[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    Based on historical documents and archeological evidence, the 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