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 Lost City Museum, 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, 20 individuals have been identified. This is the result of a detailed re-examination by Lost City Museum Staff. The eight lots of associated funerary objects are pottery sherds, dog burials, bone dice, turquoise beads, and shell beads. These human remains and associated funerary objects are in addition to human remains and associated funerary objects listed in a Notice of Inventory Completion published in the Federal Register on November 21, 2000 (65 FR 69960).

At an unknown date in the 1930s, human remains representing six individuals were removed from the Anasazi-2 site (26CK2037) in the vicinity of Overton, Nevada, by an unknown person. The one lot of associated funerary objects includes pottery, shell beads, turquoise beads, and bone dice. Archeological investigations have identified the Anasazi-2 site as a known Ancestral Puebloan site.

In the 1980's, human remains representing one additional individual and two lots of associated funerary objects were removed from the Lewis Site (26CK2036), Sand Beach, Overton, Nevada, by Lost City Museum staff. The landowner donated the remains and objects to the Lost City Museum at the time of excavation. The two lots of associated funerary objects include three dog burials, an amaranth seed cake, and mule deer antler. Archeological investigations have identified the Lewis Site (also known as Anasazi-1) as a known Ancestral Puebloan site. The remains were found in a room in a house.

In 1987, human remains representing an additional three individuals were removed during salvage excavations during construction at the Bunker Hill Site (26CK2020), Sand Beach, Overton, Nevada, by Lost City Museum staff. The remains were donated to the Lost City Museum by the landowner. Archeological investigations have identified the Bunker Hill Site as a known Ancestral Puebloan site.

In 1982, human remains representing one individual were removed during salvage excavations at the Adam 2 Site (26CK2059), Overton, Nevada, by University of Nevada, Las Vegas staff. The remains were returned to the Lost City Museum, which owns the property on which the site is located, in 2000. The two lots of associated funerary objects represent two dog burials excavated from the site. Archeological investigations have identified the Adam 2 Site as affiliated with the Ancestral Puebloan culture.

In 1979, human remains representing four individuals were excavated from Keo Site #1 (26CK2039) and later renamed Yamashita-7 in Overton, Nevada and brought to the Lost City Museum by Lost City Museum staff. In addition, there are two associated funerary objects, a grayware jar and a buffware jar. Archaeological excavations have identified Keo Site #1 as a known Ancestral Puebloan site.

At an unknown date before 1970, an additional two individuals were removed from an unknown location in the vicinity of Overton, Nevada by an unknown person. These remains were then donated to the Lost City Museum at an unknown date after 1970 by an unknown person. (These two individuals are in addition to the previous four reported in the 2000 Notice of Inventory Completion). No known individuals were identified, and no associated funerary objects are present.

In 1979, human remains representing one individual were excavated from Cappalappa #1 (26CK2048) in Overton, Nevada and brought to the Lost City Museum. This individual was brought to the museum by Lost City Museum staff. There are no associated funerary objects with this individual. Archaeological excavations have identified Cappalappa #1 as a known Ancestral Puebloan site.

In 1978, human remains representing one individual were collected from Robison #1 (26CK2413) in Overton, Nevada. The site had been disturbed. The one lot of associated funerary objects consists of pottery sherds. Archaeological excavations have identified Robison #1 as a known Ancestral Puebloan site.

At an unknown date before 1980, the remains from one individual were removed from a Pueblo II ruin at an unknown location in Overton, Nevada. There are no associated funerary objects with this individual.

On the basis of archeological context, the human remains listed above are determined to be Native American. Based on the geographical locality and probable age of the burials, the remains are determined to be affiliated with the archeologically defined Virgin Branch Ancestral Puebloan Culture, dated to circa 300 B.C.-A.D. 1250. Although the locations from which these remains were removed are within the historic territory of the Moapa Band of Paiute Indians of the Moapa River Indian Reservation, Nevada, joint consultations with representatives of the Moapa Band of Paiute Indians of the Moapa River Indian Reservation, Nevada and with representatives of the Hopi Tribe of Arizona produced evidence agreed to by both parties that the Ancestral Puebloan remains from this area are ancestral to the modern Hopi Tribe of Arizona. Archaeological evidence supports this conclusion. ( printed page 48932)

Cultural Affiliation

Based on the information available and the results of consultation, cultural affiliation is clearly identified by the information available about the human remains and associated funerary objects described in this notice.

Determinations

The Lost City Museum has determined that:

• The human remains described in this notice represent the physical remains of 20 individuals of Native American ancestry.
• The eight 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.
• There is a connection between the human remains and associated funerary objects described in this notice and the Hopi Tribe of Arizona.

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 September 2, 2026. If competing requests for repatriation are received, the Lost City Museum 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. The Lost City Museum 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.

91 FR 48931