Notice of Inventory Completion: California Department of Transportation, Marysville, CA

AGENCY:

National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the California Department of Transportation has completed an inventory of human remains and associated funerary objects and has determined that there is a cultural affiliation between the human remains and associated funerary objects and Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice.

DATES:

Repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects in this notice may occur on or after July 31, 2024.

ADDRESSES:

Dr. Lisa Bright, Branch Chief District 3, Cultural Resources (South), California State Department of Transportation, 703 B Street Marysville, CA 95901, telephone (530) 812-4569, email Lisa.Bright@dot.ca.gov.

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 Department of Transportation, and additional information on the determinations in this notice, including the results of consultation, can be found in the inventory or related records. The National Park Service is not responsible for the determinations in this notice.

Abstract of Information Available

Based on the information available, human remains representing, at least, two individuals have been reasonably identified. The 806 catalog entries of associated funerary objects are tools, faunal remains, floral remains, ground stone, worked bone, and beads and other ornamental items.

In 1987, 1989, and 1990 the collection was excavated by the California Department of Transportation from CA-GLE-217. Reporting of the data recovery excavation was completed in 2006. Repatriation and reburial of ancestors and associated funerary objects (total number unknown as this was not included in reporting or the catalog) was completed in 2008. Additional human remains and associated funerary objects were identified during the inventory verification completed by the California Department of Transportation and Paskenta Band of Nomlaki Indians in 2024. Of the 806 catalog entries of associated funerary objects, 61 catalogue entries are currently missing from the collection. California State University, Chico and the California Department of Transportation continue to look for them. No potentially hazardous substances were used to treat any of the human remains or associated funerary objects.

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 California Department of Transportation has determined that:

• The human remains described in this notice represent the physical remains of two individuals of Native American ancestry.
• The 806 catalog entries of associated funerary 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 reasonable connection between the human remains and associated funerary objects described in this notice and the Grindstone Indian Rancheria of Wintun-Wailaki Indians of California and the Paskenta Band of Nomlaki Indians of California.

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 a culturally affiliated Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization.

Repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects in this notice to a requestor may occur on or after July 31, 2024. If competing requests for repatriation are received, the California Department of Transportation 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 California Department of Transportation is responsible for sending a copy of this notice to the Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations identified in this notice.

Authority: Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, 25 U.S.C. 3003, and the implementing regulations, 43 CFR 10.10.