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 California State University, Stanislaus, and additional information on the determinations in this notice, including the results of consultation, can be found in the summary or related records. The National Park Service is not responsible for the determinations in this notice.

Abstract of Information Available

A total of 1,251 cultural items have been requested for repatriation.

In 1993-1996, archaeologists associated with the California State University, Stanislaus removed cultural items from the site CA-CAL-55 in Calaveras County, CA. The three objects of cultural patrimony consist of the following individual lots: faunal remains; flaked stones; and unmodified stones.

In 1979, archaeologists associated with the California State University, Stanislaus removed cultural items from the site CA-CAL-661 in Calaveras County, CA. The 155 objects of cultural patrimony include faunal and floral remains, thermally altered rocks, quartz crystal, flaked and unmodified stones, soil samples, and ground stone objects.

In 1985, archaeologists associated with the California State University, Stanislaus removed cultural items from the site CA-CAL-973/H in Calaveras County, CA. The 904 objects of cultural patrimony include flaked and unmodified stones, thermally altered rocks, faunal and floral remains, historic materials, quartz crystal, and ground stone objects.

In 1985-1986, archaeologists associated with the California State University, Stanislaus removed cultural items from the site CA-CAL-1010/H in Calaveras County, CA. The 10 objects of cultural patrimony consist of the following individual lots: flaked stones; unmodified stones; thermally altered rocks; faunal remains; charcoal pieces; soil samples; projectile points; quartz crystal; historic materials; and ground stone objects.

In 2008 and 2012, archaeologists associated with the California State University, Stanislaus removed cultural items from the site CA-CAL-1659/H in Calaveras County, CA. The two objects of cultural patrimony consist of the following individual lots: ground stone and historic materials.

In the 1970's and 1980's, archaeologists associated with the California State University, Stanislaus removed cultural items from several unknown sites in Calaveras County, CA. The four objects of cultural patrimony consist of the following individual lots: flaked stones; unmodified stones; quartz crystal; and ground stone objects.

At an unknown date, 173 cultural items were removed from an unknown cave site in Calaveras County, CA. The 173 unassociated funerary objects include shell beads, shell fragments, and faunal bone.

The University is unaware of any treatment of the cultural items listed above with pesticides, preservatives, or other substances that represent a potential hazard to the objects or to persons handling the objects. An unknown number of unidentified cultural items may be missing from the above collections, which may include other categories of items.

Determinations

The California State University, Stanislaus has determined that:

• The 1,078 objects of cultural patrimony described in this notice have ongoing historical, traditional, or cultural importance central to the Native American group, including any constituent sub-group (such as a band, clan, lineage, ceremonial society, or other subdivision), according to the Native American traditional knowledge of an Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization.
• The 173 unassociated funerary objects described in this notice are reasonably believed to have been placed intentionally with or near human remains, and are connected, either at the time of death or later as part of the death rite or ceremony of a Native American culture according to the Native American traditional knowledge of a lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization. The unassociated funerary objects have been identified by a preponderance of the evidence as related to human remains, specific individuals, or families, or removed from a specific burial site or burial area of an individual or individuals with cultural affiliation to an Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization.
• There is a connection between the cultural items described in this notice and the California Valley Miwok Tribe, California; Chicken Ranch Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians of California; Ione Band of Miwok Indians of California; and the Tuolumne Band of Me-Wuk Indians of the Tuolumne Rancheria of California.

Requests for Repatriation

Additional, written requests for repatriation of the cultural items in this notice must be sent to the authorized representative identified in this notice under ADDRESSES . Requests for repatriation may be submitted by 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 a culturally affiliated Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization.

Repatriation of the cultural items in this notice to a requestor may occur on or after October 23, 2026. If competing requests for repatriation are received, the California State University, Stanislaus must determine the most appropriate requestor prior to repatriation. Requests for joint repatriation of the cultural items are considered a single request and not ( printed page 60412) competing requests. The California State University, Stanislaus is responsible for sending a copy of this notice to the Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations identified in this notice and to any other consulting parties.

Authority: Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, 25 U.S.C. 3004 and the implementing regulations, 43 CFR 10.9.

91 FR 60411