[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 95 (Thursday, May 17, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Page 27844]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-9453]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Inventory Completion: Augusta State University, 
Department of History, and Anthropology, and Philosophy, Archaeology 
Laboratory, Augusta, GA

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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    Notice is here given in accordance with the Native American Graves 
Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), 25 U.S.C. 3003, of the 
completion of an inventory of human remains in the possession of 
Augusta State University, Department of History and Anthropology and 
Philosophy, Archaeology Laboratory, Augusta, GA. The human remains were 
removed from Columbia County, GA.
    A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by Augusta 
State University professional staff in consultation with the Eastern 
Band of Cherokee Indians of North Carolina and Muscogee (Creek) Nation 
of Oklahoma. The following tribe was invited to consult but did not 
participate: the Poarch Band of Creek Indians of Alabama.
    In the early to mid-1980s, human remains representing a minimum of 
one individual were removed from Stalling's Island (9-CB-1), Columbia 
County, GA. The human remains were given to the Augusta College (now 
Augusta State University) anthropology program by a former student. No 
known individual was identified. No associated funerary objects are 
present.
    The material the student donated consisted of a paper bag 
containing many fragmentary pieces of bone which at that time were not 
identified as human remains. No formal records of dates, details, or 
inventory were made at that time. In 1993, the remains were examined 
and non-human, osteological material (deer) and human remains were 
identified. The animal bones are not considered to be associated 
funerary objects. Based on the donor information and provenience, it is 
reasonable to believe that the human remains are Native American.
    Stalling's Island is a locally well-known late Archaic Period site 
in the Savannah River above Augusta, GA. During the late Archaic 
period, pre-Creek or pre-Cherokee peoples occupied the central Savannah 
River valley which today lies in the states of Georgia and South 
Carolina. Authoritative sources and descendants of both Creek and 
Cherokee tribes claim that their ancestors utilized this portion of 
Savannah River valley in eastern Georgia.
    Descendants of the Cherokee are members of the Cherokee Nation, 
Oklahoma; Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians of North Carolina; and 
United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma. Descendants of 
the Creek are members of the Alabama-Quassarte Tribal Town, Oklahoma; 
Kialegee Tribal Town, Oklahoma; Muscogee (Creek) Nation of Oklahoma; 
Poarch Band of Creek Indians of Alabama; and Thlopthlocco Tribal Town, 
Oklahoma.
    Officials of the Augusta State University have determined that, 
pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (9-10), the human remains described above 
represent the physical remains of at least one individual of Native 
American ancestry. Officials of the Augusta State University also have 
determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (2), there is a 
relationship of shared group identity that can be reasonably traced 
between the Native American human remains and the Alabama-Quassarte 
Tribal Town, Oklahoma; Cherokee Nation, Oklahoma; Eastern Band of 
Cherokee Indians of North Carolina; Kialegee Tribal Town, Oklahoma; 
Muscogee (Creek) Nation of Oklahoma; Poarch Band of Creek Indians of 
Alabama; Thlopthlocco Tribal Town, Oklahoma; and United Keetoowah Band 
of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma.
    Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to 
be culturally affiliated with the human remains should contact Dr. 
Christopher Murphy, Augusta State University, 2500 Walton Way, Augusta, 
GA 30904, telephone (706) 667-4562, before June 18, 2007. Repatriation 
of the human remains to the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians of North 
Carolina and Muscogee (Creek) Nation of Oklahoma may proceed after that 
date if no additional claimants come forward.
    Augusta State University is responsible for notifying the Alabama-
Quassarte Tribal Town, Oklahoma; Cherokee Nation, Oklahoma; Eastern 
Band of Cherokee Indians of North Carolina; Kialegee Tribal Town, 
Oklahoma; Muscogee (Creek) Nation of Oklahoma; Poarch Band of Creek 
Indians of Alabama; Thlopthlocco Tribal Town, Oklahoma; and United 
Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma that this notice has 
been published.

    Dated: April 12, 2007.
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. E7-9453 Filed 5-16-07; 8:45 am]
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