[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 125 (Friday, June 28, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31093-31094]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-13839]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0028126; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: Department of Folk Studies and 
Anthropology at Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Folk Studies and Anthropology at Western 
Kentucky University 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 Department of 
Folk Studies and Anthropology at Western Kentucky University. 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 Department of Folk Studies and Anthropology at 
Western Kentucky University at the address in this notice by July 29, 
2019.

ADDRESSES: Dr. Darlene Applegate, Department of Folk Studies and 
Anthropology, Western Kentucky University, 1906 College Heights 
Boulevard #61029, Bowling Green, KY 42101-1029, telephone (270) 745-
5898, 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 Department of Folk 
Studies and Anthropology at Western Kentucky University. The human 
remains and associated funerary objects were removed from Fulton 
County, KY.
    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 Western 
Kentucky University, Department of Folk Studies and Anthropology 
professional staff in consultation with representatives of The 
Chickasaw Nation and the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in 
Oklahoma. The Cherokee Nation and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians 
were invited to consult, but deferred to the consulted Indian Tribes. 
In addition, the Muscogee (Creek) Nation was invited to consult, but 
did not participate.

History and Description of the Remains

    During June-July 1978, human remains representing, at minimum, one 
individual were removed from Site 15Fu305A in Fulton County, KY. The 
human remains were recovered as part of an archeological survey 
conducted by Dr. Jack Schock of Western Kentucky University for the 
Memphis District Corps of Engineers in advance of a proposed 
channelization project above Lake 9, at Sassafras Ridge. Site 15Fu305A 
is located along the crest of a ridge on property then owned by Mr. 
James White. An area measuring about 50 ft (15 m) in diameter in an 
agricultural field on a ridge spur at the western edge of the 
multicomponent site yielded human bones and associated funerary objects 
from surface contexts. All human bones and artifacts visible on the 
surface were collected, and have been at Western Kentucky University 
since they were collected. The human remains consist of eight fragments 
of cranial and appendicular skeletal elements belonging to an adult 
male of indeterminate sex. No known individuals were identified. The 17 
associated funerary objects are five body sherds of Baytown Plain, 
eight body sherds of Neeley's Ferry Plain, one grog-tempered body sherd 
of unknown type, and three body sherds of indeterminate temper and 
unknown type. The researchers interpreted the aboriginal component at 
Site 15Fu305A as a Mississippian period mortuary site

[[Page 31094]]

containing one-two internments accompanied by at least two burial 
vessels. The human remains and pottery sherds subsequently were brought 
to the surface by plowing.
    In July 1978, human remains representing, at minimum, one 
individual were removed from the Sassafras Ridge site (15Fu3) in Fulton 
County, KY. The human remains were recovered as part of an 
undergraduate archaeological field methods course taught by Dr. Jack 
Schock of Western Kentucky University. The Sassafras Ridge site is 
located along the south edge of a swampy lowland called Fish Pond, 
about 3.5 km northeast of the small community of Sassafras Ridge. 
Listed in the National Register of Historic Places under Criterion D in 
1984, the Sassafras Ridge site is one of several Mississippian mound 
centers in Fulton and bordering counties of far western Kentucky. The 
human remains were collected from the surface on top of the earthen 
mound at the Sassafras Ridge site and consist of one partial 
neurocranial bone belonging to an adult of indeterminate sex. The human 
bone has been at Western Kentucky University since it was collected. No 
associated funerary objects are present.

Determinations Made by the Department of Folk Studies and Anthropology 
at Western Kentucky University

    Officials of the Department of Folk Studies and Anthropology at 
Western Kentucky University have determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice are Native American based on context of discovery and/or 
the associated funerary objects.
     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 17 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; The Chickasaw Nation; The Muscogee (Creek) Nation; 
and the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma 
(hereafter referred to as ``The Tribes'').
     Pursuant to 43 CFR 10.11(c)(1), the disposition of the 
human remains and associated funerary objects may be to The Tribes.

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. 
Darlene Applegate, Department of Folk Studies and Anthropology, Western 
Kentucky University, 1906 College Heights Boulevard #61029, Bowling 
Green, KY 42101-1029, telephone (270) 745-5898, email 
[email protected], by July 29, 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 Department of Folk Studies and Anthropology at Western Kentucky 
University is responsible for notifying The Tribes that this notice has 
been published.

    Dated: June 5, 2019.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2019-13839 Filed 6-27-19; 8:45 am]
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