[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 5 (Tuesday, January 8, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 909-910]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-385]


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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 the Interior, National Park Service, Natchez Trace 
Parkway, Tupelo, MS

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 the 
Interior, National Park Service, Natchez Trace Parkway, Tupelo, MS.
    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 
National Park Service unit that has control or possession of these 
Native American human remains. The Assistant Director, Cultural 
Resources Stewardship and Partnerships is not responsible for the 
determinations within this notice.
    A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by National 
Park Service professional staff in consultation with representatives of 
the Absentee-Shawnee Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma; Alabama-Coushatta 
Tribes of Texas; Alabama-Quassarte Tribal Town, Oklahoma; Cherokee 
Nation, Oklahoma; Chickasaw Nation, Oklahoma; Chitimacha Tribe of 
Louisiana; Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma; Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians 
of North Carolina; Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma; Jena Band of 
Choctaw Indians, Louisiana; Kialegee Tribal Town, Oklahoma; Miccosukee 
Tribe of Indians of Florida; Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, 
Mississippi; Muskogee (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; 
Thlopthlocco Tribal Town, Oklahoma; Tunica-Biloxi Indian Tribe of 
Louisiana; and United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians of Oklahoma. 
The Shawnee Tribe, also known also as the ``Loyal Shawnee'' or 
``Cherokee Shawnee,'' a nonfederally recognized Native American group 
at the time that they were consulted, has since been recognized as 
eligible for the special programs and services provided by the United 
States to Indians because of their status as Indians under provisions 
of P.L. 106-568.
    The 50 human remains and 5,257 associated funerary objects 
described below were recovered from 5 different sites.
    In 1939, human remains representing 13 individuals were recovered 
from Alton's Chickasaw Village during a legally authorized National 
Park Service excavation. No known individuals were identified. The 
2,174 associated funerary objects are 2,107 glass beads, 55 kettle 
fragments, 2 brass buckles, 2 ear plugs, 2 pieces of wood, 2 cloth 
fragments, 1 animal bone fragment, 1 bell, 1 iron hoe, and 1 metal 
spring.
    In 1940, human remains representing 26 individuals were recovered 
from the Ackia Village site during a legally authorized National Park 
Service excavation to gather information on historic Chickasaw sites. 
No known individuals were identified. The 88 associated funerary 
objects are 28 musket balls, 17 metal spring fragments, 12 buttons, 7 
pieces of worked bone, 5 gunflints, 4 flake tools, 2 glass beads, 2 
projectile points, 2 knife fragments, 2 bracelets, 1 brass bell, 1 
nail, 1 metal fragment, 1 stone biface, 1 scraper, 1 cup, and 1 tobacco 
pipe.
    In 1940, human remains representing three individuals were 
recovered from the Beldin's Ridge site during a legally authorized 
National Park Service project. No known individuals were identified. 
The 977 associated funerary objects are 972 glass beads, 2 copper 
ornaments, 2 Wilson Plain-variety Oktibbeha ceramic vessel fragments, 
and 1 stone tool.
    In 1947 and 1948, human remains representing seven individuals were 
recovered from the Bynum Mounds site during a legally authorized 
project. No known individuals were identified. The 2,014 associated 
funerary objects are 1,916 glass beads, 27 metal fragments, 9 silver 
spoons, 9 flintlock fragments, 6 cloth fragments, 5 metal files, 4 
metal knives, 4 wire fragments, 4 copper earrings, 4 ornaments, 3 metal 
cups, 2 shell gorgets, 2 musket balls, 2 rivets, 2 blades, 2 utensils, 
1 tobacco pipe, 1 gunflint, 1 whetstone, 1 silver brooch, 1 silver 
crown, 1 metal spike, 1 metal spring, 1 button, 1 snuffbox, 1 bell, 1 
powder flask, 1 ground stone, 1 polishing stone, 1 basket fragment, 1 
worked antler, 1 metal screw, and 1 unidentifiable object.
    In 1955, human remains representing one individual were recovered 
from the site of the Futorian Furniture Company. The site, which is 
located off of park property, was legally excavated. No known 
individual was identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    Ackia Village, Alton's Chickasaw Village, Beldin's Ridge, and the 
Futorian Furniture Company sites are all located in the vicinity of 
Tupelo, MS, within the area known as ``Chickasaw Old Fields.'' In the 
early 18th century, the Chickasaw consolidated their settlements into 
this area. The locations of these villages are recorded on several 
historic maps. On the basis of historic maps and records, as well as 
the archeological data gathered during the excavations, the occupation 
of these sites has been dated to the first half of the 18th century 
(A.D. 1700-1750). Historical accounts also document that each of these 
sites was the location of a Chickasaw village and is within the 
historic homeland of the Chickasaw Nation.
    The Bynum Mounds site is located south of Tupelo in Chickasaw 
County, MS. The site consists of a village and burial mound dating to 
the Woodland period (200-300 B.C.), and a historic period (A.D. 1750-
1850) village occupation. On the basis of the artifacts associated with 
the burials, the human remains from the historic component are believed 
to date to the early 19th century (A.D. 1800-1830). The site is located 
within the historic homeland of the Chickasaw Nation.
    Based on the above-mentioned information, the superintendent of 
Natchez Trace Parkway has determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 
(d)(1), the human remains listed above represent the physical remains 
of 50 individuals of Native American ancestry. The

[[Page 910]]

superintendent of Natchez Trace Parkway also has determined that, 
pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 (d)(2), the 5,257 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 a death rite or 
ceremony. Lastly, the superintendent of Natchez Trace Parkway has 
determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 (e), there is a relationship 
of shared group identity that can be reasonably traced between the 
Native American human remains and associated funerary objects recovered 
from Ackia Village, Alton's Chickasaw Village, Beldin's Ridge, the 
historic component the Bynum Mounds, and the Futorian Furniture Company 
sites, and the Chickasaw Nation, Oklahoma.
    This notice has been sent to officials of the Absentee-Shawnee 
Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma; Alabama and Coushatta Tribes of Texas; 
Alabama-Quassarte Tribal Town, Oklahoma; Cherokee Nation, Oklahoma; 
Chickasaw Nation, Oklahoma; Chitimacha Tribe of Louisiana; Choctaw 
Nation of Oklahoma; Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians of North Carolina; 
Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma; Jena Band of Choctaw Indians, 
Louisiana; Kialegee Tribal Town, Oklahoma; Miccosukee Tribe of Indians 
of Florida; Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, Mississippi; Muskogee 
(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; Shawnee Tribe, 
Oklahoma; Thlopthlocco Tribal Town, Oklahoma; Tunica-Biloxi Indian 
Tribe of Louisiana; and 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 and 
associated funerary objects should contact Wendell Simpson, 
Superintendent, Natchez Trace Parkway, 2680 Natchez Trace Parkway, 
Tupelo, MS 38803, telephone (662) 680-4005, before February 7, 2002. 
Repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects to 
the Chickasaw Nation, Oklahoma may begin after that date if no 
additional claimants come forward.

    Dated: October 19, 2001.
John Robbins,
Assistant Director, Cultural Resources Stewardship and Partnerships.
[FR Doc. 02-385 Filed 1-7-02; 8:45 am]
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