[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 160 (Thursday, August 20, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42098-42100]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-19983]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Inventory Completion: Fernbank Museum of Natural 
History, Atlanta, 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 and associated funerary 
objects in the possession of the Fernbank Museum of Natural History, 
Atlanta, GA. The human remains and associated funerary objects were 
removed from St. Catherines Island, Liberty County, GA.
    This notice is published as part of the National Park Service's 
administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA, 25 U.S.C. 3003 (d)(3). 
The determinations in this notice are the sole responsibility of the 
museum, institution, or Federal agency that has control of the Native 
American human remains and associated funerary objects. The National 
Park Service is not responsible for the determinations in this notice.
    A detailed inventory and assessment of the human remains and 
funerary objects was made by Fernbank Museum of Natural History 
curatorial staff, aided by published reports and other documentation 
prepared by the American Museum of Natural History, and in consultation 
with the Alabama-Quassarte Tribal Town, Oklahoma; 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 the Thlopthlocco Tribal 
Town, Oklahoma.
    The human remains and associated funerary objects described in this 
notice are from the St. Catherines Island Foundation and Edward John 
Noble Foundation Archeological Collection, and were removed from sites 
on privately-owned land on St. Catherines Island, GA, during research 
conducted under the auspices of the Edward John Noble and the St. 
Catherines Island Foundations. A phased transfer of the collection to 
Fernbank Museum of Natural History was initiated in 2004, under a gift 
agreement with both foundations, and will be completed by January 2010. 
Presently, Fernbank Museum is in possession of approximately 90 percent 
of the collection by volume. Except for those individuals and 
associated funerary objects described in this notice, most of the 
collection is determined to be culturally unidentifiable. The 
curatorial staff of the Fernbank Museum do not believe it is possible 
to trace a shared group identity between present-day Indian tribes and 
human remains and associated funerary objects that pre-date the late 
prehistoric Mississippian (Irene) Period (A.D. 1350-1580) on the 
Georgia coast, since the preponderance of evidence presently available 
from archeological, ethnohistorical, and other relevant sources does 
not establish a clear historical affiliation.

[[Page 42099]]

