Notice of Inventory Completion: Tennessee Valley Authority, Knoxville, TN, 17191-17193 [2021-06661]
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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 61 / Thursday, April 1, 2021 / Notices
Santa Barbara and Los Angeles
Counties, CA.
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.
This notice corrects the minimum
number of individuals, number of
associated funerary objects, and cultural
affiliation published in a Notice of
Inventory Completion in the Federal
Register (75 FR 435, January 5, 2010).
Following a re-inventory of the human
remains and associated funerary objects
from the sites in question, the Field
Museum of Natural History determined
that the minimum number of
individuals should be decreased by one
and the number of associated funerary
objects should be increased by the
addition of two previously unidentified
associated funerary objects. Also,
further consultation yielded evidence to
establish a cultural affiliation of the
items with additional Indian Tribes.
Transfer of control of the items in this
correction notice has not occurred.
Correction
In the Federal Register (75 FR 435,
January 5, 2010), column 1, paragraph 3,
sentence 1 is corrected by substituting
the following sentence:
jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with NOTICES
A detailed assessment of the human
remains and associated funerary objects was
made by the Field Museum of Natural
History professional staff in consultation
with representatives of the La Jolla Band of
Luiseno Indians, California [previously listed
as La Jolla Band of Luiseno Mission Indians
of the La Jolla Reservation]; Pala Band of
Mission Indians [previously listed as Pala
Band of Luiseno Mission Indians of the Pala
Reservation, California]; Pauma Band of
Luiseno Mission Indians of the Pauma &
Yuima Reservation, California; Pechanga
Band of Luiseno Mission Indians of the
Pechanga Reservation, California; Rincon
Band of Luiseno Mission Indians of Rincon
Reservation, California; Santa Ynez Band of
Chumash Mission Indians of the Santa Ynez
Reservation, California; and the Soboba Band
of Luiseno Indians, California (hereafter
referred to as ‘‘The Tribes’’).
In the Federal Register (75 FR 435,
January 5, 2010), column 1, paragraph 4,
sentence 2 is corrected by substituting
the following sentence:
In 1893, human remains representing a
minimum of five individuals from that
removal were purchased by the Field
Museum of Natural History from Ward’s
Natural Science Establishment of Rochester,
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NY (Field Museum of Natural History catalog
numbers 42700–42703, accession number
407).
In the Federal Register (75 FR 435,
January 5, 2010), column 2, paragraph 4,
sentence 1 is corrected by substituting
the following sentence:
At an unknown date, the Field Museum of
Natural History acquired human remains
representing a minimum of three individuals
and two associated funerary objects from
Santa Catalina Island, Los Angeles County,
CA, from an unknown source (Field Museum
of Natural History catalog number 42706,
accession 3910).
In the Federal Register (75 FR 435,
January 5, 2010), column 2, paragraph 4,
sentence 4 is corrected by substituting
the following sentence:
Two associated funerary objects are present
consisting of fragments of non-human animal
bone.
In the Federal Register (75 FR 435,
January 5, 2010), column 2, paragraph 5,
sentences 2 and 3 are corrected by
substituting the following sentences:
For the human remains from San Miguel
Island and the unknown Channel Island
location, geographical, kinship, biological,
archeological, anthropological, linguistic,
folklore, oral tradition, and historical
evidence indicate a shared group identity
between these human remains and the Santa
Ynez Band of Chumash Mission Indians of
the Santa Ynez Reservation, California.
Archeological investigations have identified
a cultural continuity for the Chumash
Indians that traces their presence on the
Channel Islands back 7,000 to 9,000 years.
In the Federal Register (75 FR 435,
January 5, 2010), column 2, paragraph 5,
is corrected by adding the following
sentence to the bottom of the paragraph:
For the human remains from San Nicolas
and Santa Catalina Islands, geographical,
kinship, biological, archeological,
anthropological, linguistic, folklore, oral
tradition, and historical evidence indicate a
shared group identity between these human
remains and The Tribes.
