[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 84 (Wednesday, May 3, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20620-20621]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-08870]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-23134; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: Tennessee Department of 
Environment and Conservation, Division of Archaeology, Nashville, TN

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, 
Division of Archaeology, 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 the 
Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, Division of 
Archaeology. 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 the Tennessee Department of Environment and 
Conservation, Division of Archaeology, at the address in this notice by 
June 2, 2017.

ADDRESSES: Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, 
Division of Archaeology, Michael C. Moore, 1216 Foster Avenue, Cole 
Bldg 3, Nashville, TN 37243, telephone 615-741-1588, ext. 109, 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 Tennessee 
Department of Environment and Conservation, Division of Archaeology, 
Nashville, TN. The human remains and associated funerary objects were 
removed from Elizabethton, Carter County, TN.
    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 
museum, institution, or Federal agency that has control of the Native 
American human remains and associated funerary objects. 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 
Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, Division of 
Archaeology, professional staff in consultation with representatives of 
the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.

History and Description of the Remains

    In 1977, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual 
were removed from the Carter Mansion site (40CR5) in Carter County, TN, 
by personnel of the Tennessee Division of Archaeology. The Carter 
Mansion site in Elizabethton, TN, is comprised of the late 18th century 
home and grounds of John and Landon Carter. Archeological 
investigations conducted during the 1970s by the Tennessee Division of 
Archaeology (TDOA) revealed prehistoric and protohistoric Native 
American components near the structure and along the grounds. The TDOA 
discovered the human remains and associated funerary objects during a 
structure restoration project (Smith 1979). During the course of 
excavation along the front exterior of the house, a burial pit 
containing the human remains was encountered immediately adjacent to 
the foundation base. The human remains and associated funerary objects 
have been curated by the TDOA since excavation. The human remains 
represent an adult male approximately 20-30 years old. No known 
individual was identified. Based on analysis of the associated funerary 
objects, the human remains were considered to be of a protohistoric 
Native American component. The 580 associated funerary objects are 381 
marine gastropod beads; 164 marginella shell beads; 1 leptoxis shell 
bead; 5 bone beads; 2 Busycon shell ear pins; 2 split turkey bone pins; 
15 Busycon shell beads; 1 pounded copper sheet; 1 fragmented woven bark 
matting (for copper sheet); 1 ceramic platter/bowl with rim notching on 
one side; 1 miniature incised ceramic vessel; 1 basal portion of an 
incised ceramic vessel; 1 smooth stone; 3 lithic debitage; and 1 
pumpkin seed. The associated funerary objects are protohistoric to 
early historic Native American based upon the range and style of 
artifacts.

Determinations Made by the Tennessee Department of Environment and 
Conservation, Division of Archaeology

    Officials of the Tennessee Department of Environment and 
Conservation, Division of Archaeology have determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice represent the physical remains of one individual of 
Native American ancestry.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A), the 580 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 Eastern Band 
of Cherokee Indians.

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 Michael C. Moore, Tennessee Department of 
Environment and Conservation, Division of Archaeology, 1216 Foster 
Avenue, Cole Bldg 3, Nashville, TN 37243, telephone 615-741-1588, ext. 
109, email [email protected], by June 2, 2017. After that date, if no 
additional requestors have come forward, transfer of control of the 
human remains and associated funerary objects to the Eastern Band of 
Cherokee Indians may proceed.
    The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, Division 
of Archaeology is responsible for notifying the Eastern Band of 
Cherokee Indians that this notice has been published.


[[Page 20621]]


    Dated: March 22, 2017.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2017-08870 Filed 5-2-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4312-52-P