[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 152 (Monday, August 9, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43222-43223]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-20370]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
Notice of Inventory Completion for Native American Human Remains
and Associated Funerary Objects from North Carolina in the Possession
of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
AGENCY: National Park Service.
ACTION: Notice.
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Notice is hereby given in accordance with provisions of the Native
American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), 43 CFR 10.9,
of the completion of an inventory of human remains and associated
funerary objects from North Carolina in the possession of the
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC.
A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by Research
Laboratories of Archaeology, University of North Carolina at Chapel
Hill professional staff in consultation with representatives of the
Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma, and
the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians.
In 1880, human remains representing two individuals from the
Peachtree Mound site (31Ce1), Cherokee County, NC were excavated by
B.D. McCombs for Mann S. Valentine of Richmond, VA. In 1969, these
human remains were transferred from the Valentine Museum in Richmond,
VA to the Research Laboratories of Archaeology, UNC-Chapel Hill. No
known individuals were identified. No associated funerary objects are
present.
Based on the archeological context, these individuals have been
identified as Native American. Artifacts recovered at the Peachtree
Mound site are attributed to the Qualla phase which has been identified
with both the protohistoric and historic Cherokee in western North
Carolina.
In 1964, human remains representing a minimum of one individual
from the Townson site (31Ce15), Cherokee County, NC were recovered
during excavations conducted by UNC-Chapel Hill archeologists. No known
individual was identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
Based on historical documents and archeological evidence, the
Townson site has been tentatively identified as a Cherokee village
burned by the Rutherford expedition in 1776. These human remains were
found within the remains of a burned house at the site. Artifacts
recovered at the Townson site have been attributed to the Qualla phase
which has been identified with both the protohistoric and historic
Cherokee in western North Carolina.
During the early 1880s, human remains representing seven
individuals from the Cullowhee Mound (31Jk2), Jackson County, NC were
excavated by G.G. Valentine and E.P. Valentine for Mann S. Valentine of
Richmond, VA. In 1969, these human remains were transferred from the
Valentine Museum to the Research Laboratories of Archaeology, UNC-
Chapel Hill. No known individuals were identified. No associated
funerary objects are present.
In 1966, human remains representing at least one individual from
the Cullowhee Mound (31Jk2), Jackson County, NC were recovered by UNC-
Chapel Hill archeologists while conducting salvage excavations during a
building construction project. No known individuals were identified. No
associated funerary objects were present.
Based on archeological context, these individuals have been
identified as Native American. Artifacts recovered at the Cullowhee
Mound have been attributed to the Qualla phase which has been
identified with both the protohistoric and historic Cherokee in western
North Carolina.
In 1961, human remains representing one individual from the Nikwasi
Mound (31Ma2), Macon County, NC were given to UNC-Chapel Hill
archeologists. These remains had been found in a previously dug
drainage ditch near the mound. No known individual was identified. No
associated funerary objects are present.
Based on archeological context, this individual has been identified
as Native American. Artifacts recovered at the Nikwasi Mound site have
been attributed to the Qualla phase which has been identified with both
the protohistoric and historic Cherokee in western North Carolina.
Between 1965 and 1971, human remains representing 87 individuals
from the Coweeta Creek site (31Ma34), Macon County, NC were recovered
during excavations conducted by UNC-Chapel Hill archeologists. No known
individuals were identified. The 391 associated funerary objects
include shell ornaments, shell and glass beads, stone and clay pipes,
stone disks and celts, objects of worked animal bone, and a clay pot.
Based on the archeological context and funerary objects, these
individuals have been identified as Native American. Artifacts
recovered at the Coweeta Creek site have been attributed to the Qualla
phase which has been identified with both the protohistoric and
historic Cherokee in western North Carolina.
In 1882, human remains representing five individuals from the
Nununyi Mound (31Sw3) in Swain County, NC were excavated by E.P.
Valentine for Mann S. Valentine of Richmond, VA. In 1969, these human
remains were transferred from the Valentine Museum in Richmond, VA to
the Research Laboratories of Archaeology, UNC-Chapel Hill. No known
individuals were identified. No associated funerary objects are
present.
Based on the archeological context, these individuals have been
identified as Native American. Artifacts recovered at the Nununyi Mound
have been attributed to the Qualla phase which has been identified with
both the protohistoric and historic Cherokee in western North Carolina.
In 1883, human remains representing one individual from the
Birdtown Mound (31Sw7), Swain County, NC were excavated by E.P.
Valentine for Mann S. Valentine of Richmond, VA. In 1969, these human
remains were transferred from the Valentine Museum in Richmond, VA to
the Research Laboratories of Archaeology, UNC-Chapel Hill. No known
individual was identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
Based on the archeological context, this individual has been
identified as Native American. Artifacts recovered at the Birdtown
Mound have been attributed to the Qualla phase which has been
identified with both the protohistoric and historic Cherokee in western
North Carolina.