In the Federal Register (75 FR 435,
January 5, 2010), column 3, paragraph 1,
is corrected by substituting the
following paragraph:
Officials of the Field Museum of Natural
History have determined that:
• Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (9–10), the
human remains described above are
reasonably believed to be the physical
remains of 13 individuals of Native American
ancestry;
• Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (3)(A), the
two objects described above 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;
• Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (2), there is
a relationship of shared group identity that
can be reasonably traced between the Native
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17191
American human remains from both San
Miguel Island and the unknown Channel
Island location and the Santa Ynez Band of
Chumash Mission Indians of the Santa Ynez
Reservation, California; and
• Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (2), there is
a relationship of shared group identity that
can be reasonably traced between the human
remains from San Nicolas and Santa Catalina
Islands and The Tribes.
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 Helen Robbins, Field
Museum of Natural History, 1400 S Lake
Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60605,
telephone (312) 665–7317, email
hrobbins@fieldmuseum.org, by May 3,
2021. After that date, if no additional
requestors have come forward, transfer
of control of the human remains and
associated funerary objects to The
Tribes may proceed.
The Field Museum of Natural History
is responsible for notifying The Tribes
that this notice has been published.
Dated: March 16, 2021.
Melanie O’Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2021–06657 Filed 3–31–21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312–52–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[NPS–WASO–NAGPRA–NPS0031606;
PPWOCRADN0–PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Inventory Completion:
Tennessee Valley Authority, Knoxville,
TN
National Park Service, Interior.
Notice.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
The Tennessee Valley
Authority (TVA) has completed an
inventory of 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 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 associated funerary objects
should submit a written request to the
TVA. If no additional requestors come
forward, transfer of control of the
SUMMARY:
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01APN1
17192
Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 61 / Thursday, April 1, 2021 / Notices
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
associated funerary objects should
submit a written request with
information in support of the request to
the TVA at the address in this notice by
May 3, 2021.
ADDRESSES: Dr. Thomas O. Maher,
Tennessee Valley Authority, 400 West
Summit Hill Drive, WT11C, Knoxville,
TN 37902–1401, telephone (865) 632–
7458, email tomaher@tva.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 associated funerary objects under the
control of the Tennessee Valley
Authority, Knoxville, TN, and stored at
the Alabama Museum of Natural History
(AMNH) at the University of Alabama.
The associated funerary objects were
removed from the following
archeological sites: 1LU5, 1LU25,
1LU59, 1LU67, and 1LU72 in
Lauderdale County, and 1CT8 and
1CT17 in 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 museum,
institution, or Federal agency that has
control of the Native American
associated funerary objects. The
National Park Service is not responsible
for the determinations in this notice.
jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with NOTICES
Consultation
A detailed assessment of the
associated funerary objects was made by
TVA professional staff in consultation
with representatives of the AbsenteeShawnee Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma;
Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas
[previously listed as Alabama-Coushatta
Tribes of Texas]; Alabama-Quassarte
Tribal Town; Cherokee Nation;
Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana; Eastern
Band of Cherokee Indians; Eastern
Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma;
Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians;
Poarch Band of Creeks [previously listed
as Poarch Band of Creek Indians of
Alabama]; The Chickasaw Nation; The
Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma; The
Muscogee (Creek) Nation; The Seminole
Nation of Oklahoma; Thlopthlocco
Tribal Town; and the United Keetoowah
Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma
VerDate Sep<11>2014
19:02 Mar 31, 2021
Jkt 253001
(hereafter referred to as ‘‘The Consulted
Tribes’’).
History and Description of the Remains
The sites listed in this notice were
excavated as part of TVA’s Pickwick
reservoir project by AMNH, using labor
and funds provided by the Works
Progress Administration (WPA). Details
regarding these excavations and sites
may be found in An Archaeological
Survey of Pickwick Basin in the
Adjacent Portions of the States of
Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee, by
William S. Webb and David L.
DeJarnette. The associated funerary
objects listed in this notice have been in
the physical custody of AMNH since
excavation, but they are under the
control of TVA.
