[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 195 (Tuesday, October 9, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 51470]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-25151]



[[Page 51470]]

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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 U.S. 
Department of Defense, Department of the Army, Fort Stewart, GA

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 U.S. Department of Defense, 
Department of the Army, Fort Stewart, GA.
    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 Fort 
Stewart; United States Army Corps of Engineers, St. Louis District 
professional staff; and staff from Bregman and Company, Bethesda, MD, 
in consultation with representatives 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, Oklahoma.
    In 1980-81, human remains representing one individual were 
recovered from the backdirt of a looter's trench at the Lewis Mound and 
Village site (9BN39), Bryan County, GA, by archeologists of 
Professional Analysts, Inc., who were conducting a survey. The site is 
on the lands of the Fort Stewart military reservation. No known 
individual was identified. The one associated funerary object is a 
plain, sand-tempered pottery sherd.
    The remains and object were found near a trench which had partially 
exposed a cremation burial in the Lewis Mound. The trench was probably 
dug in 1979-80, and was filled in at the time of its discovery. Only 
the remains and the sherd found in the backdirt were collected. The 
Lewis Mound is believed to be associated with the Savannah phase (A.D. 
1150-1325) of the Middle Mississippian period occupation of the Lewis 
Mound and Village site. Although the Lewis Mound cannot be 
unequivocally associated with the Savannah phase occupation at this 
multicomponent site, the intensity of settlement at the site during 
this time and comparison with other Savannah phase mounds in the region 
indicate a likely relationship.
    Both the Savannah and Irene (Late Mississippian) phases are found 
at Fort Stewart. Initial research suggests that at the time of European 
contact, the Guale occupied an area in the close vicinity of what is 
now Fort Stewart. Guale material culture is thought to be a direct 
development from the precontact, Late Mississippian Irene phase (A.D. 
1325-1530).
    During the late 16th and 17th centuries, the Guale were moved to 
Spanish missions in Florida and southern Georgia, where they merged 
with the Yamasee. Throughout the late 17th and early 18th centuries, 
the Yamasee moved back and forth between the English in South Carolina 
and the Spanish at St. Augustine, FL, through the area that is now Fort 
Stewart. The Yamasee War of 1715 resulted in the fragmentation of the 
Yamasee with some members' joining the Creek while others went to 
Florida or were shipped as slaves to Mexico and Cuba.
    The Seminoles are believed to be descendants of the Upper and Lower 
Creek who migrated to Florida in the 1700s to escape European 
domination. Research indicates that Guale/Yamasee political and 
cultural identity has been absorbed by the Creeks and Seminoles, and 
has not been maintained as distinct into contemporary times.
    Based on the above-mentioned information, officials of Fort Stewart 
have determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 (d)(1), the human remains 
listed above represent the physical remains of one individual of Native 
American ancestry. Officials of Fort Stewart also have determined that, 
pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 (d)(2), the one object listed above is 
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 Fort Stewart 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 object and 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.
    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, Oklahoma. Representatives 
of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to be culturally 
affiliated with these human remains and associated funerary object 
should contact Ms. Jennifer Grover, Consulting Archeologist, Bregman 
and Company, Inc., Directorate of Public Works, Environmental Branch, 
1557 Frank Cochran Drive, Fort Stewart, GA 31314-4926, telephone (912) 
767-3359, before November 8, 2001. Repatriation of the human remains 
and associated funerary object 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, Oklahoma may begin after that date if no 
additional claimants come forward.

    Dated: July 25, 2001.
John Robbins,
Assistant Director, Cultural Resources Stewardship and Partnerships.
[FR Doc. 01-25151 Filed 10-5-01; 8:45am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-S