Notice of Inventory Completion: Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, Division of Archaeology, Nashville, TN, 37109-37110 [2017-16623]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
• National Park Service

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 151 (Tuesday, August 8, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37109-37110]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-16623]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-23598; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: Tennessee Department of 
Environment and Conservation, Division of Archaeology, Nashville, TN

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, 
Division of Archaeology, 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 a cultural affiliation between the human remains and present-
day Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations. Lineal descendants 
or 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 the Tennessee Department of Environment and 
Conservation, Division of Archaeology. If no additional requestors come 
forward, transfer of control of the human remains to the lineal 
descendants, Indian Tribes, or Native Hawaiian organizations stated in 
this notice may proceed.

DATES: Lineal descendants or 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 the Tennessee Department of Environment and 
Conservation, Division of Archaeology, at the address in this notice by 
September 7, 2017.

ADDRESSES: Michael C. Moore, Tennessee Department of Environment and 
Conservation, Division of Archaeology, 1216 Foster Avenue, Cole 
Building 3, Nashville, TN 37243, (615) 687-4776, mike.c.moore@tn.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 of human remains and 
associated funerary objects under the control of the Tennessee 
Department of Environment and Conservation, Division of Archaeology, 
Nashville, TN. The human remains and associated funerary objects were 
removed from Polk County, TN.
    This notice is published as part of the National Park Service's 
administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA, 25 U.S.C. 3003(d)(3). The 
determinations in this notice are the sole responsibility of the 
museum, institution, or Federal agency that has control of the Native 
American human remains and associated funerary objects. The National 
Park Service is not responsible for the determinations in this notice.

Consultation

    A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by the 
Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, Division of 
Archaeology, professional staff in consultation with representatives of 
the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma, Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, and 
United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians of Oklahoma.

History and Description of the Remains

    From 1986 to 1987, human remains representing, at minimum, six 
individuals were removed from the Hiwassee Old Town site (40PK3) in 
Polk County, TN. The Tennessee Division of Archaeology (TDOA) 
discovered the human remains during construction of the State Division 
of Forestry, East Tennessee Nursery. The human remains represent one 
subadult approximately 9-10 years of age; one subadult of indeterminate 
age; and four individuals of indeterminate age or sex. No individuals 
were identified. The 46 associated funerary objects are 1 greenstone 
celt, 1 stone elbow pipe, 1 coiled brass hairplucker, 4 iron buckles, 2 
gunflints, 1 metal razor, 1 metal awl, and 35 clay beads.
    The associated funerary objects were transferred to the McClung 
Museum at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville (UT-Knoxville) for 
analysis during the late 1980s, but were returned to the TDOA in 2009. 
One associated funerary object noted in the original NAGPRA inventory, 
a small piece of lead, was not present when the associated funerary 
objects were returned to the TDOA. The McClung Museum does not know the 
location of this item and it is not included in this notice.
    The Hiwassee Old Town site (40PK3) represents a multi-component 
Native American site located on the north bank of the Hiwassee River in 
Polk County, TN. Archeological investigations conducted from 1986 to 
1987 by TDOA determined prehistoric and historic Native American 
deposits to be present, including deposits associated with the 
previously documented Hiwassee Old Town occupied by Overhill Cherokee 
during the 18th and early 19th centuries (Riggs et al. 1988). The 
associated funerary objects are consistent with previously identified 
historic period Native American artifacts, based upon the range and 
style of artifacts.

Determinations Made by the Tennessee Department of Environment and 
Conservation, Division of Archaeology

    Officials of the Tennessee Department of Environment and 
Conservation, Division of Archaeology have determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice represent the physical remains of six individuals of 
Native American ancestry.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A), the 46 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.

[[Page 37110]]

     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(2), there is a relationship of 
shared group identity that can be reasonably traced between the Native 
American human remains and associated funerary objects and the Eastern 
Band of Cherokee Indians.

Additional Requestors and Disposition

    Lineal descendants or 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 Michael C. Moore, Tennessee Department of 
Environment and Conservation, Division of Archaeology, 1216 Foster 
Avenue, Cole Building 3, Nashville, TN 37243, (615) 687-4776, 
mike.c.moore@tn.gov, by September 7, 2017. After that date, if no 
additional requestors have come forward, transfer of control of the 
human remains and associated funerary objects to the Eastern Band of 
Cherokee Indians may proceed.
    The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, Division 
of Archaeology is responsible for notifying the Eastern Band of 
Cherokee Indians, the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma, and the United 
Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians of Oklahoma that this notice has 
been published.

    Dated: June 20, 2017.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2017-16623 Filed 8-7-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4312-52-P