[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 229 (Tuesday, November 29, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 73665-73666]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-30617]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

[2253-665]

National Park Service


Notice of Inventory Completion: Tennessee Valley Authority and 
the University of Tennessee McClung Museum, Knoxville, TN

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and the University of 
Tennessee McClung Museum (McClung Museum) have completed an inventory 
of human remains in consultation with the appropriate Indian tribes, 
and have determined that there is a cultural affiliation between the 
human remains and present-day Indian tribes. Representatives of any 
Indian tribe that believes itself to be culturally affiliated with the 
human remains may contact the TVA and McClung Museum. Repatriation of 
the human remains to the Indian tribes stated below may occur if no 
additional claimants come forward.

DATES: Representatives of any Indian tribe that believes it has a 
cultural affiliation with the human remains should contact the TVA and 
McClung Museum at the address below by December 29, 2011.

ADDRESSES: Dr. Thomas O. Maher, TVA, 400 West Summit Hill Drive, WT 
11D, Knoxville, TN 37902-1401, telephone (865) 632-7458.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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 
custody of the McClung Museum and control of TVA, Knoxville, TN. The 
human remains were removed from the Toqua site (40MR6) and the Citico 
site (40MR7) in Monroe County, TN as a result of the construction of 
the Tellico Reservoir.
    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. The National Park Service is not responsible 
for the determinations in this notice.

Consultation

    A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by the TVA and 
McClung Museum professional staff in consultation with representatives 
of the Cherokee Nation, Oklahoma; Chickasaw Nation, Oklahoma; Eastern 
Band of Cherokee Indians of North Carolina; Eastern Shawnee Tribe of 
Oklahoma; Muscogee (Creek) Nation, Oklahoma; Thlopthlocco Tribal Town, 
Oklahoma; and the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in 
Oklahoma.

History and Description of the Remains

    In 1976, human remains representing a minimum of one individual 
were removed from the Toqua site (40MR6) in Monroe County, TN. The 
burial (96) intruded from an upper, historic level into Mound 
A at the site. The remains have been curated at the McClung Museum 
since excavation. No known individuals were identified. No associated 
funerary objects are present.
    Toqua was a known Overhill Cherokee village noted on the 1762 map 
made by Lt. Henry Timberlake after his visit to the lower Little 
Tennessee River. Both historical and archeological research indicate 
that a historic Cherokee occupation overlaps a prehistoric Native 
American occupation at this location. The stratigraphic location and 
orientation of these human remains resemble other historic Cherokee 
graves at the site.
    In November 1967, human remains representing a minimum of one 
individual were removed from the Citico site (40MR7) in Monroe County, 
TN (burial 12). The remains have been curated at the McClung 
Museum since excavation. No known individuals were identified. Although 
excavation forms indicate that white tubular glass beads were 
associated with the burial, these objects are currently missing.
    Citico was a known Overhill Cherokee village noted on the 1762 map 
made by Lt. Henry Timberlake after his visit to the lower Little 
Tennessee River. Both historical and archeological research indicate 
that a historic Cherokee occupation overlaps a prehistoric Native 
American occupation at this location. The location of these human 
remains and the documentary evidence of associated glass beads indicate 
that these were historic Cherokee graves.

Determinations Made by the TVA and McClung Museum

    Officials of the TVA and McClung Museum have determined that:

[[Page 73666]]

     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice represent the physical remains of two individuals of 
Native American ancestry.
     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 to the Cherokee Nation, Oklakoma; Eastern Band 
of Cherokee Indians of North Carolina; and the United Keetoowah Band of 
Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma (hereinafter referred to as ``The 
Tribes'').

Additional Requestors and Disposition

    Representatives of any Indian tribe that believes itself to be 
culturally affiliated with the human remains should contact Dr. Thomas 
O. Maher, TVA, 400 West Summit Hill Drive, WT 11D, Knoxville, TN 37902-
1401, telephone (865) 632-7458 before December 29, 2011. Repatriation 
of the human remains to The Tribes may proceed after that date if no 
additional claimants come forward.
    The TVA is responsible for notifying The Tribes that this notice 
has been published.

    Dated: November 22, 2011.
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2011-30617 Filed 11-28-11; 8:45 am]
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