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 San Bernardino County 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, one individual have been identified. The one associated funerary object is a stirrup. The ancestral remains were removed in 1951 by Benjamin McCown. The stirrup found with the collection contains a note that appears to read, “Lettean Canyon 1951.” SBCM staff believe this note is referring to Letteau Canyon, from a privately owned ranch named Lannan Ranch. Based on ( printed page 14870) archaeological context and information learned from consultations, this individual is Native American. Archaeologists have asserted that Serrano and Tataviam peoples have continuously occupied the San Gabriel Mountains and the surrounding areas for up to 5,000-6,000 years BP. Linguistic sources demonstrate a strong continuous shared group identity between those people using Agua Dulce roughly 3000 years ago and modern Native Americans of Serrano and Tataviam descent. Ethnographic evidence and Traditional Knowledge document the Agua Dulce region as home to Serrano and Tataviam peoples since time immemorial.

Human remains representing, at least, one individual have been identified. The eight associated funerary objects are ground stone, faunal bone, shell, shell beads, a pipe stem fragment, ceramic sherds, lithics, and quartz. This collection, CA-SBR-00183 (SBCM-72), is from Bryman Rd in Helendale, CA. Records from 1940 state: “This was probably the rancheria of Topiabit that was mentioned by Rr. Joaquin Pasqual Nuez. Kroeber places it in the Serrano dialect, and the surface indications resemble those of the other camp sites on up the Mojave River.”

Human remains representing, at least, eight individuals have been identified. The one associated funerary object is shell. This collection was previously unprovenienced. With the assistance of forensic anthropologist Dr. Alexis Gray, the ancestral remains were determined to be Native American. Dr. Gray also determined the ancestral remains to be likely from San Bernardino County, particularly around the Newberry Springs area, based on visual examination of the soil type present in the collection.

Cultural Affiliation

Based on the information available and the results of consultation, cultural affiliation is reasonably identified by the geographical location or acquisition history of the human remains and associated funerary objects described in this notice.

Determinations

San Bernardino County Museum has determined that:

• The human remains described in this notice represent the physical remains of 10 individuals of Native American ancestry.
• The 10 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 Morongo Band of Mission Indians, California and the Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation (previously listed as San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, 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 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 April 27, 2026. If competing requests for repatriation are received, San Bernardino County 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. San Bernardino County 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.