[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 47 (Friday, March 9, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14207-14209]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-5943]



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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 Peabody Museum 
of Archaeology and Ethnology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

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 in the possession of the Peabody Museum of Archaeology 
and Ethnology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA.
    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 and associated funerary 
objects was made by the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology 
professional staff in consultation with representatives of Alabama-
Quassarte Tribal Town, Oklahoma; Kialegee Tribal Town, Oklahoma; 
Muscogee (Creek) Nation, Oklahoma; Poarch Band of Creek Indians of 
Alabama; and Thlopthlocco Tribal Town, Oklahoma.
    In 1858, a cultural item was recovered from a mound on Ossabaw 
Island, Chatham County, GA, by A.M. Harrison. The item is an Irene 
Complicated Stamped jar and was donated to the Peabody Museum of 
Archaeology and Ethnology by Dorothy Merrick in 1965.
    Based on ceramic style, this jar is dated to the Irene phase of the 
Late Mississippian period (A.D. 1300-1550). The cultural item has been 
determined to be an associated funerary object because museum 
documentation indicates that it contained human remains. The burial 
context indicates that the burial was Native American. The Peabody 
Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology is not in possession or control of 
the human remains from this burial. Oral traditions, ethnohistorical 
evidence, and archeological documentation indicate that the mound on 
Ossabaw Island is located within the aboriginal and historic homelands 
of the Creek Confederacy during the Irene phase of the Late 
Mississippian period. The present-day tribes that are most closely 
affiliated with members of the Creek Confederacy are Alabama-Quassarte 
Tribal Town, Oklahoma; Kialegee Tribal Town, Oklahoma; Muscogee (Creek) 
Nation, Oklahoma; Poarch Band of Creek Indians of Alabama; and 
Thlopthlocco Tribal Town, Oklahoma.
    In 1896, Clarence B. Moore recovered cultural items from Ossabaw 
Island, Middle Settlement, Mound A, Chatham County, GA, and donated the 
items to the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology that same 
year. The 31 items are 1 complete jar with stamped decorations 
represented by 3 sherds, 1 large reconstructed bowl represented by 15 
ceramic sherds, 1 large jar with stamped decorations, and 1 large jar 
represented by 12 sherds.
    Based on ceramic style, the vessels are dated to the Irene phase of 
the Late Mississippian period (A.D. 1300-1550). The cultural items have 
been determined to be associated funerary objects because museum 
documentation indicates that the vessels contained human remains. The 
burial context indicates that the burials were Native American. The 
Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology is not in possession or 
control of the human remains from these burials. These vessels 
contained additional funerary objects that are considered unassociated 
funerary objects due to the absence of human remains. These 
unassociated funerary objects are described in a Notice of Intent to 
Repatriate. Oral traditions, ethnohistorical evidence, and 
archeological documentation indicate that the Middle Settlement, Mound 
A site is located within the aboriginal and historic homelands of the 
Creek Confederacy during the Irene phase of the Late Mississippian 
period. The present-day tribes that are most closely affiliated with 
members of the Creek Confederacy are Alabama-Quassarte Tribal Town, 
Oklahoma; Kialegee Tribal Town, Oklahoma; Muscogee (Creek) Nation, 
Oklahoma; Poarch Band of Creek Indians of Alabama; and Thlopthlocco 
Tribal Town, Oklahoma.
    In 1897, Clarence B. Moore recovered human remains representing one 
individual from the ``Mound near Contentment'' site, McIntosh County, 
GA, and donated these remains to the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and 
Ethnology that same year. No known individual was identified. The 30 
associated funerary objects are 1 undecorated ceramic jar represented 
by 29 ceramic sherds, and 1 complete ceramic jar with check stamp 
decoration.
    Based on the ceramic style of the vessels, the burial is dated to 
the Savannah II phase of the Late Mississippian period (A.D. 1200-1300) 
and the individual has been identified as Native American. Oral 
traditions, ethnohistorical evidence, and archeological documentation 
indicate that the ``Mound near Contentment'' site is located within the 
aboriginal and historical homelands of the Creek Confederacy during the 
Savannah II phase of the Late Mississippian period. The present-day 
tribes that are most closely affiliated with members of the Creek 
Confederacy are Alabama-Quassarte Tribal Town, Oklahoma; Kialegee 
Tribal Town, Oklahoma; Muscogee (Creek) Nation, Oklahoma; Poarch Band 
of Creek Indians of Alabama; and Thlopthlocco Tribal Town, Oklahoma.