Between 1966 and 1985, human remains representing 58 individuals
from the Warren Wilson site (31Bn29), Buncombe County, NC were
recovered during excavations conducted by UNC-Chapel Hill archeologists
and Warren Wilson College students. No known individuals were
identified. The 1,034 associated funerary objects include shell
ornaments, shell beads, cut mica ornaments, and objects of worked
animal bone.
Based on the archeological context and funerary objects, these
individuals have been identified as Native American. Artifacts
recovered at the Warren Wilson site have been attributed
[[Page 43223]]
to the Pisgah phase (A.D. 1000-1450), which has been identified as
likely ancestral to the Qualla phase and protohistoric and historic
Cherokee.
In 1964, human remains representing one individual from site 31Cy42
in Clay County, NC were recovered in a test excavation during a county-
wide archeological survey conducted by UNC-Chapel Hill archeologists.
No known individual was identified. The 475 associated funerary objects
include shell beads, nine fragments of a shell dipper, and a shell
ornament.
Based on the archeological context and funerary objects, this
individual has been identified as Native American. Artifacts recovered
at site 31Cy42 have been attributed to the early Qualla phase which has
been identified as likely ancestral to protohistoric and historic
Cherokee.
In 1965 and 1966, human remains representing nine individuals from
the Garden Creek Mound No. 2 (31Hw2) were recovered during excavations
conducted by UNC-Chapel Hill archeologists. No known individuals were
identified. The 50 associated funerary objects include a shell
ornament, shell beads, and two pieces of copper.
Based on the archeological context and funerary objects, these
individuals have been identified as Native American. Associated
artifacts indicate that the Garden Creek Mound No. 2 was a burial
location dating to the Pisgah phase (A.D. 1000-1450), which has been
identified as likely ancestral to the Qualla phase and to protohistoric
and historic Cherokee.
Between 1879 and 1883, human remains representing ten individuals
from unknown site(s) in Haywood County or Swain County, NC were
excavated by A.J. Osborne or E.P. Valentine for Mann S. Valentine of
Richmond, VA. While the exact locations of these burials are unknown,
they probably came from one or more of the following sites: Garden
Creek Mound No. 2 (31Hw2), Kituwah Mound (31Sw2), or Karr Mound. In
1969, these human remains were transferred from the Valentine Museum,
Richmond, VA to the Research Laboratories of Archaeology, UNC-Chapel
Hill. No known individuals were identified. No associated funerary
objects are present.
Based on the condition of the remains and their probable burial
locations, these individuals have been identified as Native American.
The preponderance of the evidence indicates these remains are
attributable to either the Pisgah phase (A.D. 1000-1450) or the Qualla
phase (after A.D. 1450), both earlier cultural groups which have been
identified as likely ancestral to the historic Cherokee.
Between 1965 and 1967, human remains representing 26 individuals
from the Garden Creek Mound No. 1 (31Hw1) in Haywood County, NC were
recovered during excavations conducted by UNC-Chapel Hill
archeologists. No known individuals were identified. The 738 associated
funerary objects include shell ornaments, shell beads, shell dipper
fragments, stone disks, and stone celts.
Based on the archeological context and funerary objects, these
individuals have been identified as Native American. Associated
artifacts indicate that the Garden Creek Mound No. 1 was a burial
location dating to the Pisgah phase (A.D. 1000-1450), which has been
identified as likely ancestral to the Qualla phase and to protohistoric
and historic Cherokee.
In 1964, human remains representing two individuals from the Men's
Dormitory site (31Jk129) in Jackson County, NC were donated to the
Research Laboratories of Archaeology, UNC-Chapel Hill by officials at
Western Carolina University following their recovery during a
construction project on the WCU campus. No known individuals were
identified. The one associated funerary object is a clay pot.
Based on the archeological context and funerary object, these
individuals have been identified as Native American. The associated
artifact indicates that these burials date to the Pisgah phase (A.D.
1000-1450), which has been identified as ancestral to the Qualla phase
and to protohistoric and historic Cherokee.
Based on the above mentioned information, officials of the
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill have determined that,
pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 (d)(1), the human remains listed above
represent the physical remains of 211 individuals of Native American
ancestry. Officials of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
have also determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 (d)(2), the 2,689
objects listed 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. Lastly, officials of the University of
North Carolina at Chapel Hill have determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR
10.2 (e), there is a relationship of shared group identity which can be
reasonably traced between these Native American human remains and
associated funerary objects and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians,
the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma, and the United Keetoowah Band of
Cherokee Indians.
This notice has been sent to officials of the Eastern Band of
Cherokee Indians, the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma, and the United
Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians. Representatives of any other Indian
tribe that believes itself to be culturally affiliated with these human
remains and associated funerary objects should contact Vincas P.
Steponaitis, Director, Research Laboratories of Archaeology, University
of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3120;
telephone: (919) 962-6574, before September 8, 1999. Repatriation of
the human remains and associated funerary objects to the Eastern Band
of Cherokee Indians, the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma, and the United
Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians may begin after that date if no
additional claimants come forward.
Dated: August 3, 1999.
Francis P. McManamon,
Departmental Consulting Archeologist,
Manager, Archeology and Ethnography Program.
[FR Doc. 99-20370 Filed 8-6-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-F