Notice of Inventory Completion: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Natchez Trace Parkway, Tupelo, MS

Melanie O'Brien
Department of the Interior
15 August 2019

[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 158 (Thursday, August 15, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41733-41734]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-17553]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0028571; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: U.S. Department of the Interior, 
National Park Service, Natchez Trace Parkway, Tupelo, MS

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, 
Natchez Trace Parkway has completed an inventory of human remains and 
associated funerary objects, in consultation with the appropriate 
Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations, and has determined that 
there is no cultural affiliation between the human remains and 
associated funerary objects and any present-day Indian Tribes or Native 
Hawaiian organizations. Representatives of any Indian Tribe or Native 
Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice that wish to 
request transfer of control of these human remains and associated 
funerary objects should submit a written request to Natchez Trace 
Parkway. If no additional requestors come forward, transfer of control 
of the human remains and associated funerary objects to the Indian 
Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations stated in this notice may 
proceed.

DATES: Representatives of any Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian 
organization not identified in this notice that wish to request 
transfer of control of these human remains and associated funerary 
objects should submit a written request with information in support of 
the request to Natchez Trace Parkway at the address in this notice by 
September 16, 2019.

ADDRESSES: Mary Risser, Superintendent, Natchez Trace Parkway, 2680 
Natchez Trace Parkway, Tupelo, MS 38804, telephone (662) 680-4005, 
email mary_risser@nps.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice is here given in accordance with the 
Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), 25 
U.S.C. 3003, of the completion of an inventory

[[Page 41734]]

of human remains and associated funerary objects under the control of 
the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Natchez 
Trace Parkway, Tupelo, MS. The human remains and associated funerary 
objects were removed from sites in Hickman and Maury Counties, TN, and 
Colbert County, AL.
    This notice is published as part of the National Park Service's 
administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA, 25 U.S.C. 3003(d)(3) and 
43 CFR 10.11(d). The determinations in this notice are the sole 
responsibility of the Superintendent, Natchez Trace Parkway.

Consultation

    A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by Natchez 
Trace Parkway professional staff in consultation with representatives 
of the Cherokee Nation, The Chickasaw Nation, The Seminole Nation of 
Oklahoma, and the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in 
Oklahoma. The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians were invited to consult 
but did not participate.

History and Description of the Remains

    In 1983 and 1984, human remains representing, at minimum, six 
individuals were removed from the South Cave site in Colbert County, 
AL, during a survey conducted by the University of Mississippi under 
contract with the National Park Service. No known individuals were 
identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    In 1984, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual 
were removed from the Baker's Knoll site in Hickman County, TN, during 
archeological testing and survey. No known individuals were identified. 
No associated funerary objects are present.
    In 1984 and 1985, human remains representing, at minimum, 108 
individuals were removed from the OldRoy site in Hickman County, TN, 
during excavations by the University of Tennessee for the National Park 
Service. No known individuals were identified. The 130 associated 
funerary objects are 22 projectile points, three bags of ochre pigment, 
five bifaces, 10 preforms, five limestone/fossil beads, one siltstone 
bead, six flakes, four flake tools, four abraders, two gorget 
fragments, one gorget, two steatite bowls, two cores, two knives, two 
steatite vessel fragments, one celt, one drill, one scraper, one 
sandstone pipe, 29 worked bones/antlers, 13 awls, nine punches, two 
beamers, and two faunal tooth fragments.
    In 1984 and 1985, human remains representing, at minimum, 34 
individuals were removed from the Fattybread Branch site in Maury 
County, TN, during excavations by the University of Tennessee for the 
National Park Service. No known individuals were identified. The 52 
associated funerary objects are two projectile points, one bannerstone, 
43 worked animal bones, five animal bones, and one bag of animal bone.

Determinations Made by Natchez Trace Parkway

    Officials of Natchez Trace Parkway have determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice are Native American based on removal from known Native 
American sites.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice represent the physical remains of 149 individuals of 
Native American ancestry.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A), the 182 objects 
described in this notice are reasonably believed to have been placed 
with or near individual human remains at the time of death or later as 
part of the death rite or ceremony. The National Park Service intends 
to convey the associated funerary objects to the Tribes pursuant to 54 
U.S.C. 102503(g) through (i) and 54 U.S.C. 102504.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(2), a relationship of shared 
group identity cannot be reasonably traced between the Native American 
human remains and associated funerary objects and any present-day 
Indian Tribe.
     According to final judgments of the Indian Claims 
Commission or the Court of Federal Claims, the land from which the 
Native American human remains and associated funerary objects were 
removed is the aboriginal land of the Cherokee Nation, Eastern Band of 
Cherokee Indians, and United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in 
Oklahoma.
     Treaties, Acts of Congress, or Executive Orders, indicate 
that the land from which the Native American human remains and 
associated funerary objects were removed is the aboriginal land of the 
Cherokee Nation, Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, The Chickasaw 
Nation, and United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma.
     Pursuant to 43 CFR 10.11(c)(1), the disposition of the 
human remains and associated funerary objects may be to the Cherokee 
Nation, Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, The Chickasaw Nation, and 
United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma.

Additional Requestors and Disposition

    Representatives of any Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization 
not identified in this notice that wish to request transfer of control 
of these human remains and associated funerary objects should submit a 
written request with information in support of the request to Mary 
Risser, Superintendent, Natchez Trace Parkway, 2680 Natchez Trace 
Parkway, Tupelo, MS 38804, telephone (662) 680-4005, email 
mary_risser@nps.gov, by September 16, 2019. After that date, if no 
additional requestors have come forward, transfer of control of the 
human remains and associated funerary objects to the Cherokee Nation, 
Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, The Chickasaw Nation, and United 
Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma may proceed.
    Natchez Trace Parkway is responsible for notifying the Cherokee 
Nation, Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, The Chickasaw Nation, The 
Seminole Nation of Oklahoma, and United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee 
Indians in Oklahoma that this notice has been published.

    Dated: July 25, 2019.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2019-17553 Filed 8-14-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4312-52-P