    In 1897, Clarence B. Moore recovered cultural items from St. 
Catherine's Island, ``Mound near South End Settlement'' site, Long 
County, GA, and donated the items to the Peabody Museum of Archaeology 
and Ethnology that same year. The 33 cultural items are 1 jar with 
stamped decoration, 31 sherds from that vessel, and 1 large bowl.
    Based on ceramic style, these items are dated to the Irene phase of 
the Late Mississippian period (A.D. 1300-1550). The cultural items have 
been determined to be associated funerary objects because museum 
documentation indicates that the vessels contained human remains. The 
burial context indicates that the burial was Native American. The 
Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology is not in possession or 
control of the human remains from this burial. These vessels contained 
additional funerary objects that are considered unassociated funerary 
objects due to the absence of human remains. These unassociated 
funerary objects are described in a Notice of Intent to Repatriate. 
Oral traditions, ethnohistorical evidence, and archeological 
documentation indicate that the ``Mound near South End Settlement'' 
site is located within the aboriginal and historic homelands of the 
Creek Confederacy during the Irene phase of the Late Mississippian 
period. The present-day tribes that are most closely affiliated with 
members of the Creek Confederacy are Alabama-Quassarte Tribal Town, 
Oklahoma; Kialegee Tribal Town, Oklahoma; Muscogee (Creek) Nation, 
Oklahoma; Poarch Band of Creek Indians of Alabama; and Thlopthlocco 
Tribal Town, Oklahoma.

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    In 1897, Clarence B. Moore recovered cultural items from the 
``Creighton Island-North End'' site, McIntosh County, GA, and donated 
the items to the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology that same 
year. The 91 items are 1 jar with stamped decorations and 50 sherds 
from that vessel, and 1 jar with stamped decoration and 39 sherds from 
that vessel.
    Based on ceramic style, these vessels are dated to the Late 
Mississippian/Protohistoric period (A.D. 1300-1650). The cultural items 
have been determined to be associated funerary objects because museum 
documentation indicates that the vessels contained human remains. The 
burial context indicates that these burials were Native American. The 
Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology is not in possession or 
control of the human remains from this burial. Oral traditions, 
ethnohistorical evidence, and archeological documentation indicate that 
the ``Creighton Island-North End'' site is located within the 
aboriginal and historic homelands of the Creek Confederacy during the 
Late Mississippian/Protohistoric period. The present-day tribes that 
are most closely affiliated with members of the Creek Confederacy are 
Alabama-Quassarte Tribal Town, Oklahoma; Kialegee Tribal Town, 
Oklahoma; Muscogee (Creek) Nation, Oklahoma; Poarch Band of Creek 
Indians of Alabama; and Thlopthlocco Tribal Town, Oklahoma.
    In 1897, Clarence B. Moore recovered cultural items from Ossabaw 
Island, Middle Settlement, Mound A, Chatham County, GA, and donated the 
items to the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology that same 
year. The 11 items are 1 jar with stamped decoration, and 1 jar with 
stamped decoration represented by 10 sherds.
    Based on ceramic style, these cultural items are dated to the Irene 
phase of the Late Mississippian period (A.D. 1300-1550). The cultural 
items have been determined to be associated funerary objects because 
museum documentation indicates that the vessels contained human 
remains. The burial context indicates that the burials were Native 
American. The Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology is not in 
possession or control of the human remains from these burials. Oral 
traditions, ethnohistorical evidence, and archeological documentation 
indicate that the Middle Settlement, Mound A site is located within the 
aboriginal and historic homelands of the Creek Confederacy during the 
Irene phase of the Late Mississippian period. The present-day tribes 
that are most closely affiliated with members of the Creek Confederacy 
are Alabama-Quassarte Tribal Town, Oklahoma; Kialegee Tribal Town, 
Oklahoma; Muscogee (Creek) Nation, Oklahoma; Poarch Band of Creek 
Indians of Alabama; and Thlopthlocco Tribal Town, Oklahoma.
