[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 195 (Tuesday, October 9, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51462-51463]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-25143]


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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 the Alabama-Quassarte Tribal 
Town, Oklahoma; Kialegee Tribal Town, Oklahoma; Miccosukee Tribe of 
Indians of Florida; Muscogee (Creek) Nation, Oklahoma; Poarch Band of 
Creek Indians of Alabama; Seminole Nation of Oklahoma; Seminole Tribe 
of Florida, Dania, Big Cypress, Brighton, Hollywood & Tampa 
Reservations; and Thlopthlocco Tribal Town, Oklahoma.
    In 1929, human remains representing two individuals from Stalling's 
Island Mound, Columbia County, GA, were acquired by the Peabody Museum 
of Archaeology and Ethnology. These human remains were collected during 
a 1928-29 expedition sponsored by the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and 
Ethnology and led by Cornelius B. and Harriet S. Cosgrove with William 
Claflin. No known individuals were identified. No associated funerary 
objects are present.
    This interment disturbed a previous burial, which contained a 
carved shell gorget that dates to the Hollywood phase of the Late 
Mississippian period (A.D. 1250-1450). Because this interment disturbed 
the previous burial, it is reasonably assumed that these human remains 
date to the Late Mississippian period (A.D. 1250-1450) or Protohistoric 
period (A.D. 1450-1650) and that the individuals are Native American. 
Oral traditions as well as ethnohistoric and archeological 
documentation support Stalling's Island Mound as being within the 
aboriginal and historical homelands of the Creek, Miccosukkee, and 
Seminole peoples during the Hollywood phase of the Mississippian 
period. With the abandonment of the Stalling's Island settlement just 
prior to European contact, the population transferred to three distinct 
tribal towns on the mainland, Coweta, Hitchiti, and Kashita. The 
Hitchiti are recognized bands among the Miccosukee and Seminole today, 
and the towns were distinct entities within the Creek, Miccosukee, and 
Seminole peoples until recent times. These peoples are represented 
today by the Alabama-Quassarte Tribal Town, Oklahoma; Kialegee Tribal 
Town, Oklahoma; Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida; Muscogee 
(Creek) Nation, Oklahoma; Poarch Band of Creek Indians of Alabama; 
Seminole Nation of Oklahoma; Seminole Tribe of Florida, Dania, Big 
Cypress, Brighton, Hollywood & Tampa Reservations; and Thlopthlocco 
Tribal Town, Oklahoma.
    In 1929, cultural items from Stalling's Island Mound, Columbia 
County, GA, were acquired by the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and 
Ethnology. These objects, one large vessel with complicated stamped 
decorations and one plain bowl, were collected during a 1928-29 
expedition sponsored by the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology 
and led by Cornelius B. and Harriet S. Cosgrove with William Claflin.
    Based on ceramic style, the vessels are dated to the Hollywood 
phase of the Late Mississippian period (A.D. 1250-1450). The vessels 
have been identified as associated funerary objects as defined in 43 
CFR 10.2 (d)(2)(i) because, in

[[Page 51463]]

