[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 62 (Wednesday, April 1, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17480-17481]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-07413]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-17621; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Intent To Repatriate Cultural Items: U.S. Department of 
the Interior, National Park Service, Gulf Islands National Seashore, 
Gulf Breeze, FL

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, 
Gulf Islands National Seashore, 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 Gulf Islands National Seashore. If no additional

[[Page 17481]]

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 Gulf Islands National Seashore 
at the address in this notice by May 1, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Daniel R. Brown, Gulf Islands National Seashore, 1801 Gulf 
Breeze Parkway, Gulf Breeze, FL 32563, telephone (850) 934-2600, 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, 
Gulf Islands National Seashore, Gulf Breeze, FL 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, Gulf Islands National Seashore.

History and Description of the Cultural Items

    Between 1964 and 1965, three cultural items were removed from Naval 
Live Oaks Reservation in Santa Rosa County, FL. These cultural items 
were associated with three burials. According to the excavation report 
one set of remains was re-interred. Given the reported conditions of 
the remains in the other two burials, it is likely that they were left 
in-situ or re-interred, but neither can be confirmed. At the time of 
the excavation, the Naval Live Oaks Reservation Cemetery was under the 
jurisdiction of the State of Florida. In 1971, the site became part of 
Gulf Islands National Seashore. The objects appear to have been curated 
at the Fort Walton Temple Mound Museum until 1981, when they were 
donated to Gulf Islands National Seashore by curator Yulee Lazarus. The 
objects are currently curated at the National Park Service's Southeast 
Archeological Center. The three unassociated funerary objects are one 
pig bone, one iron fragment, and one shell fragment.
    Analysis of ceramic vessel fragments indicates that the Naval Live 
Oaks Reservation Cemetery site was in use during the Bear Point phase 
of the Pensacola period (A.D. 1500 to 1700). Historical documentation 
places the Pensacola Indians in the area of the Naval Live Oak 
Reservation Cemetery site during that time period. The Pensacola 
culture extended along the western Gulf coast of Florida, but also 
shared ceramic styles with groups in Alabama, Louisiana, and 
Mississippi. Conflict in the 18th century displaced the Pensacola 
people in Florida, and historical evidence indicates that some were 
assimilated into the Choctaw. Others were likely absorbed by the Creek 
Indians when they overtook the area. Pensacola people are also believed 
to have gone west with other area tribes to join the Tunica-Biloxi 
Indians. The Pensacola spoke a Muscogean language; other Muscogee 
language family speakers include the Alabama, Seminole, Miccosukee, and 
Coushatta.

Determinations Made by Gulf Islands National Seashore

    Officials of Gulf Islands National Seashore have determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(B), the three 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; Jena Band of 
Choctaw Indians; Kialegee Tribal Town; Miccosukee Tribe of Indians; 
Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians; 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)); The Choctaw 
Nation of Oklahoma; The Muscogee (Creek) Nation; The Seminole Nation of 
Oklahoma; Thlopthlocco Tribal Town; and Tunica-Biloxi Indian Tribe.

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 Daniel R. Brown, Gulf Islands National 
Seashore, 1801 Gulf Breeze Parkway, Gulf Breeze, FL 32563, telephone 
(850) 934-2600, email [email protected], by May 1, 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; 
Jena Band of Choctaw Indians; Kialegee Tribal Town; Miccosukee Tribe of 
Indians; Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians; 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)); The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma; The Muscogee (Creek) 
Nation; The Seminole Nation of Oklahoma; Thlopthlocco Tribal Town; and 
Tunica-Biloxi Indian Tribe may proceed.
    The Gulf Islands National Seashore 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; Jena Band of Choctaw Indians; Kialegee Tribal Town; 
Miccosukee Tribe of Indians; Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians; 
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)); The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma; The Muscogee 
(Creek) Nation; The Seminole Nation of Oklahoma; Thlopthlocco Tribal 
Town; and Tunica-Biloxi Indian Tribe that this notice has been 
published.

    Dated: February 17, 2015.
Melanie O'Brien,
Acting Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2015-07413 Filed 3-31-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4310-50-P