[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 65 (Tuesday, April 5, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19621-19622]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-07774]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-20607; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: Department of Anthropology and 
Middle Eastern Cultures, Mississippi State University, MS

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Anthropology and Middle Eastern Cultures at 
Mississippi State University 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 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 Department of Anthropology and Middle Eastern 
Cultures at Mississippi State University. 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 Department of 
Anthropology and Middle Eastern Cultures at Mississippi State 
University at the address in this notice by May 5, 2016.

ADDRESSES: Dr. Michael L. Galaty, Department of Anthropology and Middle 
Eastern Cultures, Mississippi State University, PO Box AR, 210 Cobb 
Building, Mississippi State, MS 39762, telephone (662)325-7525, email 
[email protected].

[[Page 19622]]


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 Department of Anthropology and Middle Eastern 
Cultures at Mississippi State University. The human remains were 
removed from Clay and Monroe Counties, MS.
    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 
Department of Anthropology and Middle Eastern Cultures at Mississippi 
State University professional staff in consultation with 
representatives of the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas (previously 
listed as the Alabama-Coushatta Tribes of Texas); Mississippi Band of 
Choctaw Indians; The Chickasaw Nation; and The Choctaw Nation of 
Oklahoma.

History and Description of the Remains

    In 1982, human remains representing, at minimum 16 individuals were 
removed from the Hang Kettle #1 site, 22CL620, in Clay County, MS, by 
Mississippi State University (MSU) archeologist Richard Marshall after 
being exposed by floodwaters. The human remains have been in the 
possession of the Department of Anthropology and Middle Eastern 
Cultures at Mississippi State University since their removal. No known 
individuals were identified. No associated funerary objects are 
present. The human remains date to the Late Woodland period, A.D. 700 
to 1000.
    In 1970, human remains representing, at minimum four individuals 
were removed from an unidentified site, possibly 22CL500, in Clay 
County, MS, by MSU archeologists. The human remains have been in the 
possession of the Department of Anthropology and Middle Eastern 
Cultures at Mississippi State University since their removal. No known 
individuals were identified. No associated funerary objects are 
present. No additional information regarding the age or sex of the 
human remains is known.
    In 1972, human remains representing, at minimum one individual were 
removed from an unidentified site in Clay County, MS. The human remains 
have been in the possession of the Department of Anthropology and 
Middle Eastern Cultures at Mississippi State University since their 
removal. No known individuals were identified. No associated funerary 
objects are present. No additional information regarding the age or sex 
of the human remains is known.
    In 1973, human remains representing, at minimum one individual were 
removed from an unidentified site in Monroe County, MS, by John Gibbs. 
The human remains have been in the possession of the Department of 
Anthropology and Middle Eastern Cultures at Mississippi State 
University since their removal. No known individuals were identified. 
No associated funerary objects are present. No additional information 
regarding the age or sex of the human remains is known.

Determinations Made by the Department of Anthropology and Middle 
Eastern Cultures at Mississippi State University

    Officials of the Department of Anthropology and Middle Eastern 
Cultures at Mississippi State University have determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice are Native American based on their burial context and 
location.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice represent the physical remains of 22 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.
     According to final judgments of the Indian Claims 
Commission or the Court of Federal Claims, the land from which the 
Native American human remains were removed is the aboriginal land of 
The Chickasaw Nation.
     Treaties, Acts of Congress, or Executive Orders, indicate 
that the land from which the Native American human remains were removed 
is the aboriginal land of The Chickasaw Nation.
     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. Michael L. Galaty, Department of 
Anthropology and Middle Eastern Cultures, Mississippi State University, 
PO Box AR, 210 Cobb Building, Mississippi State, MS 39762, telephone 
(662)325-7525, email [email protected], by May 5, 2016. After 
that date, if no additional requestors have come forward, transfer of 
control of the human remains to The Chickasaw Nation may proceed.
    The Department of Anthropology and Middle Eastern Cultures at 
Mississippi State University is responsible for notifying the Alabama-
Coushatta Tribe of Texas (previously listed as the Alabama-Coushatta 
Tribes of Texas); Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians; The Chickasaw 
Nation; and The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma that this notice has been 
published.

    Dated: March 14, 2016.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2016-07774 Filed 4-4-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4312-50-P