Human remains and other associated
funerary objects from these sites were
previously listed in Notices of Inventory
Completion published in the Federal
Register (81 FR 60377–60380,
September 1, 2016; 82 FR 39904–39906,
August 22, 2017; and 83 FR 65735–
65738, December 21, 2018) and were
transferred to The Chickasaw Nation.
During a recent improvement in the
curation of the TVA archeological
collections at AMNH, additional
associated funerary objects were found.
In February 1937, excavations took
place at the Smithsonia Landing site,
1LU5, in Lauderdale County, AL.
Excavation commenced after TVA
acquired the land encompassing site
1LU5 on May 4, 1936. This shell
midden site had been disturbed by a
historic riverboat landing and associated
buildings. This disturbance and rising
reservoir water levels led to limited
excavations revealing a Late Archaic
(4000—1000 B.C.) occupation. The
recently rediscovered associated
funerary objects include 113 shell beads
from burial 2 at this site.
From April 29, 1938, to November 8,
1940, excavations by the AMNH took
place at the Perry site, 1LU25, in
Lauderdale County, AL. TVA had
acquired this site for the Pickwick
Reservoir project on February 19, 1937.
The Perry site was the largest excavation
on TVA land in Alabama. The site,
located on an island in the Tennessee
River, was an extensive shell midden,
village, and burial ground. There were
two major occupations at 1LU25, the
first one occurring during the terminal
Middle through Late Archaic periods
(4000–1000 B.C.) and the second one
occurring during the Kogers Island
phase of the Mississippian period (A.D.
1200–1450). The 37 recently discovered
associated funerary objects include 32
animal bones, one bone pin, one piece
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of graphite, one chert preform, and two
shell beads.
From September 22, 1936, to
September 30, 1937, the Bluff Creek site,
1LU59, was excavated in Lauderdale
County, AL. TVA had acquired this site
for the Pickwick Reservoir project on
December 23, 1936, and the excavation
was conducted with Federal funds in
anticipation of reservoir construction.
This shell mound site, at the confluence
of Bluff Creek and the Tennessee River,
was an accumulation of mussel shell
and village midden, rather than an
intentionally constructed earthwork.
Based on the material culture, this site
was occupied during the Late Archaic
(4000–1000 B.C.), Early Woodland
(1000–100 B.C.), Middle Woodland
(Copena phase, A.D. 100–500), and Late
Woodland (McKelvey phase, A.D. 500–
1000). Shell-tempered ceramics from the
Mississippian period are found in the
upper portion of this shell midden. The
recently rediscovered 74 associated
funerary objects include 19 animal
bones, eight Baytown Plain var.
McKelvey sherds, one unmodified piece
of chert, four eroded grog-tempered
sherds, one fire cracked rock, nine
Mississippi Plain sherds, 21 Mulberry
Creek Cord Marked sherds, two shell
beads, three smoothed, grog-tempered
sherds, one stamped, grog-tempered
sherd, one Wheeler Check stamped
sherd, two Wheeler punctate sherds,
and two Whithers Fabric Marked
sherds.
From June to September of 1936,
excavations took place at the Long
Branch site, 1LU67, in Lauderdale
County, AL. Excavation commenced
after TVA purchased three parcels of
land encompassing this site on January
11, 1935, September 16, 1935, and
February 8, 1936. Site 1LU67 was
located immediately adjacent to the
Tennessee River. Although described as
a mound, this site appears to have been
an accumulation of discarded shell,
village midden, and alluvial soils, rather
than an intentionally constructed
earthwork. This shell midden extended
to a depth of 11 feet below the surface.
The Long Branch site had multiple
occupations, including during the
Middle Archaic (6000–4000 B.C.), Late
Archaic (4000–1000 B.C.), Early
Woodland (500–100 B.C.), Middle
Woodland (100 B.C.-A.D. 500), Late
Woodland (A.D. 500–1000), and
Mississippian (A.D. 900–1500). It is not
possible to determine from which level
of occupation a burial unit originated.
The 84 associated funerary objects
include 27 animal bones or bone
fragments, one chert flake, one Mulberry
Creek Plain sherd, two projectile points,
and 53 shell fragments.
