[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 36 (Thursday, February 22, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7773-7774]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-03631]



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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0024978; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: University of North Carolina at 
Chapel Hill, Research Laboratories of Archaeology, Chapel Hill, NC

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Research 
Laboratories 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 no cultural affiliation between the human 
remains and associated funerary objects 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 and 
associated funerary objects should submit a written request to the 
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Research Laboratories of 
Archaeology. If no additional requestors come forward, transfer of 
control of the human remains and associated funerary objects 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 and associated funerary 
objects should submit a written request with information in support of 
the request to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 
Research Laboratories of Archaeology at the address in this notice by 
March 26, 2018.

ADDRESSES: Dr. C. Margaret Scarry, Research Laboratories of 
Archaeology, University of North Carolina, Campus Box 3120, Chapel 
Hill, NC 27599-3120, telephone (919) 962-6574, 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 University of 
North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Research Laboratories of Archaeology, 
Chapel Hill, NC. The human remains and associated funerary objects were 
removed from multiple counties in the states of Kentucky, North 
Carolina, and Tennessee.
    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 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 
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Research Laboratories of 
Archaeology, professional staff in consultation with representatives of 
the Cherokee Nation, Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, and the United 
Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma.

History and Description of the Remains

    In 1980, human remains representing, at minimum, 1 individual were 
removed from the Indian Fort Mountain site (15Ma25) in Madison County, 
KY. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Research 
Laboratories of Archaeology (UNC-CH), and Berea College jointly 
sponsored test excavations at Indian Fort Mountain, a presumed Middle 
Woodland hilltop enclosure near Berea, Kentucky. These investigations 
were undertaken by UNC graduate student David Moore. One of the five 
archeological features excavated (Feature 1) was a thin lens of dark 
soil that contained 17 small fragments of human bone that were placed 
in two vials. Moore suggests that these bones may represent a secondary 
burial within the confines of the stone enclosure. The human remains 
were transported to UNC-CH for cleaning and storage. No known 
individual was identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    From 1963 to 1964, human remains representing, at minimum, 13 
individuals were removed from the Cane Creek site (31Ml3) in Mitchell 
County, NC. The site was excavated by archeologists from UNC-CH in 
1964, following a period of digging into the site by the landowner. 
This excavation identified and removed three human burials (designated 
Burials 1, 2, and 3) and associated artifacts. Forty additional human 
bone fragments were recovered from the site surface and from test units 
over the burials. The landowner donated to UNC-CH human bone from 6 
additional burials that were dug in 1963. All burials have been 
assigned to the late Middle Woodland period (A.D. 700-1100) based on 
artifacts recovered from the site. No known individuals were 
identified. The 315 associated funerary objects from Burials 2 and 3 
include one bone awl and 314 disk and shell beads.
    In 1963, human remains representing, at minimum, 1 individual were 
removed from the Great Tellico site (40Mr75) in Monroe County, TN. 
Three human bone fragments were collected from the site's surface by 
UNC-CH archeologist Ed Dolan. The human remains were transported to 
UNC-CH for cleaning and storage. This site visit was part of a regional 
survey for a National Science Foundation-funded project to investigate 
the origins of the Cherokee. Dolan noted that the site had recently 
been torn up by relic hunters, so it is likely that the bone fragments 
are from looter-disturbed burials. These human remains likely date to 
either the Dallas phase (A.D. 1300-1600) or Overhill phase (after A.D. 
1600). No known individual was identified. No associated funerary 
objects are present.
    In 1965, human remains representing, at minimum, 1 individual were 
removed from the Toqua site (40Mr6) in Monroe County, TN. Four human 
bone fragments were collected by UNC-CH archeologists Brian Egloff and 
Jeff Reid from the spoil pile of a looter's pit that had been dug into 
the top of the mound. The human remains were transported to UNC-CH for 
cleaning and storage. This site visit was part of a regional survey for 
a National Science Foundation-funded project to investigate the origins 
of the Cherokee. These human remains likely date to the Dallas phase 
(A.D. 1300-1600). No known individual was identified. No associated 
funerary objects are present.
    In 1963, human remains representing, at minimum, 3 individuals were 
removed from the Citico site (40Mr7) in Monroe County, TN. Four human 
bone fragments were collected from the site's surface by UNC-CH 
archeologist Ed Dolan. The human remains were transported to UNC-CH for 
cleaning and storage. This site visit was part of a regional survey for 
a National Science Foundation-funded project to investigate the origins 
of the Cherokee. Dolan noted that the site had recently been torn up by 
relic hunters, so it is likely that the bone fragments are from looter-
disturbed burials. These human remains likely date to either the Dallas 
phase (A.D. 1300-1600) or Overhill phase (after A.D.-1600). No known 
individuals were identified. No associated funerary objects are 
present.

