[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 95 (Friday, May 15, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29479-29480]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-10433]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0029958; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: Columbus State University, 
Columbus, GA

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Columbus State 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 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 Columbus State University. 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 Columbus State University at the address in 
this notice by June 15, 2020.

ADDRESSES: Danielle Cook, Columbus State University, 4225 University 
Avenue, Columbus, GA 31907, telephone (706) 507-8063, email 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice is hereby 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 Columbus State 
University, Columbus, GA. The human remains and associated funerary 
objects were removed from the Abercrombie Site (1RU61), Phenix City, 
AL.
    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 Columbus 
State University professional staff in consultation with 
representatives of the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas (previously 
listed as the Alabama-Coushatta Tribes of Texas); Alabama-Quassarte 
Tribal Town; Cherokee Nation; Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians; 
Kialegee Tribal Town; Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians; Poarch Band 
of Creeks (previously listed as the Poarch Band of Creek Indians of 
Alabama); Seminole Tribe of Florida (previously listed as the Seminole 
Tribe of Florida (Dania, Big Cypress, Brighton, Hollywood & Tampa 
Reservations)); The Chickasaw Nation; The Muscogee (Creek) Nation; The 
Seminole Nation of Oklahoma; Thlopthlocco Tribal Town; and the United 
Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians (hereafter referred to as ``The 
Tribes'').

History and Description of the Remains

    Between 1957 and 1983, human remains representing, at minimum, 28 
individuals were removed from the Abercrombie site (1RU61) in Phenix 
City, AL. In the fall of 2016, the collection was loaned to Fort 
Benning by the Columbus Museum for the purpose of a display to be 
created by Fort Benning and displayed at the Columbus Museum. While the 
collection was in the possession of Fort Benning, human remains were 
identified. In the spring of 2017, Fort Benning, the Columbus Museum, 
and Columbus State University (CSU) agreed that ownership of the 
collection should be transferred to Columbus State University. CSU 
identified 28 individuals and 798 associated funerary objects. The 798 
associated funerary objects are five glass beads, 33 whelk

[[Page 29480]]

shell beads, 28 shell fragments, one whelk shell gorget, 689 ceramic 
fragments, 27 pieces of daub, one quartz fragment, two copper 
fragments, five lithic fragments, one historic metal, two floral 
fragments, one clay ball, and three complete pottery vessels.
    In the 17th century, the area in which site 1RU61 is located was 
called the Province of Apalachicoli by the Spanish. The area is 
believed to have been occupied by Hitchiti speakers until the late 17th 
century, when Muskhogee speakers also known as the Lower Creek--
occupied the area. Both the Hitchiti and the Lower Creek are related to 
The Tribes.

Determinations Made by Columbus State University

    Officials of Columbus State University have determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice represent the physical remains of 28 individuals of 
Native American ancestry.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A), the 798 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 Danielle Cook, Columbus State University, 226 
Jordan Hall, Columbus, GA 31907, telephone (857) 930-3002. Email 
[email protected], by June 15, 2020. 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.
    Columbus State University is responsible for notifying The Tribes 
that this notice has been published.

    Dated: February 28, 2020.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2020-10433 Filed 5-14-20; 8:45 am]
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