    In 1898, Clarence B. Moore recovered human remains representing 
five individuals from the ``Mounds 1 and 2 near Lake Bluff'' site, Long 
County, GA, and donated these remains to the Peabody Museum of 
Archaeology and Ethnology that same year. No known individuals were 
identified. The 113 associated funerary objects are 1 undecorated bowl, 
1 undecorated bowl represented by 15 ceramic sherds, 1 jar with stamped 
decorations, 95 shell beads, 1 bottle of shell beads, and floral 
remains.
    Based on ceramic style, the burial is dated to the Savannah II 
phase of the Late Mississippian period (A.D. 1200-1300), and the 
individuals have been identified as Native American. Oral traditions, 
ethnohistorical evidence, and archeological documentation indicate that 
the ``Mounds 1 and 2 near Lake Bluff'' site is located within the 
aboriginal and historical homelands of the Creek Confederacy during the 
Savannah II phase of the Late Mississippian period. The present-day 
tribes that are most closely affiliated with members of the Creek 
Confederacy are Alabama-Quassarte Tribal Town, Oklahoma; Kialegee 
Tribal Town, Oklahoma; Muscogee (Creek) Nation, Oklahoma; Poarch Band 
of Creek Indians of Alabama; and Thlopthlocco Tribal Town, Oklahoma.
    In 1916, human remains representing one individual were donated to 
the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology by the Boston Society 
of Natural History. No known individual was identified. No associated 
funerary objects are present.
    The human remains were collected from an unknown locale in Georgia 
by Dr. Josiah C. Nott. Museum documentation, which describes the human 
remains as a ``Creek Chief,'' indicates that the individual is Native 
American. The attribution of such a specific cultural affiliation to 
the human remains also indicates that the interment postdates sustained 
contact between indigenous groups and Europeans beginning in the 17th 
century. Oral traditions, ethnohistorical evidence, and archeological 
documentation indicate that Georgia was occupied by the Creek 
Confederacy in historic times. The present-day tribes that are most 
closely affiliated with members of the Creek Confederacy are Alabama-
Quassarte Tribal Town, Oklahoma; Kialegee Tribal Town, Oklahoma; 
Muscogee (Creek) Nation, Oklahoma; Poarch Band of Creek Indians of 
Alabama; and Thlopthlocco Tribal Town, Oklahoma.
    Based on the above-mentioned information, officials of the Peabody 
Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology have determined that, pursuant to 
43 CFR 10.2 (d)(1), the human remains described above represent the 
physical remains of seven individuals of Native American ancestry. 
Officials of the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology also have 
determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 (d)(2), 143 of the 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, and 167 of the objects listed above are 
reasonably believed to have been made to contain human remains. Lastly, 
officials of the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology 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 associated funerary objects and 
Alabama-Quassarte Tribal Town, Oklahoma; Kialegee Tribal Town, 
Oklahoma; Muscogee (Creek) Nation, Oklahoma; Poarch Band of Creek 
Indians of Alabama; and Thlopthlocco Tribal Town, Oklahoma.
    This notice has been sent to officials of Alabama-Quassarte Tribal 
Town, Oklahoma; Kialegee Tribal Town, Oklahoma; Muscogee (Creek) 
Nation, Oklahoma; Poarch Band of Creek Indians of Alabama; and 
Thlopthlocco Tribal Town, Oklahoma. Representatives of any other Indian 
tribe that believes itself to be culturally affiliated with these human 
remains and associated funerary objects should contact Barbara Isaac, 
Repatriation Coordinator, Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, 
Harvard University, 11 Divinity Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138, telephone 
(617) 495-2254, before April 9, 2001. Repatriation of the human remains 
and associated funerary objects to Alabama-Quassarte Tribal Town, 
Oklahoma; Kialegee Tribal Town, Oklahoma; Muscogee (Creek) Nation, 
Oklahoma; Poarch Band of Creek Indians of Alabama; and Thlopthlocco 
Tribal Town, Oklahoma may begin after that date if no additional 
claimants come forward.


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    Dated: February 22, 2001.
John Robbins,
Assistant Director, Cultural Resources Stewardship and Partnerships.
[FR Doc. 01-5943 Filed 3-8-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-F