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01APN1
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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 61 / Thursday, April 1, 2021 / Notices
From January to February 1938,
excavations took place at the Union
Hollow site, 1LU72, in Lauderdale
County, AL. Excavation commenced
after TVA purchased the land
encompassing this site for the Pickwick
Reservoir project on October 5, 1936.
Site 1LU72 was located immediately
adjacent to the Tennessee River. This
shell mound was an accumulation of
discarded shell, village midden, and
alluvial soils, rather than an
intentionally constructed earthwork.
This shell midden extended to a depth
of 10 feet below surface. Early flooding
of the Pickwick reservoir abbreviated
excavations at this site. The Union
Hollow site had multiple occupations,
including during the Late Archaic
(4000–1000 B.C.), Early Woodland (500–
100 B.C.), and Mississippian (A.D.
1200–1500). The recently found
associated funerary objects include eight
Mississippi Plain ceramic sherds.
From December 27, 1938, to June 27,
1939, excavations by the AMNH took
place at the Little Bear Creek site, 1CT8,
in Colbert County, AL. TVA had
acquired this site for the Pickwick
Reservoir project on August 20, 1936.
This shell midden site was located at
the confluence of Little Bear Creek and
the Tennessee River. While no
radiocarbon dates were obtained for this
site, the excavated artifacts indicate that
all major occupations took place during
the Late Archaic (4000–1000 B.C.).
Ceramics, while not abundant, were
found in the upper 2–3 feet. Some of the
ceramics suggest minor occupations
during the Colbert (300 B.C.–A.D. 100)
and McKelvey (A.D. 500–1000) phases.
Distinctive shell-tempered vessels
associated with some burials indicate a
Mississippian Kogers Island phase
occupation (A.D. 1200–1500). The 10
recently found associated funerary
objects include one bone awl, one
chipped stone hoe, one chipped stone
drill, one Little Bear Creek PP/K, one
Mulberry Creek PP/K, one unidentified
PP/K, three preforms, and one White
Springs PP/K.
From January 25 to February 22, 1934,
associated funerary objects were
removed by the AMNH from 1CT17 in
Colbert County, AL. TVA had acquired
this land for the Pickwick Reservoir
project on June 19, 1936, and the
excavation was conducted with Federal
funds in anticipation of reservoir
construction. This shell mound and
village site was located on the left
descending bank of the Tennessee River,
and was an accumulation of mussel
shell and village midden, rather than an
intentionally constructed earthwork.
There are no radiocarbon dates from this
site. Projectile points from 1CT17
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Jkt 253001
resemble those found in Late Archaic
(4000–1000 B.C.) occupations at nearby
sites. Although stratification of the
ceramics recovered from the excavation
is not clear, the ceramics exhibit temper
and surface modifications characteristic
of the Early and Middle Woodland
period (300 B.C.–A.D. 500). In addition,
a few shell-tempered ceramics from the
Mississippian period were found in the
upper portion of this shell midden. The
three recently found associated funerary
objects include one antler tool and two
deer mandibles.
Determinations Made by the Tennessee
Valley Authority
Officials of the Tennessee Valley
Authority have determined that:
• Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A),
the 329 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.
• Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(2), a
relationship of shared group identity
cannot be reasonably traced between the
associated funerary objects and any
present-day Indian Tribe.
• According to final judgements of
the Indian Claims Commission or the
Court of Federal Claims, the land from
which the associated funerary objects
were removed is the aboriginal land of
the Cherokee Nation; Eastern Band of
Cherokee Indians; and the United
Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in
Oklahoma.
• The Cherokee Nation; Eastern Band
of Cherokee Indians; and the United
Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in
Oklahoma have declined to accept
transfer of control of these associated
funerary objects.
• The Treaty of September 20, 1816,
indicates that the land from which the
cultural items were removed is the
aboriginal land of The Chickasaw
Nation.
• Pursuant to 43 CFR 10.11(c)(4), the
Tennessee Valley Authority has agreed
to transfer control of the associated
funerary objects to The Chickasaw
Nation.
