchaeology Laboratory by Susan Colby. Upon 
notification of the situation in 1996, Van Horn indicated that he did 
not want the material returned. The entire collection was accessioned 
into the Fowler Museum at UCLA for inclusion in UCLA's NAGPRA inventory 
as per the suggestion of Larry Myers, Executive Secretary of the 
California Native American Heritage Commission. The Playa del Rey Site 
#4 is estimated to have had mostly continuous occupation from 1000 B.C. 
to A.D. 1000. Fragmentary human remains represent one adult, one 
juvenile, and ten individuals that could not be identified to age or 
sex. No known individuals were identified. No associated funerary 
objects are present.
    In 1986, human remains representing, at minimum, four individuals 
were removed from Playa del Rey Site #5 (CA-LAN-64), also known as The 
Bluff Site, in Los Angeles County, CA. The site was excavated by the 
Archaeological Associates of Sun City. Fragmentary human remains were 
identified among faunal remains from the collection during analysis at 
the UCLA Institute of Zooarchaeology Laboratory by Susan Colby. Upon 
notification of the situation in 1996, Van Horn indicated that he did 
not want the material returned. The entire collection was accessioned 
into the Fowler Museum at UCLA for inclusion in UCLA's NAGPRA inventory 
as per the suggestion of Larry Myers, Executive Secretary of the 
California Native American Heritage Commission. The Playa del Rey Site 
#5 is estimated to have had mostly continuous occupation from 1000 B.C. 
to A.D. 1000. Extremely fragmentary human remains represent a minimum 
of three juveniles and one individual that could not be identified to 
age or sex. No known individuals were identified. No associated 
funerary objects are present.
    At some time before 1950, human remains representing, at minimum, 
one individual were removed from 5802 Parapet Street, Lakeside Village 
(CA-LAN-131) in Long Beach, Los Angeles County, CA. The site was 
excavated by Hal Eberhart after discovery of human remains on private 
property. The human remains were brought to UCLA from the Norwalk 
Police Station after they were determined to be Native American and 
received at UCLA in 1950. Very little information accompanied the human 
remains to the Fowler Museum, but later excavations identified the 
location as from a Prehistoric site. Human remains from Burial A-3 
represent a male individual of approximately 20 years of age. No known 
individuals were identified. No associated funerary objects are 
present.
    Sometime before 1946, human remains representing, at minimum, three 
individuals were removed from 827 N. Glendale Avenue (CA-LAN-132) in 
Glendale, Los Angeles County, CA. Upon discovery of the human remains 
at the property, the police were notified, who in turn contacted the 
Southwest Museum when it was determined that the human remains were 
burials of Native Americans. Excavations were carried out by Donald 
Costans and Mr. Talk, during which time three more burials were 
uncovered, making a total of five. All burials were originally donated 
to the Southwest Museum in 1946, and it is thought that Hal Eberhart 
arranged for two of the burials to be transferred to UCLA. Burials 3 
and 5 were received at UCLA around 1949. Very little information 
accompanied the human remains to the Fowler Museum and none of the 
artifacts. Osteology analysis confirmed the human remains are Native 
American and the excavations of the time confirmed a Prehistoric age. 
Burial 3 represents an adult individual of unknown sex, while Burial 5 
represents an adult female and a second individual of unknown sex. No 
known individuals were identified. No associated funerary objects are 
present.
    In 1939, human remains representing, at minimum, seven individuals 
were removed from Centinela Creek (CA-LAN-193) northeast of Ballona 
Point, in Malibu, Los Angeles County, CA. This site was excavated in 
the spring of 1939 by Ralph Beals, the first UCLA Anthropology 
Professor, and accessioned into UCLA's Anthropology collections 
sometime before 1945. The site age is estimated to be from the Late 
Period. Fragmentary human remains recovered from midden contexts 
represent six individuals of unknown age and sex, and one adult 
individual of unknown sex. No known individuals were identified. No 
associated funerary objects are present.
    In 1969, human remains of, at minimum, two individuals were removed 
from between 109 and 111 Street along the west side of Alameda Street 
(CA-LAN-385) in Los Angeles County, CA. According to Melinda Horne of 
Applied Earthworks, the site was recorded and excavated by Thomas King 
during the construction of buildings associated with the Jorgensen 
Steel Company in 1969. The collection was received at UCLA after 
analysis. Occupation of the site dates to at least Historic contact 
based on diagnostic artifacts and the site is identified as the 
ethnohistorically recorded village site of Ha'utnga. Human remains from 
Burial 1 represent one adult female individual and one individual of 
unknown age and sex. No known individuals were identified. The 6 
associated funerary objects include 1 glass fragment, 2 pieces and 1 
bag of unmodified faunal bone, 1 bag of unmodified shell fragments, and 
1 bag of fire-cracked rock.
    In 1975 and 1979, human remains representing, at minimum, eight 
individuals were removed from Sims Pond Site (CA-LAN-702) in Los 
Alamitos, Los Angeles County, CA. This collection is the result of 
salvage excavations completed by Marie Cottrell in 1975, and Lawrence 
P. Allen in 1979, before construction began at the site. In 1975, 
Archaeological Research Incorporated conducted a Test Level 
investigation under the direction of Cottrell. In 1983, Cottrell 
contracted with UCLA for the collection to be curated in perpetuity at 
the Fowler Museum. The site is estimated to date

