[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 144 (Friday, July 28, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48914-48916]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-16068]



[[Page 48914]]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0036256; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: William S. Webb Museum of 
Anthropology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and 
Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the William S. Webb Museum of Anthropology, 
University of Kentucky (WSWM) has completed an inventory of human 
remains and associated funerary objects and has determined that there 
is a cultural affiliation between the human remains and associated 
funerary objects and Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in 
this notice. The human remains and associated funerary objects were 
removed from: Bourbon, Boone, Bracken, Fayette, Greenup, Harrison, 
Jessamine, Mercer, Mason, and Union counties, KY.

DATES: Repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary 
objects in this notice may occur on or after August 28, 2023.

ADDRESSES: Celise Fricker, William S. Webb Museum of Anthropology, 
University of Kentucky, 1020 Export Street, Lexington, KY 40504, 
telephone (859) 257-5124, email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice is published as part of the 
National Park Service's administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA. 
The determinations in this notice are the sole responsibility of the 
WSWM. The National Park Service is not responsible for the 
determinations in this notice. Additional information on the 
determinations in this notice, including the results of consultation, 
can be found in the inventory or related records held by the WSWM.

Description

    Human remains representing, at minimum, 69 individuals were removed 
from site 15BB12 (Buckner) in Bourbon, KY. The site was excavated in 
1939 by the University of Kentucky Museum of Anthropology under 
contract to the Works Progress Administration (WPA). A Fort Ancient 
determination for these human remains is based on the presence of wall-
trench houses, and diagnostic limestone/shell-tempered ceramics and 
projectile points. The 124 associated funerary objects are one semi-
circular grooved lithic, two shell gorgets, 12 bird bone beads, 80 
marginella shell beads, six shell disc beads, one limestone 
hammerstone, five projectile points, one incised triangular shell 
pendant, one imitation tooth cannel coal pendant, four limestone 
discoidals, five cylindrical shell beads, one bone needle, two bone 
awls, one perforated shell disc, one bone antler point, and one ceramic 
disc.
    Human remains representing, at minimum, 12 individuals were removed 
from site 15BB13 (Larkin) in Bourbon, KY. The site was originally 
surveyed in 1936 and then excavated by Kentucky Heritage Council staff 
in 1986. A Fort Ancient determination for these human remains is based 
on the presence of ceramic vessel shapes (salt pans, colanders, 
globular jars) and `weeping eye' shell mask gorgets characteristic of 
Late Fort Ancient culture in the Central Bluegrass region. The 70 
associated funerary objects are two flakes, one shell bead, five 
perforated animal teeth, one abrader, six shells, one copper tube bead, 
one triangular point, one cannel coal, 43 faunal remains, one charcoal, 
five projectile points, one lithic drill, one cannel coal pendant, and 
one botanical remain.
    Human remains representing, at minimum, four individuals were 
removed from site 15BB15 (Layson) in Bourbon, KY. The site was 
originally surveyed and excavated in 1947 by University of Kentucky 
Museum of Anthropology staff. A Fort Ancient determination for these 
human remains is based on the presence of shell/limestone tempered 
ceramics characteristic of Fort Ancient occupations in the Central 
Bluegrass region. No associated funerary objects are present.
    Human remains representing, at minimum, eight individuals were 
removed from site 15BB45 (New Field) in Bourbon, KY. The site was 
surveyed and surface-collected in 1977 by Hockensmith and Turnbow, in 
1978 by Wayne Estes, and in 1991 by Estes, O'Malley, Harlin, Tune, and 
Pollack. In 1992, the site was excavated by the University of Kentucky 
Program for Cultural Resource Assessment. A Fort Ancient determination 
for these human remains is based on the presence of shell/limestone 
tempered ceramics characteristic of Fort Ancient occupations in eastern 
Kentucky and on C14 dates. No associated funerary objects are present.
    Human remains representing, at minimum, two individuals were 
removed from site 15BB59 (Paris Quarry) in Bourbon, KY. These human 
remains were recovered from a quarry after a bulldozer exposed them, 
and they were subsequently donated to the WSWM by a private collector. 
A Fort Ancient determination for these human remains is based on the 
light wear to the teeth and their physical proximity to recorded Fort 
Ancient sites. No associated funerary objects are present.
    Human remains representing, at minimum, 55 individuals were removed 
from site 15BE06 (Petersburg) in Boone, KY. The site was initially 
excavated by the University of Kentucky Program for Cultural Resource 
Assessment in 1990 and, subsequently, human remains belonging to one 
individual were recovered during floatation analyses. The site was 
excavated as a salvage project in 2004 by the Kentucky Archaeological 
Survey and volunteers, when the basement for a new house was 
constructed on the boundary of the earlier and later villages, though 
not near previously identified cemeteries. A Fort Ancient determination 
for these human remains is based on the presence of shell-tempered 
ceramics and contact-period burial associations. The 542 associated 
funerary objects are five bone drifts, nine bone tools, two drilled 
faunal incisor pendants, one ceramic gorget, 333 shell beads, one 
faunal mandible, one discoidal, three celts, 45 copper/brass beads with 
cordage, one abrading stone, two large bifaces, one shell disc, one 
wolf maxilla, one stone bead, two ceramic vessels, 10 triangular 
points, one bi-pointed copper awl, one biface-drill, nine bifaces, 10 
lithic projectile points, two antler projectile points, 24 lithic 
tools, two deer skulls, one bone fish hook, one copper cross, 12 copper 
tubes with cordage, four raven bones, one bird beak with copper 
staining, 21 shell valves, one vasiform pipe, one effigy head pipe, two 
cores, nine bone tube beads, 17 copper clips, two marginella shell 
beads, one piece of horn coral, one drilled shell hoe, and one drilled 
bear canine.
    Human remains representing, at minimum, 35 individuals were removed 
from site 15BE08 (McCabe Mound) in Boone, KY. The site was excavated in 
1939 by the University of Kentucky Museum of Anthropology under 
contract to the WPA. A Fort Ancient determination for these human 
remains is based on the presence of diagnostic limestone/shell-tempered 
ceramics and projectile points, and on C14 dates of 830 +/-90 BP. The 
38 associated funerary objects are three bivalve shells, 23 ceramic 
sherds, two limestone bars, one fragment of a platform pipe, two celts, 
three projectile points, one claw, one bone drift, one chert drill, and 
one cut antler.