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 the
associated funerary objects should
submit a written request with
information in support of the request to
Dr. Thomas O. Maher, Tennessee Valley
Authority, 400 West Summit Hill Drive,
WT11C, Knoxville, TN 37902–1401,
telephone (865) 632–7458, email
tomaher@tva.gov, by May 3, 2021. After
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17193
that date, if no additional requestors
have come forward, transfer of control
of the associated funerary objects to The
Chickasaw Nation may proceed.
The Tennessee Valley Authority is
responsible for notifying The Consulted
Tribes that this notice has been
published.
Dated: March 16, 2021.
Melanie O’Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2021–06661 Filed 3–31–21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312–52–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[NPS–WASO–NAGPRA–NPS0031605;
PPWOCRADN0–PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Inventory Completion:
Tennessee Valley Authority, Knoxville,
TN
National Park Service, Interior.
Notice.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
The Tennessee Valley
Authority (TVA) has completed an
inventory of 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 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 associated funerary objects
should submit a written request to the
TVA. If no additional requestors come
forward, transfer of control of the
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
associated funerary objects should
submit a written request with
information in support of the request to
the TVA at the address in this notice by
May 3, 2021.
ADDRESSES: Dr. Thomas O. Maher,
Tennessee Valley Authority, 400 West
Summit Hill Drive, WT11C, Knoxville,
TN 37902–1401, telephone (865) 632–
7458, email tomaher@tva.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 associated funerary objects under the
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\01APN1.SGM
01APN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 61 (Thursday, April 1, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17191-17193]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-06661]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0031606; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Inventory Completion: Tennessee Valley Authority,
Knoxville, TN
AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) has completed an
inventory of 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 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 associated funerary objects should submit
a written request to the TVA. If no additional requestors come forward,
transfer of control of the
[[Page 17192]]
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 associated funerary objects should submit
a written request with information in support of the request to the TVA
at the address in this notice by May 3, 2021.
ADDRESSES: Dr. Thomas O. Maher, Tennessee Valley Authority, 400 West
Summit Hill Drive, WT11C, Knoxville, TN 37902-1401, telephone (865)
632-7458, email [email protected].
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 associated funerary
objects under the control of the Tennessee Valley Authority, Knoxville,
TN, and stored at the Alabama Museum of Natural History (AMNH) at the
University of Alabama. The associated funerary objects were removed
from the following archeological sites: 1LU5, 1LU25, 1LU59, 1LU67, and
1LU72 in Lauderdale County, and 1CT8 and 1CT17 in 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 museum, institution, or Federal agency that has
control of the Native American associated funerary objects. The
National Park Service is not responsible for the determinations in this
notice.
Consultation
A detailed assessment of the associated funerary objects was made
by TVA professional staff in consultation with representatives of the
Absentee-Shawnee Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma; Alabama-Coushatta Tribe
of Texas [previously listed as Alabama-Coushatta Tribes of Texas];
Alabama-Quassarte Tribal Town; Cherokee Nation; Coushatta Tribe of
Louisiana; Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians; Eastern Shawnee Tribe of
Oklahoma; Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians; Poarch Band of Creeks
[previously listed as Poarch Band of Creek Indians of Alabama]; The
Chickasaw Nation; The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma; The Muscogee (Creek)
Nation; The Seminole Nation of Oklahoma; Thlopthlocco Tribal Town; and
the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma (hereafter
referred to as ``The Consulted Tribes'').
History and Description of the Remains
The sites listed in this notice were excavated as part of TVA's
Pickwick reservoir project by AMNH, using labor and funds provided by
the Works Progress Administration (WPA). Details regarding these
excavations and sites may be found in An Archaeological Survey of
Pickwick Basin in the Adjacent Portions of the States of Alabama,
Mississippi and Tennessee, by William S. Webb and David L. DeJarnette.
The associated funerary objects listed in this notice have been in the
physical custody of AMNH since excavation, but they are under the
control of TVA.
