[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 128 (Tuesday, July 3, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39505-39506]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-16205]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-10417; 2200-1100-665]


Notice of Inventory Completion: Wesleyan University, Middleton, 
CT

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Wesleyan University, Middleton, CT, has completed an 
inventory of human remains, in consultation with the appropriate Indian 
tribes, and has 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 Wesleyan University, Middleton, CT. 
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 Wesleyan 
University, Middleton, CT, at the address below by August 2, 2012.

ADDRESSES: Dr. Sonia Ma[ntilde]jon, Chief Diversity Officer, Wesleyan 
University, 237 High Street, Middletown, CT 06457, telephone (860) 685-
3927.

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 
possession of Wesleyan University, Middleton, CT. The human remains 
were removed from Hamilton County, TN.
    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 Wesleyan 
University professional staff in consultation with representatives of 
Cherokee Nation, Oklahoma; Chickasaw Nation, Oklahoma; Eastern Band of 
Cherokee Indians of North Carolina; Muscogee (Creek) Nation, Oklahoma; 
Poarch Band of Creek Indians of Alabama; and the United Keetoowah Band 
of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma.

History and Description of the Remains

    In the late 1800s, human remains representing, at minimum, three 
individuals were removed from Hamilton County, TN, during exploration 
of a mound on William's Island (site 40Ha60) by George D. Barnes, an 
amateur collector from Dayton, TN, with the permission of the 
landowner. This is part of a larger collection purchased from Barnes by 
A.R. Crittenden of Middletown, CT, in 1896 and deposited in the 
Wesleyan University Museum until the purchase price ($1000) could be 
raised by the Wesleyan University Museum. The collection was officially 
purchased by the Wesleyan University Museum in 1899. No known 
individuals were identified. No associated funerary objects are 
present. The majority of the material culture from William's Island 
site has been provisionally assigned to the mid/late Mississippian 
period (late prehistoric/early historic). The human remains are Native 
American based on the site context.
    In the late 1800s, human remains representing, at minimum, two 
individuals were removed from a mound 12 miles north of Chattanooga, 
TN, on the Yarnell (or Garnell) farm by George D. Barnes, an amateur 
collector from Dayton, TN. This is part of a larger collection 
purchased from Barnes by A. R. Crittenden of Middletown, CT, in 1896 
and deposited in the Wesleyan University Museum until the purchase 
price ($1000) could be raised by the Wesleyan University Museum. The 
collection was officially purchased by the Wesleyan University Museum 
in 1899. No known individuals were identified. No associated funerary 
objects are present. The mound is believed to be date to the 
Mississippian period. The human remains are Native American based on 
the mound context.
    In the late 1800s, human remains representing, at minimum, five 
individuals were removed from ``vicinity of Chattanooga,'' in Hamilton 
County, TN, by George D. Barnes, an amateur collector from Dayton, TN. 
This is part of a larger collection purchased from Barnes by A. R. 
Crittenden of Middletown, CT, in 1896 and deposited in the Wesleyan 
University Museum until the purchase price ($1000) could be raised by 
the Wesleyan University Museum. The collection was officially purchased 
by the Wesleyan University Museum in 1899. No known individuals were 
identified. No associated funerary objects are present. The human 
remains are Native American based on the collecting practices of Mr. 
Barnes.
    Archeological evidence, oral tradition, and geographical location 
supports a cultural affiliation determination to all three Federally 
recognized Cherokee tribes (Cherokee Nation, Oklahoma; Eastern Band of 
Cherokee Indians of North Carolina; and the United Keetoowah Band of 
Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma), which were one group until their forced 
relocation known as The Trail of Tears, which resulted from the Indian 
Relocation Act of 1830. Oral tradition supports archeological research 
that suggests a much longer Cherokee occupation of the region 
associated with the upper Tennessee, Little Tennessee, and Hiwassee 
rivers. According to one source, ``[d]ue to similar culturally 
conservative traits, such as commonality in burial practices, house 
patterns, and community organization, a temporal progression is 
suggested from Dallas to Mouse Creek to Overhill Cherokee based on 
shifts in ceramic styles, settlement characteristics, and 
sociopolitical organizations'' (Schroedl, 1986). The Eastern Band of 
Cherokee Indians support this conclusion, and their oral tradition 
reinforces this determination. Based on the Indian Claims Commission 
decision, Hamilton County, TN, is the aboriginal territory of the 
Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. Based on Indian Land Cessions 1784-
1894, Hamilton County, TN, is the aboriginal territory of all three 
Federally recognized Cherokee tribes.

Determinations Made by Wesleyan University

    Officials of Wesleyan University have determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice represent the physical remains of ten 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 is to the Cherokee Nation, Oklahoma; Eastern 
Band of Cherokee Indians of North Carolina; and the United Keetoowah 
Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma.

Additional Requestors and Disposition

    Representatives of any Indian tribe that believes itself to be 
culturally

[[Page 39506]]

affiliated with the human remains should contact Dr. Sonia 
Ma[ntilde]jon, Chief Diversity Officer, Wesleyan University, 237 High 
Street, Middletown, CT 06457, telephone (860) 685-3927, before August 
2, 2012. Repatriation of the human remains to the Cherokee Nation, 
Oklahoma; Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians of North Carolina; and the 
United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma may proceed after 
that date if no additional claimants come forward.
    Wesleyan University is responsible for notifying the Cherokee 
Nation, Oklahoma; Chickasaw Nation, Oklahoma; Eastern Band of Cherokee 
Indians of North Carolina; Muscogee (Creek) Nation, Oklahoma; Poarch 
Band of Creek Indians of Alabama; and the United Keetoowah Band of 
Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma that this notice has been published.

    Dated: May 23, 2012.
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2012-16205 Filed 7-2-12; 8:45 am]
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