[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 223 (Tuesday, November 23, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66585-66586]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-25522]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0033013; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: Florida State University, 
Department of Anthropology, Tallahassee, FL

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Anthropology, Florida State University (FSU) 
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 funerary objects should 
submit a written request to the Department of Anthropology at FSU. 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 the Department of Anthropology at FSU at the 
address in this notice by December 23, 2021.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Geoffrey Thomas, Florida State 
University, Department of Anthropology, 60 North Woodward Avenue, 
Tallahassee, FL 32306, telephone (850) 644-8156, 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 Florida State 
University, Department of Anthropology, Tallahassee, FL. The human 
remains and associated funerary objects were removed from Gadsden 
County, Okaloosa County, and Walton County, FL.
    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 
Department of Anthropology at FSU professional staff in consultation 
with representatives of the Alabama-Quassarte Tribal Town; Jena Band of 
Choctaw Indians; Kialegee Tribal Town; Miccosukee Tribe of Indians; 
Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians; Poarch Band of Creek Indians 
[previously known as the Poarch Band of Creeks, and as the Poarch Band 
of Creek Indians of Alabama]; Seminole Tribe of Florida [previously 
listed as Seminole Tribe of Florida (Dania, Big Cypress, Brighton, 
Hollywood, & Tampa Reservations)]; The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma; The 
Muscogee (Creek) Nation; Thlopthlocco Tribal Town; and the Tunica-
Biloxi Indian Tribe (hereafter referred to as ``The Tribes'').

History and Description of the Remains

    At an unknown time, human remains representing, at minimum, 16 
individuals were removed from the Scotland site (8GD94), in Gadsen 
County, FL, by Calvin Jones. There is no information regarding how or 
when the human remains from this site came into the possession or 
control of Florida State University. The State of Florida Master Site 
File indicates that Calvin Jones conducted investigations at the site 
during a salvage operation and that the site has been linked to Weeden 
Island, Swift Creek, and Ft. Walton cultural phases based on 
unassociated sherds found there. The human remains are commingled and 
fragmentary. Among them are both the single designated burial (#542) of 
a probable male 35-50 years old and the remains of a possible female. 
No known individuals were identified. No associated funerary objects 
are present.
    In the 1960s, human remains representing, at minimum, 38 
individuals were removed from Fort Walton Mound (8OK6M), in Okaloosa 
County, FL, by Charles Fairbanks while he was associated with FSU. This 
site has a long history of excavation, including one carried out by 
C.B. Moore in 1901. Although the site is listed as

[[Page 66586]]

8OK6M at Florida State University, according to currently available 
information, it is the same site as 8OK6 listed in state files. (The M 
suffix was requested by Yulee Lazarus in 1968 to distinguish the large 
Fort Walton Temple Mound, from the nearby shell middens.) Based on 
several types of sherds discovered during the excavation by Fairbanks, 
it was deduced that the site contained occupations from the Fort Walton 
period through Deptford, Santa-Rosa, Swift Creek, and Weeden Island 
phases. The majority of the human remains belong to adult-aged 
individuals. A single subadult--likely late teens--is also present. No 
known individuals have been identified. The 33 associated funerary 
objects include 23 plain, two stamped, and eight incised ceramic 
sherds.
    Between 1956 and 1958, human remains representing, at minimum, nine 
individuals were removed from the Bell Site (8OK19), in Okaloosa 
County, FL. In 1956, part of this collection was brought to Florida 
State University after erosion exposure from Hurricane Flossie washed 
``thousands of sherds'' into Choctawhatchee Bay (according to the State 
of Florida Master Site File). In 1958, this site was excavated by 
Charles Fairbanks and W.C. Lazarus and was determined to be of Fort 
Walton, Santa-Rosa, Swift Creek, and Weeden Island cultural complexes. 
Two of the individuals are sub-adults, and the other seven are adults; 
all are of indeterminate sex. No known individuals have been 
identified. No associated funerary objects present.
    In 1959, human remains representing, at minimum, three individuals 
were recovered from the Chambless Site (8OK35), in Okaloosa County, FL, 
and donated to The Florida State University by the property owner. As 
the recovered materials came from disturbed backfill soil, their 
context is unknown among the human remains. According to the State of 
Florida Master Site File, broken vessels recovered by the landowner 
were retained by W.C. Lazarus for preservation and restoration at the 
Fort Walton Temple Museum, Destin, FL. Those ceramic vessels are 
classified as Fort Walton phase. The human remains belong to one male 
most likely 30-35 years old, one female most likely 30-35 years old, 
and one individual of unknown age and sex. No known individuals have 
been identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    In the 1960s, human remains representing, at minimum, eight 
individuals were removed from the Johnson Site (8WL30), in Walton 
County, FL, by W.C. Lazarus and J.M. Johnson. Most of the materials 
collected were brought to FSU at that time. (A vessel reportedly 
recovered during the investigation of the site remains in the 
possession of J.M. Johnson.) Of the eight individuals, one is probably 
female 35-50 years old, and at least two are sub-adults. No known 
individuals were identified. No associated funerary objects are 
present. Cultural phase determined to be Fort Walton based on a ceramic 
analysis.

Determinations Made by the Department of Anthropology, Florida State 
University

    Officials of the Department of Anthropology, Florida 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 74 individuals of 
Native American ancestry.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A), the 33 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 Dr. Geoffrey Thomas, Florida State 
University, Department of Anthropology, 60 North Woodward Avenue, 
Tallahassee, FL 32306, telephone (850) 644-8156, email 
[email protected], by December 23, 2021. 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 Anthropology, Florida State University is 
responsible for notifying The Tribes that this notice has been 
published.

    Dated: November 17, 2021.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2021-25522 Filed 11-22-21; 8:45 am]
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