[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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