[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 26 (Wednesday, February 8, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8308-8309]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-02629]


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

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0035286; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: North Carolina Office of State 
Archaeology, Raleigh, NC

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: The North Carolina Office of State Archaeology 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 North Carolina Office of State Archaeology. 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 North Carolina Office of State 
Archaeology at the address in this notice by March 10, 2023.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Emily McDowell, Office of State 
Archaeology, 215 West Lane Street, Raleigh, NC 27616, telephone (919) 
715-5599, 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 North Carolina 
Office of State Archaeology, Raleigh, NC. The human remains and 
associated funerary objects were removed from the Hanging Dog Site 
(31CY12) located in Clay County, NC.
    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 North 
Carolina Office of State Archaeology professional staff in consultation 
with representatives of the Cherokee Nation; Eastern Band of Cherokee 
Indians; and The Muscogee (Creek) Nation.

History and Description of the Remains

    In 1986, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual 
were removed from the Hanging Dog site (31CY12) in Clay County, NC. 
During investigations for the Clay County Industrial Park Project, the 
Tennessee Valley Authority discovered the remains of two individuals in 
situ. The remains of one of the individuals were left in place and the 
remains of the other individual were excavated and removed. No chain of 
custody or intake transfer are included in the paperwork and the date 
of intake and circumstances surrounding the individual's arrival at the 
North Carolina Office of State Archaeology are unknown. The fragmentary 
human remains belong to a sub-adult individual perhaps a child less 
than five years of age. No known individual was identified. The one 
associated funerary object is one lot of glass and copper beads and 
fibers.
    The Hanging Dog site consists of a Qualla-phase historic tanning 
shed and an early Cherokee farmstead with burials. Fibers extracted 
from the burial and analyzed in 2001 provide a historic 17th century 
time frame. Burial style, site time frame, abundant grave goods, and 
fiber analysis all suggest the burial is a historic Cherokee child who 
was an important member of his or her group.

Determinations Made by the North Carolina Office of State Archaeology

    Officials of the North Carolina Office of State Archaeology have 
determined that:
     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 one object 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 Cherokee 
Nation; Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians; and the United Keetoowah Band 
of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma (hereafter referred to as ``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 Emily McDowell, North Carolina Office of 
State Archaeology, 215 West Lane Street, Raleigh, NC 27616, telephone 
(919) 715-5599, email [email protected], by March 10, 2023. 
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.

[[Page 8309]]

    The North Carolina Office of State Archaeology is responsible for 
notifying The Tribes and The Muscogee (Creek) Nation that this notice 
has been published.

    Dated: February 1, 2023.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2023-02629 Filed 2-7-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P