[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 221 (Monday, November 17, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68465-68466]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-27140]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-17027; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: Illinois State Museum, 
Springfield, IL

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Illinois State Museum has completed an inventory of human 
remains, in consultation with the appropriate Indian tribes or Native 
Hawaiian organizations, and has determined that there is no compelling 
evidence of cultural affiliation between the human remains and any 
present-day Indian tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations. 
Representatives of any Indian tribe or Native Hawaiian organization not 
identified in this notice that wish to request transfer of control of 
these human remains should submit a written request to the Illinois 
State Museum. If no additional requestors come forward, transfer of 
control of the human remains to the Indian tribes or Native Hawaiian 
organizations stated in this notice may proceed.

DATES: Representatives of any Indian tribe or Native Hawaiian 
organization 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 the Illinois 
State Museum at the address in this notice by December 17, 2014.

ADDRESSES: Dr. Robert E. Warren, Illinois State Museum, 1011 East Ash 
Street, Springfield, IL 62703, telephone (217) 524-7903, 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 the Illinois State Museum, Springfield, IL. The human 
remains were removed from the Wickliffe Mounds site in Ballard County, 
KY.
    This notice is published as part of the National Park Service's 
administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA, 25 U.S.C. 3003(d)(3) and 
43 CFR 10.11(d). 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 Illinois 
State Museum professional staff in consultation with representatives of 
the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and The Chickasaw Nation.

History and Description of the Remains

    On an unknown date, human remains representing, at minimum, two 
individuals were removed by unknown parties from unknown locations at 
the Wickliffe Mounds site (15BA4) in Ballard County, KY. In 1956, the 
University of Chicago transferred the human remains to the Illinois 
State Museum (ISM 1956-8) along with collections of animal bone, 
freshwater mussel shell, and ceramic and lithic artifacts from the same 
site. The human remains include cranial and postcranial elements of one 
young adult (ISM NAGPRA 722) and postcranial elements of one infant 
(ISM NAGPRA 5547). No known individuals were identified. No associated 
funerary objects are present.

Determinations Made by the Illinois State Museum

    Officials of the Illinois State Museum have determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice are Native American based on their presumed association 
with prehistoric Native American occupations at the Wickliffe Mounds 
site.
     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), a relationship of shared 
group identity cannot be reasonably traced between the Native American 
human remains and any present-day Indian tribe due, in part, to the 
lack of specific information regarding the original provenience and 
removal of materials from the Wickliffe Mounds site.
     The 1818 Treaty of Old Town, Mississippi, indicates that 
the land from which the Native American human remains were removed is 
the aboriginal land of The Chickasaw Nation. The Eastern Band of 
Cherokee Indians also has aboriginal land in western Kentucky, but not 
in Ballard County.

[[Page 68466]]

     Pursuant to 43 CFR 10.11(c)(1), the disposition of the 
human remains may be to The Chickasaw Nation.

Additional Requestors and Disposition

    Representatives of any Indian tribe or Native Hawaiian organization 
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. Robert E. Warren, Illinois State 
Museum, 1011 East Ash Street, Springfield, IL 62703, telephone (217) 
524-7903, email [email protected], by December 17, 2014. After 
that date, if no additional requestors have come forward, transfer of 
control of the human remains to The Chickasaw Nation may proceed.
    The Illinois State Museum is responsible for notifying The 
Chickasaw Nation that this notice has been published.

    Dated: October 23, 2014.
Melanie O'Brien,
Acting Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2014-27140 Filed 11-14-14; 8:45 am]
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