[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 131 (Tuesday, July 9, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45533-45534]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-17088]


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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 Control of the Georgia 
Department of Natural Resources, Atlanta, GA, and in the Possession of 
the Antonio J. Waring Archaeological Laboratory, State University of 
West Georgia, Carrollton, GA

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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[[Page 45534]]

    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 control of the Georgia Department of Natural 
Resources, Atlanta, GA, and in the possession of the Antonio J. Waring 
Archaeological Laboratory, State University of West Georgia, 
Carrollton, 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 Natural Resources and Antonio J. Waring Archaeological 
Laboratory, State University of West Georgia professional staff in 
consultation with representatives of the Cherokee Nation, Oklahoma, 
Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians of North Carolina, and United 
Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians of Oklahoma.
    In 1954, human remains representing a minimum of one individual 
were removed from New Echota (9GO42), Gordon County, GA, by Georgia 
Historical Commission staff. In 1972, the Georgia General Assembly 
dissolved the Commission and assigned its properties, including human 
remains from New Echota, to the newly created Georgia Department of 
Natural Resources. No known individual was identified. No associated 
funerary objects are present.
    The excavations were conducted by the Georgia Historical Commission 
to prepare a reconstruction of the town of New Echota, which had been 
the capital of the Cherokee Nation from 1825 to 1836. The human remains 
were recovered from a residence within the town limits. The remains 
have been identified as Cherokee because of their association with the 
historically-documented Cherokee capital.
    Based on the above-mentioned information, officials of the Georgia 
Department of Natural Resources 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 Natural Resources 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 the Cherokee Nation, Oklahoma, Eastern Band of 
Cherokee Indians of North Carolina, and United Keetoowah Band of 
Cherokee Indians of Oklahoma.
    This notice has been sent to officials of the Cherokee Nation, 
Oklahoma, Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians of North Carolina, 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 should contact David Crass, NAGPRA 
Coordinator, Georgia State Parks and Historic Sites, Suite 1352, 205 
Butler Street SE, Atlanta, GA 30334, telephone (404) 656-9344, before 
August 8, 2002. Repatriation of the human remains to the Cherokee 
Nation, Oklahoma, Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians of North Carolina, 
and United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians of Oklahoma may begin 
after that date if no additional claimants come forward.

    Dated: April 9, 2002.
Robert Stearns,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 02-17088 Filed 7-8-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-S