Human remains and other associated funerary objects from these
sites were previously listed in Notices of Inventory Completion
published in the Federal Register (81 FR 60377-60380, September 1,
2016; 82 FR 39904-39906, August 22, 2017; and 83 FR 65735-65738,
December 21, 2018) and were transferred to The Chickasaw Nation. During
a recent improvement in the curation of the TVA archeological
collections at AMNH, additional associated funerary objects were found.
In February 1937, excavations took place at the Smithsonia Landing
site, 1LU5, in Lauderdale County, AL. Excavation commenced after TVA
acquired the land encompassing site 1LU5 on May 4, 1936. This shell
midden site had been disturbed by a historic riverboat landing and
associated buildings. This disturbance and rising reservoir water
levels led to limited excavations revealing a Late Archaic (4000--1000
B.C.) occupation. The recently rediscovered associated funerary objects
include 113 shell beads from burial 2 at this site.
From April 29, 1938, to November 8, 1940, excavations by the AMNH
took place at the Perry site, 1LU25, in Lauderdale County, AL. TVA had
acquired this site for the Pickwick Reservoir project on February 19,
1937. The Perry site was the largest excavation on TVA land in Alabama.
The site, located on an island in the Tennessee River, was an extensive
shell midden, village, and burial ground. There were two major
occupations at 1LU25, the first one occurring during the terminal
Middle through Late Archaic periods (4000-1000 B.C.) and the second one
occurring during the Kogers Island phase of the Mississippian period
(A.D. 1200-1450). The 37 recently discovered associated funerary
objects include 32 animal bones, one bone pin, one piece of graphite,
one chert preform, and two shell beads.
From September 22, 1936, to September 30, 1937, the Bluff Creek
site, 1LU59, was excavated in Lauderdale County, AL. TVA had acquired
this site for the Pickwick Reservoir project on December 23, 1936, and
the excavation was conducted with Federal funds in anticipation of
reservoir construction. This shell mound site, at the confluence of
Bluff Creek and the Tennessee River, was an accumulation of mussel
shell and village midden, rather than an intentionally constructed
earthwork. Based on the material culture, this site was occupied during
the Late Archaic (4000-1000 B.C.), Early Woodland (1000-100 B.C.),
Middle Woodland (Copena phase, A.D. 100-500), and Late Woodland
(McKelvey phase, A.D. 500-1000). Shell-tempered ceramics from the
Mississippian period are found in the upper portion of this shell
midden. The recently rediscovered 74 associated funerary objects
include 19 animal bones, eight Baytown Plain var. McKelvey sherds, one
unmodified piece of chert, four eroded grog-tempered sherds, one fire
cracked rock, nine Mississippi Plain sherds, 21 Mulberry Creek Cord
Marked sherds, two shell beads, three smoothed, grog-tempered sherds,
one stamped, grog-tempered sherd, one Wheeler Check stamped sherd, two
Wheeler punctate sherds, and two Whithers Fabric Marked sherds.
From June to September of 1936, excavations took place at the Long
Branch site, 1LU67, in Lauderdale County, AL. Excavation commenced
after TVA purchased three parcels of land encompassing this site on
January 11, 1935, September 16, 1935, and February 8, 1936. Site 1LU67
was located immediately adjacent to the Tennessee River. Although
described as a mound, this site appears to have been an accumulation of
discarded shell, village midden, and alluvial soils, rather than an
intentionally constructed earthwork. This shell midden extended to a
depth of 11 feet below the surface. The Long Branch site had multiple
occupations, including during the Middle Archaic (6000-4000 B.C.), Late
Archaic (4000-1000 B.C.), Early Woodland (500-100 B.C.), Middle
Woodland (100 B.C.-A.D. 500), Late Woodland (A.D. 500-1000), and
Mississippian (A.D. 900-1500). It is not possible to determine from
which level of occupation a burial unit originated. The 84 associated
funerary objects include 27 animal bones or bone fragments, one chert
flake, one Mulberry Creek Plain sherd, two projectile points, and 53
shell fragments.
