[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 8 (Friday, January 11, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Page 1507]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-734]


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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 State 
University of West Georgia, Carrollton, GA, and in the Control of the 
Georgia Department of Transportation, Atlanta, 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 State University of West 
Georgia, Carrollton, GA, and in the control of the Georgia Department 
of Transportation, Atlanta, 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 Georgia 
Department of Transportation in consultation with representatives of 
the Alabama-Quassarte Tribal Town, Oklahoma; Catawba Indian Nation 
(also known as Catawba Tribe of South Carolina); Cherokee Nation, 
Oklahoma; Chickasaw Nation, Oklahoma; Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians 
of North Carolina; Absentee-Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma; Kialegee Tribal 
Town, Oklahoma; Muscogee (Creek) Nation, Oklahoma; Poarch Band of Creek 
Indians of Alabama; Thlopthlocco Tribal Town, Oklahoma; and United 
Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians of Oklahoma.
    In 1988, human remains representing one individual were excavated 
from the Rae's Creek site (9Ri327), Richmond County, GA, by Dr. Morgan 
R. Crook, Jr., of Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA. The work was 
conducted as part of a highway construction project under Georgia 
Department of Transportation/Federal Highway Administration contract M-
750 (4). The remains are curated at the Antonio J. Waring,, Jr., 
Archaeology Laboratory, State University of West Georgia, Carrollton, 
GA. No known individual was identified. The six associated funerary 
objects are two columella shell ear pins, two faceted glass beads, one 
partial shell-tempered plain globular jar with flaring rim, and one 
chert biface.
    The Rae's Creek site is located near the confluence of Rae's Creek 
and the Savannah River. The human remains and associated funerary 
objects date to the 1600s through the early 1700s based on artifacts 
recovered from the site. The ceramic vessel (a globular, flaring rim, 
shell-tempered vessel) form is consistent with late Mouse Creek and/or 
Dallas phase occupations (A.D. 1450-1625) in eastern Tennessee, while 
the faceted glass beads indicate an early 1700s date. These artifacts 
suggest a Creek Indian affiliation. Consultation evidence presented by 
representatives of the Creek tribal governments indicates this area was 
within the traditional occupation territory of the Creeks during this 
time period.
    Based on the above-mentioned information, officials of the Georgia 
Department of Transportation 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 the 
Georgia Department of Transportation also have determined that, 
pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 (d)(2), the six 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 the death rite or 
ceremony. Lastly, officials of the Georgia Department of Transportation 
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 associated funerary 
objects and the 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 the Alabama-Coushatta 
Tribes of Texas; Alabama-Quassarte Tribal Town, Oklahoma; Catawba 
Indian Nation (also known as Catawba Tribe of South Carolina); Cherokee 
Nation, Oklahoma; Chickasaw Nation, Oklahoma; Eastern Band of Cherokee 
Indians of North Carolina; Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana; Absentee-
Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma; Kialegee Tribal Town, Oklahoma; Muscogee 
(Creek) Nation, Oklahoma; Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida; 
Poarch Band of Creek Indians of Alabama; Seminole Nation of Florida; 
Seminole Nation of Oklahoma; Thlopthlocco Tribal Town, Oklahoma; 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 Eric Anthony Duff, NAGPRA Coordinator, Georgia 
Department of Transportation, Office of Environment/Location, 3993 
Aviation Circle, Atlanta, GA 30336-1593, e-mail 
[email protected], telephone (404) 699-4437, facsimile (404) 
699-4440, before February 11, 2002. Repatriation of the human remains 
and associated funerary objects to the 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.

    Dated: December 13, 2001.
Robert Stearns,
Program Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 02-734 Filed 1-10-02; 8:45 am]
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