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 ASU CASR, 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, two individuals have been identified. The human remains were removed from site AZ U:15:002 (ASU) in Pinal County, AZ, during a 1974 archaeological undertaking to mitigate the impacts of disturbance of sub-surface cultural remains during excavation of a sewer trench on private property. Archaeological evidence suggests that AZ U:15:002 (ASU) was occupied during the Hohokam Classic Period (approximately A.D. 900 to 1450). The five associated funerary objects are four lots of ceramics and one lot of shell bracelet fragments.

There is a relationship of shared group identity that can be reasonably traced between the Native American human remains and associated funerary objects described in this notice and the Ak-Chin Indian Community; Gila River Indian Community of the Gila River Indian Reservation, Arizona; Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community of the Salt River Reservation, Arizona; Tohono O'odham Nation of Arizona. The Ak-Chin Indian Community; Gila River Indian Community of the Gila River Indian Reservation, Arizona; Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community of the Salt River Reservation, Arizona; and the Tohono O'odham Nation of Arizona comprise one cultural group known as the O'Odham. Cultural continuity between the prehistoric Hohokam archeological culture and present-day O'Odham peoples is supported by continuities in settlement patterns, architectural technologies, basketry, textiles, ceramic technology, and ritual practices. Oral traditions that are documented for the Ak-Chin Indian Community; Gila River Indian Community of the Gila River Indian Reservation, Arizona; Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community of the Salt River Reservation, Arizona; and the Tohono O'odham Nation of Arizona support their cultural affiliation with Hohokam archeological sites in central and southern Arizona.

ASU CASR is unaware of any treatment of the ancestral remains and associated funerary objects listed above with pesticides or other known hazardous substances. Unknown adhesives were used to reconstruct one ceramic vessel and portions of the human cranial remains. A coating, likely a preservative, is present on some cranial remains. In addition, specimen and catalog numbers were applied in black ink to some ceramic sherds and human remains. The type of adhesives and preservatives and the date of their application are unknown.

If additional human remains and associated funerary objects are located from the collections discussed above, they will be returned to the Tribe as part of this repatriation.

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 ASU, SHESC, CASR, Tempe, AZ, has determined that:

• The human remains described in this notice represent the physical remains of, at least, two individuals of Native American ancestry.
• The five 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 Ak-Chin Indian Community; Gila River Indian Community of the Gila River Indian Reservation, Arizona; Hopi Tribe of Arizona; Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community of the Salt River Reservation, Arizona; Tohono O'odham Nation of Arizona; and the Zuni Tribe of the Zuni Reservation, New Mexico.

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 30, 2026. If competing requests for repatriation are received, the ASU CASR 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 ASU CASR 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 55906