[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 94 (Wednesday, May 15, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21805-21806]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-09996]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0027787; 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 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 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

[[Page 21806]]

Environment and Conservation, Division of Archaeology at the address in 
this notice by June 14, 2019.

ADDRESSES: Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, 
Division of Archaeology, Michael C. Moore, 1216 Foster Avenue, Cole 
Building 3, Nashville, TN 37243, telephone (615) 687-4776, 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 Monroe 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 Cherokee Nation; Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians; and the United 
Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians (hereafter referred to as ``The 
Tribes'').

History and Description of the Remains

    Between 1958 and 1959, human remains representing, at minimum, one 
individual were removed from the Ft. Loudoun historic site (40MR1) in 
Monroe County, TN during test excavations. The partial human remains 
represent one adult male. Ft. Loudoun (40MR1) is an 18th-century fort 
located on the south side of the Little Tennessee River in Monroe 
County, TN. Construction of the fort was begun in 1756, and 
substantially finished in 1757; final features were completed in 1758. 
The Cherokee town of Tuskegee was located just south of Ft. Loudoun, 
and the relationship and interactions between Ft. Loudoun and the 
Cherokee Indians are well documented (see https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/environment/archaeology/documents/researchseries/arch_rs17_fort_loudoun_2010.pdf). The Fort Loudoun Association 
sponsored the test excavations, and the work was conducted by a 
University of Tennessee student, who removed the partial human remains 
of an adult male from Structure 7 fill (Burial 1 in the 2010 site 
report). No known individuals were identified. No associated funerary 
objects are present.
    In 1975-1976, human remains representing, at minimum, one 
individual were removed from the Ft. Loudoun historic site (40MR1) in 
Monroe County, TN. The human remains of an adult female were recovered 
during the Tennessee Division of Archaeology (TDOA) excavations (Burial 
2 in the 2010 site report). According to the site report, the human 
remains of this individual were turned over to the McClung Museum at 
the University of Tennessee, and were reburied at a grave site 
constructed at the Sequoia Museum (near Ft. Loudoun) along with other 
Cherokee burial remains from the Little Tennessee Valley. The human 
remains from Burial 2 in the Division's possession consist of one box 
of long bones still in dirt. Apparently, these human remains had been 
excluded from the reburial. No known individuals were identified. The 
13 associated funerary objects are three heart-shaped broaches, two 
circular broaches, one silver cuff bracelet, one iron snuff box, two 
silver teardrop earrings, and four brass thimbles with holes. Until 
recently, these associated funerary objects were on display at the Ft. 
Loudoun State Historic Park. Although the 2010 site report states that 
five thimbles were recovered during the excavations, only four thimbles 
were present when the associated funerary objects were returned to the 
TDOA in 2018. The location of the fifth thimble is unknown. Based upon 
the range and style of artifacts (broaches, earrings, and thimbles with 
holes), the associated funerary objects are consistent with previously 
identified historic period Native American objects used as personal 
adornments.

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 two individuals of 
Native American ancestry.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A), the 13 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 Michael C. Moore, Tennessee Department of 
Environment and Conservation, Division of Archaeology, 1216 Foster 
Avenue, Cole Building 3, Nashville, TN 37243, telephone (615) 687-4776, 
email [email protected], by June 14, 2019. 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.
    The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, Division 
of Archaeology is responsible for notifying The Tribes that this notice 
has been published.

    Dated: April 25, 2019.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2019-09996 Filed 5-14-19; 8:45 am]
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