[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 23 (Wednesday, February 4, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6136-6137]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-02213]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-17465; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Intent To Repatriate Cultural Items: U.S. Department of 
the Interior, National Park Service, Horseshoe Bend National Military 
Park, Daviston, AL

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, 
Horseshoe Bend National Military Park, in consultation with the 
appropriate Indian tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations, has 
determined that the cultural items listed in this notice meet the 
definition of unassociated funerary objects. Lineal descendants or 
representatives of any Indian tribe or Native Hawaiian organization not 
identified in this notice that wish to claim these cultural items 
should submit a written request to Horseshoe Bend National Military 
Park. If no additional claimants come forward, transfer of control of 
the cultural items to the lineal descendants, Indian tribes, or Native 
Hawaiian organizations stated in this notice may proceed.

DATES: Lineal descendants or representatives of any Indian tribe or 
Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice that wish to 
claim these cultural items should submit a written request with 
information in support of the claim to Horseshoe Bend National Military 
Park at the address in this notice by March 6, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Doyle Sapp, Superintendent, Horseshoe Bend National Military 
Park, 11288 Horseshoe Bend Road, Daviston, AL 36256, telephone (256) 
234-7111x226, 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. 3005, of the intent to repatriate cultural items under the 
control of the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, 
Horseshoe Bend National Military Park, Daviston, AL that meet the 
definition of unassociated funerary objects under 25 U.S.C. 3001.
    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 
Superintendent, Horseshoe Bend National Military Park.

History and Description of the Cultural Items

    At an unknown date, 140 cultural items were removed from an unknown 
site within the boundaries of Horseshoe Bend National Military Park in 
Tallapoosa County, AL. The cultural items were donated to Horseshoe 
Bend National Military Park in 1965 by James Warren. While the original 
provenience of the objects is unknown, park donation receipts indicate 
that they were removed from burial contexts. The whereabouts of the 
human remains are unknown. The 140 unassociated funerary objects are 88 
straight brass pins, 6 antler fragments, 7 small spherical brass bells, 
1 ball and pendant cone silver earring, 2 rolled sheet copper metal 
fragments, 3 metal buckles, 1 flat copper wire bracelet, 5 copper disc 
buttons, 2 semi-circular grey flint tools, 2 small polished stone 
pebbles, 2 complete cone-shaped brass buttons, 16 cone-shaped brass 
button fragments, 3 stone projectile points, and 2 calcined marine 
shells.
    In 1921, 125 cultural items were removed from an unnamed site near 
Enitachopco Creek, in Tallapoosa County, AL. The cultural items were 
donated to Horseshoe Bend National Military Park in 1978 by Mrs. Joe 
Murphee. Ms. Murphee indicated on a donation questionnaire that the 
items were removed from a Native American grave near the farm of Andrew 
H. Watson by Jim Brittain, a tenant of Ms. Murphee's uncle. The 
whereabouts of the human remains are unknown. The 125 unassociated 
funerary objects are 125 trade beads.
    The unassociated funerary objects date to the historic period (late 
16th-early 19th century), and originate from Tallapoosa County, AL. The 
Tallapoosa County area was historically occupied by Upper Creek 
Muscogee peoples. Upper Creek Muscogee descendants now are members of 
several Indian tribes including Kialegee Tribal Town, Poarch Band of 
Creeks (previously listed as the Poarch Band of Creek Indians of 
Alabama), The Muscogee Creek Nation, and Thlopthlocco Tribal Town. The 
area was also historically occupied by Alabama and Coushatta peoples, 
who were later members of the Creek confederacy and shared many 
cultural traditions with the Creek. Descendants of these groups now are 
members of the

[[Page 6137]]

Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas (previously listed as the Alabama-
Coushatta Tribes of Texas), Alabama-Quassarte Tribal Town, and 
Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana.

Determinations Made by Horseshoe Bend National Military Park

    Officials of Horseshoe Bend National Military Park have determined 
that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(B), the 265 cultural items 
described above are reasonably believed to have been placed with or 
near individual human remains at the time of death or later as part of 
the death rite or ceremony and are believed, by a preponderance of the 
evidence, to have been removed from a specific burial site of a Native 
American individual.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(2), there is a relationship of 
shared group identity that can be reasonably traced between the 
unassociated funerary objects and the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas 
(previously listed as the Alabama-Coushatta Tribes of Texas), Alabama-
Quassarte Tribal Town, Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana, Kialegee Tribal 
Town, Poarch Band of Creeks (previously listed as the Poarch Band of 
Creek Indians of Alabama), The Muscogee (Creek) Nation, and 
Thlopthlocco Tribal Town.

Additional Requestors and Disposition

    Lineal descendants or representatives of any Indian tribe or Native 
Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice that wish to claim 
these cultural items should submit a written request with information 
in support of the claim to Doyle Sapp, Superintendent, Horseshoe Bend 
National Military Park, 11288 Horseshoe Bend Road, Daviston, AL 36256, 
telephone (256) 234-7111 x 226, email [email protected], by March 6, 
2015. After that date, if no additional claimants have come forward, 
transfer of control of the unassociated funerary objects to the 
Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas (previously listed as the Alabama-
Coushatta Tribes of Texas), Alabama-Quassarte Tribal Town, Coushatta 
Tribe of Louisiana, Kialegee Tribal Town, Poarch Band of Creeks 
(previously listed as the Poarch Band of Creek Indians of Alabama), The 
Muscogee (Creek) Nation, and Thlopthlocco Tribal Town may proceed.
    Horseshoe Bend National Military Park is responsible for notifying 
the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas (previously listed as the Alabama-
Coushatta Tribes of Texas), Alabama-Quassarte Tribal Town, Coushatta 
Tribe of Louisiana, Kialegee Tribal Town, Poarch Band of Creeks 
(previously listed as the Poarch Band of Creek Indians of Alabama), The 
Muscogee (Creek) Nation, and Thlopthlocco Tribal Town that this notice 
has been published.

    Dated: January 9, 2015.
Melanie O'Brien,
Acting Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2015-02213 Filed 2-3-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-50-P