[[Page 17193]]
From January to February 1938, excavations took place at the Union
Hollow site, 1LU72, in Lauderdale County, AL. Excavation commenced
after TVA purchased the land encompassing this site for the Pickwick
Reservoir project on October 5, 1936. Site 1LU72 was located
immediately adjacent to the Tennessee River. This shell mound was an
accumulation of discarded shell, village midden, and alluvial soils,
rather than an intentionally constructed earthwork. This shell midden
extended to a depth of 10 feet below surface. Early flooding of the
Pickwick reservoir abbreviated excavations at this site. The Union
Hollow site had multiple occupations, including during the Late Archaic
(4000-1000 B.C.), Early Woodland (500-100 B.C.), and Mississippian
(A.D. 1200-1500). The recently found associated funerary objects
include eight Mississippi Plain ceramic sherds.
From December 27, 1938, to June 27, 1939, excavations by the AMNH
took place at the Little Bear Creek site, 1CT8, in Colbert County, AL.
TVA had acquired this site for the Pickwick Reservoir project on August
20, 1936. This shell midden site was located at the confluence of
Little Bear Creek and the Tennessee River. While no radiocarbon dates
were obtained for this site, the excavated artifacts indicate that all
major occupations took place during the Late Archaic (4000-1000 B.C.).
Ceramics, while not abundant, were found in the upper 2-3 feet. Some of
the ceramics suggest minor occupations during the Colbert (300 B.C.-
A.D. 100) and McKelvey (A.D. 500-1000) phases. Distinctive shell-
tempered vessels associated with some burials indicate a Mississippian
Kogers Island phase occupation (A.D. 1200-1500). The 10 recently found
associated funerary objects include one bone awl, one chipped stone
hoe, one chipped stone drill, one Little Bear Creek PP/K, one Mulberry
Creek PP/K, one unidentified PP/K, three preforms, and one White
Springs PP/K.
From January 25 to February 22, 1934, associated funerary objects
were removed by the AMNH from 1CT17 in Colbert County, AL. TVA had
acquired this land for the Pickwick Reservoir project on June 19, 1936,
and the excavation was conducted with Federal funds in anticipation of
reservoir construction. This shell mound and village site was located
on the left descending bank of the Tennessee River, and was an
accumulation of mussel shell and village midden, rather than an
intentionally constructed earthwork. There are no radiocarbon dates
from this site. Projectile points from 1CT17 resemble those found in
Late Archaic (4000-1000 B.C.) occupations at nearby sites. Although
stratification of the ceramics recovered from the excavation is not
clear, the ceramics exhibit temper and surface modifications
characteristic of the Early and Middle Woodland period (300 B.C.-A.D.
500). In addition, a few shell-tempered ceramics from the Mississippian
period were found in the upper portion of this shell midden. The three
recently found associated funerary objects include one antler tool and
two deer mandibles.
Determinations Made by the Tennessee Valley Authority
Officials of the Tennessee Valley Authority have determined that:
Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A), the 329 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.
Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(2), a relationship of shared
group identity cannot be reasonably traced between the associated
funerary objects and any present-day Indian Tribe.
According to final judgements of the Indian Claims
Commission or the Court of Federal Claims, the land from which the
associated funerary objects were removed is the aboriginal land of the
Cherokee Nation; Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians; and the United
Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma.
The Cherokee Nation; Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians; and
the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma have declined
to accept transfer of control of these associated funerary objects.
The Treaty of September 20, 1816, indicates that the land
from which the cultural items were removed is the aboriginal land of
The Chickasaw Nation.
Pursuant to 43 CFR 10.11(c)(4), the Tennessee Valley
Authority has agreed to transfer control of the associated funerary
objects to The Chickasaw Nation.
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 the associated funerary objects should submit a written request with
information in support of the request to Dr. Thomas O. Maher, Tennessee
Valley Authority, 400 West Summit Hill Drive, WT11C, Knoxville, TN
37902-1401, telephone (865) 632-7458, email [email protected], by May 3,
2021. After that date, if no additional requestors have come forward,
transfer of control of the associated funerary objects to The Chickasaw
Nation may proceed.
The Tennessee Valley Authority is responsible for notifying The
Consulted Tribes that this notice has been published.
Dated: March 16, 2021.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2021-06661 Filed 3-31-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
