[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 62 (Wednesday, April 1, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17474-17475]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-07416]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-17619; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: 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 has completed an inventory of human 
remains and associated funerary objects, in consultation with the 
appropriate Indian tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations, and has 
determined that there is a cultural affiliation between the human 
remains and associated funerary objects and present-day Indian tribes 
or Native Hawaiian organizations. Lineal descendants or 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 and associated funerary objects should submit a written request 
to Gulf Islands National Seashore. If no additional requestors come 
forward, transfer of control of the human remains and associated 
funerary objects 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 
request transfer of control of these human remains and associated 
funerary objects should submit a written request with information in 
support of the request to Gulf Islands National Seashore at the address 
in this notice by May 1, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Daniel R. Brown, Superintendent, 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. 3003, of the completion of an inventory of human remains and 
associated funerary objects under the control of the U.S. Department of 
the Interior, National Park Service, Gulf Islands National Seashore, 
Gulf Breeze, FL. The human remains and associated funerary objects were 
removed from Top of Benchmark 2, Escambia County, FL.
    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.

Consultation

    A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by Gulf Islands 
National Seashore professional staff in consultation with 
representatives of 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 
(hereafter referred to as ``The Tribes'').

History and Description of the Remains

    At an unknown date, human remains representing, at minimum, three 
individuals were removed from Top of Benchmark 2 in Escambia County, 
FL. These remains were donated to Gulf Islands National Seashore at an 
unknown date by Yulee Lazarus of the Fort Walton Temple Mound Museum. 
No known individuals were identified. The nine associated funerary 
objects are three untyped vessel fragments, two Weeden Island Incised 
vessel fragments, and four Wakulla Check Stamped vessel fragments.
    Top of Benchmark 2 is a prehistoric midden site that dates from the 
Weeden Island to the Pensacola period (400 B.C.-A.D. 1700) and was 
first reported by William Lazarus and Gordon Simmons in the 1960s. 
Based on diagnostic ceramics, the Pensacola people were most likely the 
inhabitants of the area during this time. 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(9), the human remains described 
in this notice represent the physical remains of three individuals of 
Native American ancestry.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A), the nine objects 
described in this notice 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.
     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 associated funerary objects and The Tribes.

Additional Requestors and Disposition

    Lineal descendants or 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 and associated 
funerary objects should submit a written request with information in 
support of the request to Daniel R. Brown, Superintendent, Gulf Islands 
National Seashore, 1801 Gulf Breeze Parkway,

[[Page 17475]]

Gulf Breeze, FL 32563, telephone (850) 934-2600, email 
[email protected], by May 1, 2015. After that date, if no 
additional requestors have come forward, transfer of control of the 
human remains and associated funerary objects to The Tribes may 
proceed.
    Gulf Islands National Seashore is responsible for notifying The 
Tribes that this notice has been published.

    Dated: February 17, 2015.
Melanie O'Brien,
Acting Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2015-07416 Filed 3-31-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4312-50-P