[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 175 (Monday, September 12, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55842-55843]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-19614]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0034485; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: The Charleston Museum, 
Charleston, SC

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Charleston Museum 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 The Charleston Museum. 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 Charleston Museum at the address in this 
notice by October 12, 2022.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Martha Zierden, The Charleston Museum, 
360 Meeting Street, Charleston, SC 29403, telephone (843) 722-2996 Ext. 
225, 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 Charleston Museum, 
Charleston, SC. The human remains and associated funerary objects were 
removed from ``Mounds near Pioneer'' in West Carroll Parish, LA.
    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 
Charleston Museum professional staff, Dr. Suzanne Abel of the 
Charleston County Coroner's Office, and Dr. Wolf Bueschgen, a forensic 
dentist, in consultation with representatives of the Apache Tribe of 
Oklahoma; Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana; Jena Band of Choctaw Indians; 
Quapaw Nation (previously listed as The Quapaw Tribe of Indians); The 
Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma; and The Muscogee (Creek) Nation (hereafter 
referred to as ``The Consulted Tribes'').

History and Description of the Remains

    In 1925, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual 
were removed from unidentified ``mounds near Pioneer'' in West Carroll 
Parish, LA. Subsequently, they were given to the Louisiana State 
Museum. In 1926, the Louisiana State Museum, under Director Robert 
Glenk, donated the human remains and associated cultural items to The 
Charleston Museum, where they have been curated since March of 1926. 
The human remains, consisting of four skeletal elements, were examined 
in 2019 by Dr. Suzanne Abel in consultation with The Choctaw Nation of 
Oklahoma. Dr. Abel determined that these human remains probably belong 
to a single individual. No known individual was identified. The 37 
associated funerary objects are five clay poverty point objects, 16 
pottery fragments, three portions of pottery vessels, six stone tools 
or projectile points, four stone plummets or gorget fragments, one 
stone net sinker, and two rubbing stones.
    Based on consultation with the Office of State Archaeologist for 
Louisiana, the clay objects and plummets are typical Poverty Point 
period cultural materials (1700-1300 BC). Seven pottery sherds are 
likely from a single engraved, shell-tempered vessel, probably 
Plaquemine or Mississippian in age (after A.D. 1000). Eight sherds, 
Coles Creek Incised or Mazique Incised, are dated A.D. 800-1200. Three 
grog-tempered sherds probably date to after A.D. 700. A nearly complete 
shell tempered vessel, the neck of a water bottle, and a partial hybrid 
Coles Creek vessel all date to sometime after A.D. 1000.
    Information on the actual site location and collection history is 
limited to a single letter to The Charleston Museum from the Louisiana 
State Museum in 1926. Determination of the cultural affiliation of the 
human remains and associated funerary objects is based upon 
geographical, kinship, biological, archeological, linguistic, oral 
traditional, and historic information.

Determinations Made by The Charleston Museum

    Officials of The Charleston Museum have determined that:

[[Page 55843]]

     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice represent the physical remains of one individual of 
Native American ancestry.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A), the 37 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 Choctaw 
Nation of Oklahoma.

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 Martha Zierden, The Charleston Museum, 360 
Meeting Street, Charleston, SC 29403, telephone (843) 722-2996 Ext. 
225, email [email protected], by October 12, 2022. After 
that date, if no additional requestors have come forward, transfer of 
control of the human remains and associated funerary objects to The 
Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma may proceed.
    The Charleston Museum is responsible for notifying The Consulted 
Tribes that this notice has been published.

    Dated: September 1, 2022.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2022-19614 Filed 9-9-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P