[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 152 (Thursday, August 6, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47807-47808]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-17173]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0030518; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: Virginia Living Museum, Newport 
News, VA

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Virginia Living Museum has completed an inventory of human 
remains, 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 
should submit a written request to the Virginia Living Museum. 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 should submit a 
written request with information in support of the request to the 
Virginia Living Museum at the address in this notice by September 8, 
2020.

ADDRESSES: Emily Hoffman, Collections Manager, Virginia Living Museum, 
524 J Clyde Morris Blvd., Newport News, VA 23701, telephone (757) 595-
1900 Ext. 238, 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 under 
the control of the Virginia Living Museum, Newport News, VA. The human 
remains were removed from Harmon's Cave in Saltville, Smyth County, VA, 
and from the Great South Channel, off the coast of Virginia.
    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. 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 Virginia 
Living Museum professional staff in consultation with representatives 
of the Catawba Indian Nation (aka Catawba Tribe of South Carolina); 
Chickahominy Indian Tribe--Eastern Division; Delaware Nation, Oklahoma; 
Delaware Tribe of Indians; Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians; Eastern 
Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma; Monacan Indian Nation; Nansemond Indian 
Nation (previously listed as Nansemond Indian Tribe); Pamunkey Indian 
Tribe; Rappahannock Tribe, Inc.; The Muscogee (Creek Nation); and the 
Upper Mattaponi Tribe (hereafter referred to as ``The Tribes'').

History and Description of the Remains

    In 1959, human remains representing, at minimum, two individuals 
were removed from Harmon's Cave, which is located behind the Madame 
Russel House in Saltville, Smyth County, VA. Saltville is a small town 
that lies mostly in Smyth County in southwestern Virginia, between the 
Holston River and the Tennessee and Virginia Railroad. The human 
remains were collected by a member of the public in 1959, and they were 
donated to the Virginia Living Museum in 1967. The human remains 
include the top portion of a skull measuring approximately 160mm x 
130mm (front to back) and belonging to an individual of unknown age and 
sex, and the partial forehead, brow ridges,

[[Page 47808]]

and part of nasal cavity of a skull measuring approximately 100mm x 
97mm and possibly belonging to a juvenile of unknown sex. No known 
individuals were identified. No associated funerary objects are 
present.
    We do not have any historical records for these human remains 
beyond our initial donation form. When these human remains were 
donated, they were reported to be Native American.
    On June 6, 1994, human remains representing, at minimum, one 
individual were removed from the Great South Channel, off the coast of 
Virginia. The human remains were collected by a member of the public in 
1994, and they were donated to the Virginia Living Museum shortly 
thereafter. The human remains include the partial back and top of a 
skull measuring approximately 155mm (front to back) x 125mm (side to 
side) and belonging to an individual of unknown age and sex. No known 
individual was identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    We do not have any historical records for these human remains 
beyond our initial donation form. When these human remains were 
donated, they were reported to be Native American.

Determinations Made by the Virginia Living Museum

    Officials of the Virginia Living Museum have determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice represent the physical remains of three individuals of 
Native American ancestry.
     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 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 should submit a 
written request with information in support of the request to Emily 
Hoffman, Collections Manager, Virginia Living Museum, 524 J Clyde 
Morris Blvd., Newport News, VA 23701, telephone (757) 595-1900 Ext. 
238, email [email protected], by September 8, 2020. After that 
date, if no additional requestors have come forward, transfer of 
control of the human remains to The Tribes may proceed.
    The Virginia Living Museum is responsible for notifying The Tribes 
that this notice has been published.

    Dated: June 25, 2020.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2020-17173 Filed 8-5-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P