[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 209 (Friday, October 27, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64457-64458]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-27611]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Inventory Completion for Native American Human Remains 
and Associated Funerary Objects in the Possession of the University of 
Denver Department of Anthropology and Museum of Anthropology, Denver, 
CO

AGENCY: National Park Service

ACTION: Notice

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

    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 in the possession of the University of Denver 
Department of Anthropology and Museum of Anthropology, Denver, CO.
    This notice is published as part of the National Park Service's 
administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA, 43 CFR 10.2 (c). The 
determinations within this notice are the sole responsibility of the 
museum, institution, or Federal agency that has control of these Native 
American human remains and associated funerary objects. The National 
Park Service is not responsible for the determinations within this 
notice.
    A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by University 
of Denver Department of Anthropology and Museum of Anthropology 
professional staff and a contract physical anthropologist, in 
consultation with representatives of the Alabama-Coushatta Tribes of 
Texas; Alabama-Quassarte Tribal Town, Oklahoma; Cherokee Nation, 
Oklahoma; Chickasaw Nation, Oklahoma; Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma; 
Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians of North Carolina; Jena Band of 
Choctaw Indians, Louisiana; Kialegee Tribal Town, Oklahoma; Mississippi 
Band of Choctaw Indians, Mississippi; Muscogee (Creek) Nation, 
Oklahoma; Poarch Band of Creek Indians of Alabama; Thlopthlocco Tribal 
Town, Oklahoma; and the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians of 
Oklahoma.
    At an unknown date, human remains representing two individuals were 
removed from ancient mounds in Alabama. At an unknown date between the 
1920's and the 1950's, the two sets of remains were acquired by the 
University of Denver Museum of Anthropology. One set of remains is 
listed as coming from ``Alabama Mound 1,'' and the other set of remains 
is listed as coming from ``Alabama Mound 2.'' Mounds generally were 
constructed by ancient Native Americans in Alabama beginning circa 100 
B.C. and continuing to circa A.D. 1600. After that date, individual 
Native Americans may have been buried in old mounds throughout the 19th 
century. There is no other information on the provenience, age, or 
cultural context of the remains, or the circumstances under which these 
remains were recovered. No known individuals were identified. No 
associated funerary objects are present.
    Alabama has been identified as the ancestral land of the Alabama-
Coushatta Tribes of Texas; Alabama-Quassarte Tribal Town, Oklahoma; 
Cherokee Nation, Oklahoma; Chickasaw Nation, Oklahoma; Choctaw Nation 
of Oklahoma; Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians of North Carolina; Jena 
Band of Choctaw Indians, Louisiana; Kialegee Tribal Town, Oklahoma; 
Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, Mississippi; Muscogee (Creek) 
Nation, Oklahoma; Poarch Band of Creek Indians of Alabama; Thlopthlocco 
Tribal Town, Oklahoma; and the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee 
Indians of Oklahoma. This association is supported by oral historical, 
archaeological, ethnological, historical, and geographical evidence.
    Based on the above-mentioned information, officials of the 
University of Denver Department of Anthropology and Museum of 
Anthropology have determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR

[[Page 64458]]

10.2 (d)(1), the human remains listed above represent the physical 
remains of two individuals of Native American ancestry. Officials of 
the University of Denver Department of Anthropology and Museum of 
Anthropology also have determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 (e), 
there is a relationship of shared group identity that can be reasonably 
traced between these Native American human remains and the Alabama-
Coushatta Tribes of Texas; Alabama-Quassarte Tribal Town, Oklahoma; 
Cherokee Nation, Oklahoma; Chickasaw Nation, Oklahoma; Choctaw Nation 
of Oklahoma; Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians of North Carolina; Jena 
Band of Choctaw Indians, Louisiana; Kialegee Tribal Town, Oklahoma; 
Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, Mississippi; Muscogee (Creek) 
Nation, Oklahoma; Poarch Band of Creek Indians of Alabama; Thlopthlocco 
Tribal Town, Oklahoma; and the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee 
Indians of Oklahoma.
    This notice has been sent to officials of the Alabama-Coushatta 
Tribes of Texas; Alabama-Quassarte Tribal Town, Oklahoma; Cherokee 
Nation, Oklahoma; Chickasaw Nation, Oklahoma; Choctaw Nation of 
Oklahoma; Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians of North Carolina; Jena Band 
of Choctaw Indians, Louisiana; Kialegee Tribal Town, Oklahoma; 
Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, Mississippi; Muscogee (Creek) 
Nation, Oklahoma; Poarch Band of Creek Indians of Alabama; Thlopthlocco 
Tribal Town, Oklahoma; and the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee 
Indians of Oklahoma. Representatives of any other Indian tribe that 
believes itself to be culturally affiliated with these human remains 
should contact Jan I. Bernstein, Collections Manager and NAGPRA 
Coordinator at the University of Denver Museum of Anthropology, 2000 
Asbury, Sturm Hall S-146, Denver, CO 80208-2406, email [email protected], 
telephone (303) 871-2543, before November 27, 2000. Repatriation of the 
human remains to the Alabama-Coushatta Tribes of Texas; Alabama-
Quassarte Tribal Town, Oklahoma; Cherokee Nation, Oklahoma; Chickasaw 
Nation, Oklahoma; Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma; Eastern Band of Cherokee 
Indians of North Carolina; Jena Band of Choctaw Indians, Louisiana; 
Kialegee Tribal Town, Oklahoma; Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, 
Mississippi; Muscogee (Creek) Nation, Oklahoma; Poarch Band of Creek 
Indians of Alabama; Thlopthlocco Tribal Town, Oklahoma; and the United 
Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians of Oklahoma may begin after that 
date if no additional claimants come forward.

    Dated: October 17, 2000.
John Robbins,
Assistant Director, Cultural Resources Stewardship and Partnerships.
[FR Doc. 00-27611 Filed 10-26-00 ; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-F