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    In 1935, human remains representing, at minimum, 3 individuals were 
removed from the R. H. Bell site (40Re1) in Roane County, TN. Four 
human bone fragments were surface collected from the village area of 
the site by Joffre Coe during a visit to T. M. N. Lewis' excavation 
there. The human remains were transported to the University of North 
Carolina at Chapel Hill and subsequently donated to the Research 
Laboratories of Archaeology (formerly Laboratory of Anthropology) after 
its creation in 1939. These human remains likely date to the Dallas 
phase (A.D. 1300-1600). No known individuals were identified. No 
associated funerary objects are present.
    In 1964, human remains representing, at minimum, 1 individual were 
removed from the Fudd Campbell site (40Ce3) in Carter County, TN. One 
human bone fragment was collected from the site's surface by UNC-CH 
archeologists Bennie Keel and Brian Egloff. The human remains were 
transported to UNC-CH for cleaning and storage. This site visit was 
part of a regional survey for a National Science Foundation-funded 
project to investigate the origins of the Cherokee. Keel noted that the 
site was in the process of being destroyed by the Tennessee 
Archaeological Society, so it is likely that the bone fragment is from 
a disturbed burial. The archeological association of the human bone is 
unknown. No known individual was identified. No associated funerary 
objects are present.
    In 1966, human remains representing, at minimum, 1 individual were 
removed from the Great Hiwassee site (40Pk3) in Polk County, TN. Two 
human bone fragments were collected from the site's surface by UNC-CH 
archeologist Brian Egloff. The human remains were transported to UNC-CH 
for cleaning and storage. This site visit was part of a regional survey 
for a National Science Foundation-funded project to investigate the 
origins of the Cherokee. Egloff noted that the site had recently been 
torn up by relic hunters, so it is likely that the bone fragments are 
from looter-disturbed burials. The archeological association of the 
human bone is unknown. No known individual was identified. No 
associated funerary objects are present.

Determinations Made by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

    Officials of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill have 
determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice are Native American based on their physical association 
with Native American cultural remains and occurrence at Native American 
archeological sites.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice represent the physical remains of a minimum of 24 
individuals of Native American ancestry.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A), the 315 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), a relationship of shared 
group identity cannot be reasonably traced between the Native American 
human remains and associated funerary objects 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 and associated funerary objects were 
removed is the aboriginal land of the Cherokee Nation, Eastern Band of 
Cherokee Indians, and United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in 
Oklahoma.
     Treaties, Acts of Congress, or Executive Orders, indicate 
that the land from which the Native American human remains and 
associated funerary objects were removed is the aboriginal land of the 
Cherokee Nation, Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, and United Keetoowah 
Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma.
     Pursuant to 43 CFR 10.11(c)(1), the disposition of the 
human remains and associated funerary objects may be to the Cherokee 
Nation, Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, and United Keetoowah Band of 
Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma.

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 and associated funerary objects should submit a 
written request with information in support of the request to Dr. C. 
Margaret Scarry, Research Laboratories of Archaeology, University of 
North Carolina, Campus Box 3120, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3120, telephone 
(919) 962-6574, email [email protected], by March 26, 2018. After 
that date, if no additional requestors have come forward, transfer of 
control of the human remains and associated funerary objects to the 
Cherokee Nation, Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, and United Keetoowah 
Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma may proceed.
    The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Research 
Laboratories of Archaeology is responsible for notifying the Cherokee 
Nation, Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, and United Keetoowah Band of 
Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma that this notice has been published.

    Dated: February 2, 2018.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2018-03631 Filed 2-21-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4312-52-P