[[Page 4661]]

from 1300 B.C. through A.D. 1399. Fragmentary human remains recovered 
from midden contexts represent five individuals of unknown age and sex, 
two adult individuals of unknown sex, and one juvenile individual of 
unknown sex. No known individuals were identified. No associated 
funerary objects are present.
    In 1979, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual 
were removed from the Burrell Site (CA-LAN-999) in Torrance, Los 
Angeles, CA. The site, on Palos Verdes Peninsula, is on former U.S. 
Army Missile site property. It is important to note that a portion of 
LAN-999 was destroyed during the missile site construction. A.V. Eggers 
discovered the site in May 1978, while an archeological reconnaissance 
of the property was being conducted. At the request of Burrell Ltd., 
Martin D. Rosen, Survey Archaeologist at UCLA, excavated the site in 
1979. The estimated site age is Late Period (A.D. 700-1769). Human 
remains from Burial 1 represent an adult individual of unknown sex. No 
known individuals were identified. The 121 associated funerary objects 
include 72 shell artifacts, 46 stone flakes, and 3 unworked animal 
bones.
    In 1987, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual 
were removed from a Prehistoric site in Palos Verdes (CA-LAN-1351), Los 
Angeles County, CA. Robert Rechtman led a surface survey in front of 
development on private land. This collection was received for curation 
at UCLA in April of 1988. Fragmentary human remains collected during 
survey represent one individual of unknown age or sex. No known 
individuals were identified. No associated funerary objects were 
identified.
    In 1982, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual 
were removed from Mulholland Drive, Beverly Hills, Los Angeles County, 
CA. The collection was a set of human remains identified as Native 
American by Frank R. Webb, M.D., of the Los Angeles Coroner's Office in 
July 1942. The only documentation, a hand written note, indicates that 
the Southwest Museum received the collection in 1942 and later 
transferred it to UCLA around 1950. The exact location of the 
excavation or any other information concerning the circumstances of the 
excavation is unknown. The Coroner cataloged the human remains as 
Prehistoric without further information. Osteological analysis 
confirmed the human remains as being of a Native American adult male. 
No known individuals were identified. No associated funerary objects 
are present.
    The sites detailed in this notice have been identified through 
consultation to be within the traditional territories of the Tataviam/
Fernandeno and Tongva/Gabrielino people. These locations are consistent 
with ethnographic and historic documentation of the Tataviam/Fernandeno 
and Tongva/Gabrielino people.
    Linguistic and ethnohistoric evidence shows that these Takic-
speaking peoples moved into the San Fernando Valley and greater Los 
Angeles area by at least 3000 B.C. These groups have a common heritage, 
but began to diverge after arrival. Analysis of historical records from 
missions in the Greater Los Angeles area shows that at the time of 
mission recruitment, in the 18th and 19th centuries, the occupants of 
the area were descended from the populations living in the area since 
3000 B.C.
    The associated funerary objects described in this notice are 
consistent with those of groups ancestral to the present-day Tataviam/
Fernandeno and Tongva/Gabrielino people. The material cultures of 
earlier groups living in the geographical areas mentioned in this 
notice are characterized by archeologists as having passed through 
stages over the past 5,000 years. Many local archeologists assert that 
the changes in the material culture reflect evolving ecological 
adaptations and related changes in social organization of the same 
populations and do not represent population displacements or movements. 
The same range of artifact types and materials were used from the early 
pre-contact period until historic times. Tribal consultants explicitly 
state that population mixing, which did occur on a small scale, would 
not alter the continuity of the shared group identities of people 
associated with specific locales. Based on this evidence, continuity 
through time can be traced for all sites listed in this notice with 
present-day Tataviam/Fernandeno and Tongva/Gabrielino people. However, 
the Tataviam/Fernandeno and Tongva/Gabrielino people currently lack 
federal recognition within a single unified tribe.
    At the time of the excavation and removal of these human remains 
and associated funerary objects, the land from which the human remains 
and associated funerary objects were removed was not the tribal land of 
any Indian tribe or Native Hawaiian organization. In 2014 and 2015, the 
Fowler Museum at UCLA consulted with Indian tribes who are recognized 
as aboriginal to the area from which these Native American human 
remains and associated funerary objects were removed. None of these 
Indian tribes agreed to accept control of the human remains and 
associated funerary objects. In October 2015, the Fowler Museum at UCLA 
agreed to transfer control of the human remains and associated funerary 
objects to San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, California (previously 
listed as the San Manual Band of Serrano Mission Indians of the San 
Manual Reservation).

Determinations Made by the Fowler Museum at UCLA

    Officials of the Fowler Museum at UCLA have determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice represent the physical remains of 54 individuals of 
Native American ancestry based on metric and non-metric analysis.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A), the 267 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), a relationship of shared 
group identity cannot be reasonably traced between the Native American 
human remains and associated funerary objects and any present-day 
Indian tribe.
     Pursuant to 43 CFR 10.11(c)(2)(i), the disposition of the 
human remains and associated funerary objects may be to San Manuel Band 
of Mission Indians, California (previously listed as the San Manual 
Band of Serrano Mission Indians of the San Manual Reservation).

Additional Requestors and Disposition

    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 Wendy G. 
Teeter, Ph.D., Fowler Museum at UCLA, Box 951549, Los Angeles, CA 
90095-1549, telephone (310) 825-1864, email [email protected], by 
February 26, 2016. After that date, if no additional requestors have 
come forward, transfer of control of the human remains and associated 
funerary objects to the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, California 
(previously listed as the San Manual Band of Serrano Mission Indians of 
the San Manual Reservation), may proceed.
    The Fowler Museum is responsible for notifying the San Manuel Band 
of Mission Indians, California (previously listed as the San Manual 
Band of Serrano Mission Indians of the San Manual Reservation), that 
this notice has been published.


[[Page 4662]]


    Dated: December 21, 2015.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2016-01600 Filed 1-26-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4312-50-P