    In 1969-1970, human remains were removed from Johns Mound (9LI18), 
Liberty County, GA, during archeological excavations conducted by the 
University of Georgia under the direction of Dr. Joseph R. Caldwell. 
The human remains were subsequently subjected to bioarcheological study 
under the direction of Dr. Clark Spencer Larsen, working in 
collaboration with the American Museum of Natural History. After 
storage for intervals at the University of Georgia and on St. 
Catherines Island, the human remains were transferred to the Fernbank 
Museum by the Edward John Noble Foundation in 2004. Of the 72 
individuals removed, only 2 have been determined to be culturally 
affiliated. No known individuals were identified. The six associated 
funerary objects are three ceramic vessels, two bone pins, and one set 
of fragments of small shell beads.
    The majority of the human remains from Johns Mound are determined 
to be culturally unidentifiable. Exceptions to this determination 
concern two intrusive burials in Johns Mound with associated materials 
that date them to the historic Contact (Altamaha) Period (A.D. 1580-
1700). Curatorial staff of the Fernbank Museum reasonably believe, 
based on historical geography, general continuities of material 
culture, and probable linguistic continuity across the Late 
Prehistoric/Contact Period boundary, as well as previous NAGPRA 
determinations for human remains and funerary objects from the Georgia 
coast, that a relationship of shared group identity can be traced 
between the historic Contact (Altamaha) Period inhabitants of coastal 
Georgia and six present-day Indian tribes. These six Indian tribes are 
the Alabama-Quassarte Tribal Town, Oklahoma; 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 the Thlopthlocco Tribal Town, 
Oklahoma.
    In 1976-1977, human remains were removed from Seaside Mound II 
(9LI62), Liberty County, GA, during archeological excavations conducted 
by the American Museum of Natural History under the direction of Dr. 
David Hurst Thomas. The human remains were subsequently subjected to 
bioarchaeological study under the direction of Dr. Larsen, working in 
collaboration with the American Museum of Natural History. After 
storage for intervals at the American Museum of Natural History and on 
St. Catherines Island, the human remains were transferred to the 
Fernbank Museum by the Edward John Noble Foundation in 2004. Of the 19 
individuals removed, only 3 have been determined to be culturally 
affiliated. No known individuals were identified. No associated 
funerary objects recovered from the site were transferred to the 
Fernbank Museum.
    The majority of the human remains from Seaside Mound II are 
determined to be culturally unidentifiable. Exceptions to this 
determination concern three intrusive burials in Seaside Mound II with 
associated materials that date them to the late prehistoric 
Mississippian (Irene) Period (A.D. 1350-1580). Curatorial staff of the 
Fernbank Museum reasonably believe, based on historical geography, 
general continuities of material culture, and probable linguistic 
continuity across the Late Prehistoric/Contact Period boundary, as well 
as previous NAGPRA determinations for human remains and funerary 
objects from the Georgia coast, that a relationship of shared group 
identity can be traced between the historic Contact (Altamaha) Period 
inhabitants of coastal Georgia and six present-day Indian tribes. These 
six Indian tribes are the Alabama-Quassarte Tribal Town, Oklahoma; 
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 the 
Thlopthlocco Tribal Town, Oklahoma.
    In 1986, and from 1991 to 1993, human remains representing at least 
37 individuals were removed from South End Mound I (9LI3), Liberty 
County, GA, during archeological excavations. In 1986, the excavations 
were conducted by the American Museum of Natural History under the 
direction of Dr. Thomas. In 1991-1993, the excavations were conducted 
under the direction of Dr. Larsen. The human remains were subsequently 
subjected to bioarcheological study under the direction of Dr. Larsen. 
After storage for intervals at Purdue University, University of North 
Carolina - Chapel Hill, American Museum of Natural History, and on St. 
Catherines Island, the human remains were transferred to the Fernbank 
Museum by the Edward John Noble Foundation in 2004. No known 
individuals were identified. No associated funerary objects recovered 
from the site were transferred to the Fernbank Museum.
    Based on associated material culture and radiocarbon dating 
results, the curatorial staff of the Fernbank Museum believes it is 
reasonable to trace a relationship of shared group identity between the 
late prehistoric Mississippian (Irene) Period (A.D. 1350-1580) and the 
historic Contact (Altamaha) Period (A.D. 1580-1700) inhabitants of 
coastal Georgia and six present-day Indian tribes. These six Indian 
tribes are the Alabama-Quassarte Tribal Town, Oklahoma; 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 the 
Thlopthlocco Tribal Town, Oklahoma. This determination is made on the 
basis of historical geography, general continuities of material 
culture, and probable linguistic continuity across the Late 
Prehistoric/Contact Period boundary, as well as previous NAGPRA 
determinations for human remains and funerary objects from the Georgia 
coast.
    In 1982-1986, human remains representing 431 individuals were 
removed from the site of Mission Santa Catalina de Guale (9LI274), 
Liberty County, GA, during archeological excavations conducted by the 
American Museum of Natural History under the direction of Dr. Thomas 
and Dr. Larsen. The human remains were subsequently subjected to 
bioarcheological study under the direction of Dr. Larsen, working in 
collaboration with the American Museum of Natural History. After 
storage for intervals at Northern Illinois University and on St. 
Catherines Island, most of the human remains were reburied at the site 
on two occasions. In May 1984, three coffins containing human remains 
were returned to the cemetery in conjunction with a ceremony to 
reconsecrate the Catholic church site, conducted by Bishop Raymond 
Lessard. In April 2000, additional human remains were placed in 26 
individual, specially built containers and reburied in the same 
location, in a ceremony presided over by an ordained Presbyterian 
minister. The human remains of at least 18 individuals from the mission 
site are now in possession of the Fernbank Museum. These remains are 
all teeth that were apparently separated from the reinterred material. 
No known individuals were identified. No associated funerary objects 
have been transferred to the Fernbank Museum.
    Based on associated material culture and radiocarbon dating 
results, the curatorial staff of Fernbank Museum believe it is 
reasonable to trace a relationship of shared group identity between the 
historic Contact (Altamaha) Period (A.D. 1580-1700) inhabitants of 
coastal Georgia at mission Santa

[[Page 42100]]

Catalina de Guale and six present-day Indian tribes. This determination 
is made on the basis of historical geography, general continuities of 
material culture, and probable linguistic continuity across the Late 
Prehistoric/Contact Period boundary, as well as previous NAGPRA 
determinations for human remains and funerary objects from the Georgia 
coast. These six Indian tribes are the Alabama-Quassarte Tribal Town, 
Oklahoma; 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 the Thlopthlocco Tribal Town, Oklahoma.
    Officials of the Fernbank Museum of Natural History have determined 
that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (9-10), the human remains described 
above represent the physical remains of 60 individuals of Native 
American ancestry. Officials of the Fernbank Museum of Natural History 
also have determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (3)(A), the six 
objects described 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 Fernbank 
Museum of Natural History have determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 
3001 (2), there is a relationship of shared group identity which can be 
reasonably traced between the Native American human remains and 
associated funerary objects and the Alabama-Quassarte Tribal Town, 
Oklahoma; 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 the Thlopthlocco Tribal Town, Oklahoma.
    Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to 
be culturally affiliated with the human remains and associated funerary 
objects should contact Dennis B. Blanton, Curator - Native American 
Archaeology, Fernbank Museum of Natural History, 767 Clifton Rd. NE., 
Atlanta, GA 30307-1221, telephone: (404) 929-6304, before September 21, 
2009. Repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects 
to the Alabama-Quassarte Tribal Town, Oklahoma; 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 the Thlopthlocco Tribal 
Town, Oklahoma may proceed after that date if no additional claimants 
come forward.
    The Fernbank Museum of Natural History is responsible for notifying 
the Alabama-Quassarte Tribal Town, Oklahoma; 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 the Thlopthlocco Tribal Town, 
Oklahoma that this notice has been published.

    Dated: August 5, 2009.
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. E9-19983 Filed 8-19-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-50-S