[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 80 (Wednesday, April 26, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25421-25422]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-08813]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0035716; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: University of Michigan, Ann 
Arbor, MI

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The University of Michigan 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 a 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 University of Michigan. 
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 
University of Michigan at the address in this notice by May 26, 2023.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Ben Secunda, NAGPRA Project 
Manager, University of Michigan, Office of Research, 3003 South State 
St., First Floor, Wolverine Tower, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1274, telephone 
(734) 615-8936, 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 University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI. The human 
remains were removed from the Moundville site in Hale and Tuscaloosa 
Counties, 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. 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 
University of Michigan professional staff in consultation with 
representatives of the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas; Alabama-
Quassarte Tribal Town; Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana; Jena Band of 
Choctaw Indians; Miccosukee Tribe of Indians; Mississippi Band of 
Choctaw Indians; Poarch Band of Creek Indians; Seminole Tribe of 
Florida; The Chickasaw Nation; The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma; The 
Muscogee (Creek) Nation; The Seminole Nation of Oklahoma; and the 
Thlopthlocco Tribal Town (hereafter referred to as ``The Tribes'').

History and Description of the Human Remains

    On an unknown date, human remains representing, at minimum, one 
individual were removed from the Moundville site (1TU500) in Hale and 
Tuscaloosa Counties, AL. The Moundville site is located near the Black 
Warrior River. The site consists of multiple mounds surrounding a 
central plaza, and includes both burial and habitation areas. It is 
owned and managed by the University of Alabama. First excavated in 
1840, the site has been excavated numerous times by multiple 
individuals. While publications report that thousands of burials were 
disinterred and objects removed during these excavations, the 
University of Michigan Museum of Anthropological Archaeology (UMMAA) 
only possesses the ancestral human remains of a single individual. Not 
much is known regarding these ancestral human remains at the UMMAA. 
They were found in the osteological teaching collections during NAGPRA 
compliance work conducted in the early-1990s, at which time they were 
accessioned. To date, no records have been found describing when the 
ancestral human remains were disinterred or how they came into the 
possession of the UMMAA. The Museum's catalog book describes the 
ancestral human remains as from a ``field near Mound M, Moundville, 
Hale Co, ALA 1HA48'' and ``burial 53.'' The ancestral human remains are 
also labeled ``Moundville, Ala. Field near Md M Burial 53.'' The human 
remains belong to one adult of indeterminate sex. Based on general 
dating for the site, this individual was buried between A.D. 1050 and 
1550. No known individual was identified. No associated funerary 
objects are present.
    The human remains have been determined to be Native American based 
on accession documentation and archaeological context. A relationship 
of shared group identity can be reasonably traced between the Native 
American human remains from this site and the Muskogean peoples based 
on historical sources.

Determinations Made by the University of Michigan

    Officials of the University of Michigan 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(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 Dr. Ben

[[Page 25422]]

Secunda, NAGPRA Project Manager, University of Michigan, Office of 
Research, 3003 South State St., First Floor, Wolverine Tower, Ann 
Arbor, MI 48109-1274, telephone (734) 615-8936, email 
[email protected], by May 26, 2023. After that date, if no additional 
requestors have come forward, transfer of control of the human remains 
to The Tribes may proceed.
    The University of Michigan is responsible for notifying The Tribes 
that this notice has been published.

    Dated: April 19, 2023.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2023-08813 Filed 4-25-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P