[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 23 (Monday, February 4, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1489-1491]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-00836]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0027112; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: Tennessee Valley Authority, 
Knoxville, TN

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 1490]]

SUMMARY: The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) 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 TVA. 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 TVA at the address in this notice by March 6, 2019.

ADDRESSES: Dr. Thomas O. Maher, TVA, 400 West Summit Hill Drive, WT11C, 
Knoxville TN 37902-1401, telephone (865) 632-7458, 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 TVA. The human remains 
and associated funerary objects were removed from archeological sites 
40HW44 and 40HW45, Hawkins County, 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 and associated funerary 
objects was made by TVA professional staff in consultation with 
representatives of the Absentee-Shawnee Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma; 
Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas (previously listed as the Alabama-
Coushatta Tribes of Texas); Cherokee Nation; Coushatta Tribe of 
Louisiana; Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians; Poarch Band of Creeks 
(previously listed as the Poarch Band of Creek Indians of Alabama); The 
Chickasaw Nation; The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma; The Muscogee (Creek) 
Nation; The Seminole Nation of Oklahoma; and the United Keetoowah Band 
of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma; hereafter referred to as ``The 
Consulted Tribes.''

History and Description of the Remains

    From June 23 to August 19, 1976, human remains representing, at 
minimum, 13 individuals were removed from site 40HW44 in Hawkins 
County, Tennessee, by the Office of Archaeological Research at the 
University of Alabama (OAR). TVA acquired this site on April 25, 1975 
for the Phipps Bend Nuclear Power Plant project. TVA canceled the 
planned construction in the 1980s, and subsequently transferred this 
land to the Industrial Development Board of Hawkins County. This 
village site was explored using controlled surface collection, 
trenches, and five randomly placed 1x1 meter excavation units. Sixty-
three features (pits, post molds and burials) were excavated. Five 
radiocarbon dates place the primary occupation during the Early 
Woodland (1000-300 B.C.) period.
    The human remains are primarily adult males. No known individuals 
were identified. The 132 associated funerary objects include two animal 
bone fragments; one animal tooth pendant; one antler handle; two beaver 
incisors; one bone bullroarer; one bone pin; 23 pieces of chert 
debitage; 69 drilled bear canines; one Ebenezer PP/K; one greenstone 
celt; 17 Greenville Cluster PP/K; one piece of ground limestone; one 
ground steatite object; one piece of ground sandstone; one hammerstone; 
one limestone celt; three Long Branch Fabric Marked sherds; two chert 
preforms; one piece of red ochre; and two soapstone pendants.
    From September 20 to November 15, 1976, human remains representing, 
at minimum, five individuals were removed from site 40HW45 in Hawkins 
County, Tennessee, by OAR. TVA acquired this site on April 25, 1975 for 
the Phipps Bend Nuclear Power Plant project. TVA canceled the planned 
construction in the 1980s, and subsequently transferred this land to 
the Industrial Development Board of Hawkins County. The site was 
explored using controlled surface collection, an eight meter long 
stratigraphic trench, and five randomly placed 2x2 meter excavation 
units. One hundred-twenty-four features, primarily pits of varying 
sizes, were excavated. Human burial units 1, 2 and 6 are from the Long 
Branch phase (600-400 B.C.) and burial units 4 and 7 from the Phipps 
phase (700-600 B.C.) of the Early Woodland period.
    The human remains are primarily adult females. No known individuals 
were identified. The eight associated funerary objects include five 
Ebenezer PP/K; two Greenville Cluster PP/K; and one Nolichucky PP/K.

Determinations Made by the Tennessee Valley Authority

    Officials of Tennessee Valley Authority have determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice are Native American based on their presence in 
prehistoric archeological sites and osteological analysis.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice represent the physical remains of 18 individuals of 
Native American ancestry.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A), the 140 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 the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in 
Oklahoma.
     Pursuant to 43 CFR 10.11(c)(1), the disposition of the 
culturally unidentifiable human remains and associated funerary objects 
may be to the Cherokee Nation; Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians; and 
the 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. 
Thomas O. Maher, TVA,

[[Page 1491]]

400 West Summit Hill Drive, WT11C, Knoxville, TN 37902-1401, telephone 
(865) 632-7458, email [email protected], by March 6, 2019]. 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 the United 
Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma may proceed.
    The Tennessee Valley Authority is responsible for notifying The 
Consulted Tribes that this notice has been published.

    Dated: December 4, 2018.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2019-00836 Filed 2-1-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4312-52-P