[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 200 (Thursday, October 16, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62195-62196]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-24522]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-16663]


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 Federally 
recognized Indian tribes, and have determined that there is a cultural 
affiliation between the human remains and a present-day Federally 
recognized Indian tribe. Lineal descendants or representatives of any 
Federally recognized Indian tribe not identified in this notice that 
wish to request transfer of control of these human remains should 
submit a written request to TVA. If no additional requestors come 
forward, transfer of control of the human remains to the Federally 
recognized Indian tribe stated in this notice may proceed.

DATES: Lineal descendants or representatives of any Federally 
recognized Indian tribe not identified in this notice that wish to 
request transfer of control of these human remains should submit a 
written request with information in support of the request to TVA at 
the address in this notice by November 17, 2014.

ADDRESSES: Dr. Thomas O. Maher, TVA, 400 West Summit Hill Drive, WT11D, 
Knoxville, TN 37902-1401, telephone (865) 632-7458, email 
[email protected].

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 under 
the control of TVA and in the custody of the McClung Museum. The human 
remains were removed from the Westmoreland-Barber site in Marion 
County, TN.
    This notice is published as part of the National Park Service's 
administrative

[[Page 62196]]

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 TVA and 
McClung Museum professional staff in consultation with the Absentee-
Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma; Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas (previously 
listed as the Alabama-Coushatta Tribes of Texas); Alabama-Quassarte 
Tribal Town; Cherokee Nation; Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians; Eastern 
Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma; Kialegee Tribal Town; Poarch Band of Creeks 
(previously listed as the Poarch Band of Creek Indians of Alabama); 
Seminole Tribe of Florida (previously listed as the Seminole Tribe of 
Florida (Dania, Big Cypress, Brighton, Hollywood & Tampa 
Reservations)); Shawnee Tribe; The Chickasaw Nation; The Muscogee 
(Creek) Nation; The Seminole Nation of Oklahoma; Thlopthlocco Tribal 
Town; and the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma.

History and Description of the Remains

    In the summer of 1965, human remains were removed from burial unit 
8 at the Westmoreland-Barber site, 40MI11, in Marion County, TN. The 
Westmoreland-Barber site is located at river mile 429 on the Tennessee 
River. Archeological excavations at Westmoreland-Barber were stimulated 
by the TVA's construction of the Nickajack Dam and the impending 
inundation of the resulting reservoir. In August 1964, the University 
of Tennessee (UT) under the direction of J.B. Graham and under contract 
with the National Park Service (NPS), excavated sites located within 
the confines of the proposed Nickajack Reservoir, including site 
40MI11. A second season of excavations by UT took place from June 29 to 
August 18, 1965, at the Westmoreland-Barber site, under a contract with 
the NPS. The excavation of burial units 5 through 17 took place after 
the TVA completed the process of purchasing the land tracts where the 
burial units are located.
    One historic burial, burial unit 8, was excavated during the second 
season. Although disturbed by agricultural plowing, UT archeologists 
concluded at the time that the individual in the burial was laid to 
rest around 1775, and the remains were likely associated with the 
historically known 18th century Cherokee Lower Town occupation in this 
area. The human remains from burial unit 8 represent one adult male. No 
known individuals were identified.

Determinations Made by the TVA and the McClung Museum

    Officials of TVA and the McClung Museum have determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice represent the physical remains of one individual 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 and the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma; Eastern 
Band of Cherokee Indians of North Carolina; and the United Keetowah 
Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma.

Additional Requestors and Disposition

    Lineal descendants or representatives of any Federally recognized 
Indian tribe not identified in this notice that wish to request 
transfer of control of these human remains should submit a written 
request with information in support of the request to Dr. Thomas O. 
Maher, TVA, 400 West Summit Hill Drive, WT11D, Knoxville, TN 37902-
1401, telephone (865) 632-7458, email [email protected], by November 17, 
2014. After that date, if no additional requestors have come forward, 
transfer of control of the human remains to the Cherokee Nation of 
Oklahoma; Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians of North Carolina; and the 
United Keetowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma may proceed.
    TVA is responsible for notifying the Absentee-Shawnee Tribe of 
Oklahoma; Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas (previously listed as the 
Alabama-Coushatta Tribes of Texas); Alabama-Quassarte Tribal Town; 
Cherokee Nation; Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians; Eastern Shawnee 
Tribe of Oklahoma; Kialegee Tribal Town; Poarch Band of Creeks 
(previously listed as the Poarch Band of Creek Indians of Alabama); 
Shawnee Tribe; The Chickasaw Nation; The Muscogee (Creek) Nation; The 
Seminole Nation of Oklahoma; Thlopthlocco Tribal Town; and the United 
Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma, that this notice has 
been published.

    Dated: September 10, 2014.
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2014-24522 Filed 10-15-14; 8:45 am]
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