museum documentation, the vessels are described as an urn burial and 
therefore were made to contain human remains. The burial context 
indicates that the burial was of a Native American. The Peabody Museum 
of Archaeology and Ethnology does not have possession or control of the 
human remains from this burial. Oral traditions as well as 
ethnohistoric and archeological documentation support Stalling's Island 
Mound as being within the aboriginal and historical homelands of Creek, 
Seminole, and Miccosukee people during the Hollywood phase of the Late 
Mississippian period. With the abandonment of the Stalling's Island 
settlement just prior to European contact, the population transferred 
to three distinct tribal towns on the mainland, Coweta, Hitchiti, and 
Kashita. The Hitchiti are recognized bands among the Miccosukee and 
Seminole today, and the towns were distinct entities within the Creek, 
Miccosukee, and Seminole peoples until recent times. These peoples are 
represented today by the Alabama-Quassarte Tribal Town, Oklahoma; 
Kialegee Tribal Town, Oklahoma; Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida; 
Muscogee (Creek) Nation, Oklahoma; Poarch Band of Creek Indians of 
Alabama; Seminole Nation of Oklahoma; Seminole Tribe of Florida, Dania, 
Big Cypress, Brighton, Hollywood & Tampa Reservations; and Thlopthlocco 
Tribal Town, Oklahoma.
    In 1985, cultural items from Stalling's Island Mound, Columbia 
County, GA, were donated to the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and 
Ethnology as part of the William Claflin Collection. These objects, a 
fragmentary vessel (represented by two sherds) with complicated stamped 
decorations and one plain bowl, were collected during a 1928-29 
expedition sponsored by the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology 
and led by Cornelius B. and Harriet S. Cosgrove with William Claflin.
    Based on ceramic style, the vessels are dated to the Hollywood 
phase of the Late Mississippian period (A.D. 1250-1450). The vessels 
have been identified as associated funerary objects as defined in 43 
CFR 10.2 (d)(2)(i) because, in museum documentation, the vessels are 
described as an urn burial and therefore were made to contain human 
remains. The burial context indicates that the burial was of a Native 
American. The Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology does not have 
possession or control of the human remains from this burial. Oral 
traditions as well as ethnohistoric and archeological documentation 
support Stalling's Island Mound as being within the aboriginal and 
historical homelands of Creek, Seminole, and Miccosukee peoples during 
the Hollywood phase of the Late Mississippian period. With the 
abandonment of the Stalling's Island settlement just prior to European 
contact, the population transferred to three distinct tribal towns on 
the mainland, Coweta, Hitchiti, and Kashita. The Hitchiti are 
recognized bands among the Miccosukee and Seminole today, and the towns 
were distinct entities within the Creek, Miccosukee, and Seminole 
peoples until recent times. These peoples are represented today by the 
Alabama-Quassarte Tribal Town, Oklahoma; Kialegee Tribal Town, 
Oklahoma; Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida; Muscogee (Creek) 
Nation, Oklahoma; Poarch Band of Creek Indians of Alabama; Seminole 
Nation of Oklahoma; Seminole Tribe of Florida, Dania, Big Cypress, 
Brighton, Hollywood & Tampa Reservations; 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 listed above represent the 
physical remains of two 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)(i), the four 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 the Creek, Miccosukee, and Seminole peoples, who are 
represented by the following federally recognized groups: Alabama-
Quassarte Tribal Town, Oklahoma; Kialegee Tribal Town, Oklahoma; 
Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida; Muscogee (Creek) Nation, 
Oklahoma; Poarch Band of Creek Indians of Alabama; Seminole Nation of 
Oklahoma; Seminole Tribe of Florida, Dania, Big Cypress, Brighton, 
Hollywood & Tampa Reservations; and Thlopthlocco Tribal Town.
    This notice has been sent to officials of the Alabama-Quassarte 
Tribal Town, Oklahoma; Kialegee Tribal Town, Oklahoma; Miccosukee Tribe 
of Indians of Florida; Muscogee (Creek) Nation, Oklahoma; Poarch Band 
of Creek Indians of Alabama; Seminole Nation of Oklahoma; Seminole 
Tribe of Florida, Dania, Big Cypress, Brighton, Hollywood & Tampa 
Reservations; and Thlopthlocco Tribal Town. Representatives of any 
other Indian tribe that believes itself to be culturally affiliated 
with these human remains and associated funerary objects should contact 
Patricia Capone, Repatriation Coordinator, Peabody Museum of 
Archaeology and Ethnology, Harvard University, 11 Divinity Avenue, 
Cambridge, MA 02138, telephone (617) 496-3702, before November 8, 2001. 
Repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects to 
the Alabama-Quassarte Tribal Town, Oklahoma; Kialegee Tribal Town, 
Oklahoma; Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida; Muscogee (Creek) 
Nation, Oklahoma; Poarch Band of Creek Indians of Alabama; Seminole 
Nation of Oklahoma; Seminole Tribe of Florida, Dania, Big Cypress, 
Brighton, Hollywood & Tampa Reservations; and Thlopthlocco Tribal Town 
may begin after that date if no additional claimants come forward.

    Dated: July 18, 2001.
John Robbins,
Assistant Director, Cultural Resources Stewardship and Partnerships.
[FR Doc. 01-25143 Filed 10-5-01; 8:45 am]
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