4312-52
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0038196; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Inventory Completion: Aurora History Museum and Historic Sites, Aurora, CO
AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
SUMMARY: In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act
(NAGPRA), the Aurora History Museum and Historic Sites 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 [INSERT DATE 30 DAYS AFTER DATE OF PUBLICATION IN THE
FEDERAL REGISTER].
ADDRESSES: Elizabeth Ricci, Aurora History Museum and Historic Sites, 15051 East
Alameda Parkway, Aurora, CO 80012, telephone (303) 739-6660, email ericci@auroragov.org.
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 Aurora History Museum and Historic Sites, 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 eight
associated funerary objects are five charcoals, two shells, and one lithic.
In April of 1982, two neighborhood children discovered human bone eroding from the
bank of West Toll Gate Creek in Arapahoe County: Aurora, Colorado. The children reported their

find, and the site was excavated soon after. Site 5AH 244 is located on the first terrace above and
on the cut bank of West Toll Gate Creek. The objective of the excavation was to recover human
remains, reinter, and document as much information on the burial as possible. A Medicine Man,
Charlie Kills Enemy of the Sioux Tribe, was in the area at the time and brought in to ensure
proper care of the remains. Charlie Kills Enemy conducted a ceremony to ask the ancestors if
they have permission to perform carbon dating test, they agreed. The ancestors were then asked
where they would like to be reinterred. They requested to be buried on a hill. The human remains,
an amazonite pendent, and an atlatl weight were reinterred in June of 1985 at Golden Gate
Canyon State Park on five acers of land designated for the Tribes just northwest of Golden,
Colorado prior to NAGPRA law. A ceremony took place with Elders from the Shoshone and
Cheyenne Tribes. A Medicine Man was present from the Arapaho Tribe. The Elders and
Medicine Man were not named. Reinternment was on a hill as requested. The exact reinternment
site is unknown to the museum. We are working with Golden Gate Canyon State Park to find the
location.
We recently discovered a collection of objects and items related to the burial site 5AH
244. Within the collection are soil samples that were taken from the burial pits, a chest cavity, and
surrounding earth. The soil samples contain pieces of bone not consistent with the animal bones
that have been found within the collection. These bones are seen as remnants of the two
individuals previously found. Items that appear to be associated funerary objects are five
charcoals, two shells, and one lithic. There are animal bones, lithics, flakes, soils, and a petrified
wood knife that are not associated with the burial. It was requested by the Arapaho and Cheyenne
council that the entire collection including non-associated items be reinterred in the exact spot of
the original reinternment or as close as possible.
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

The Aurora History Museum and Historic Sites has determined that:
•

The human remains described in this notice represent the physical remains of two
individuals of Native American ancestry.

•

The eight 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 Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes, Oklahoma.

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 [INSERT DATE 30 DAYS AFTER DATE OF
PUBLICATION IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER]. If competing requests for repatriation are
received, the Aurora History Museum and Historic Sites 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 Aurora History
Museum and Historic Sites 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.
Dated: June 24, 2024.

Melanie O’Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2024-14473 Filed: 6/28/2024 8:45 am; Publication Date: 7/1/2024]