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    Human remains representing, at minimum, one individual were removed 
from site 15BE22 (Cleek Village) in Boone, KY. The site was excavated 
in 1939 by the University of Kentucky Museum of Anthropology under 
contract to the WPA. A Fort Ancient determination for these human 
remains is based on the presence of diagnostic limestone/shell-tempered 
ceramics and projectile points, and on C14 dates of 830 +/-90 BP. No 
associated funerary objects are present.
    Human remains representing, at minimum, one individual were removed 
from site 15BK02 (Snag Creek/Sharp/Bradford) in Bracken, KY. The site 
was excavated in 1984 by members of the William S. Webb Archaeological 
Society and University of Kentucky students. A Fort Ancient 
determination for these human remains is based on the presence of 
diagnostic Fox Farm and Madisonville ceramics and triangular projectile 
points, and on C14 dates suggesting an occupation between 1400 and 1500 
CE. No associated funerary objects are present.
    Human remains representing, at minimum, 20 individuals were removed 
from site 15BK04 (Augusta) in Bracken, KY. These human remains were 
donated to WSWM by Louie Edwards after he excavated several stone box 
burials while digging a basement at his house. A Fort Ancient 
determination for these human remains is based on the presence of stone 
box burials, weeping-eye shell gorgets, and shell-tempered sherds from 
a known Fort Ancient village site, and on C14 dates ranging from 1290 
to 1640 CE. No associated funerary objects are present.
    Human remains representing, at minimum, two individuals were 
removed from site 15FA13 (University of Kentucky Stoll Field) in 
Fayette, KY. This site was excavated in 1936 by the University of 
Kentucky Museum of Anthropology, when a new track was cut at Stoll 
Field, on the University of Kentucky campus in Lexington. A Fort 
Ancient determination for these human remains is based on the light 
tooth wear and their regional location. No associated funerary objects 
are present.
    Human remains representing, at minimum, two individuals were 
removed from site 15FA22 (Water Pump Station) in Fayette, KY. This site 
was inadvertently discovered during construction of Lexington Water 
Company's Kentucky River Pumping Station. In response, the police 
requested an excavation by the University of Kentucky Department of 
Anthropology. A Fort Ancient determination for these human remains is 
based on associated shell-tempered sherds (Madisonville horizon) and 
burial form. No associated funerary objects are present.
    Human remains representing, at minimum, one individual were removed 
from site 15GP00 (Unnamed) in Greenup, KY. The human remains were 
donated to the University of Kentucky Museum of Anthropology by a 
private collector. A Fort Ancient determination for these human remains 
is based on the light tooth wear, the cranial modification, and their 
regional location. No associated funerary objects are present.
    Human remains representing, at minimum, 341 individuals were 
removed from site 15GP22 (Hardin Village) in Greenup, KY. The site was 
excavated in 1939 by the University of Kentucky Museum of Anthropology 
under contract to the WPA. A Fort Ancient determination for these human 
remains is based on the presence of diagnostic shell/limestone-tempered 
ceramics, projectile points, wall-trench houses, and shell gorgets. The 
1,998 associated funerary objects are five celts, three hematite 
pebbles, six hammerstones, five lithic knives, two cannel coal objects, 
one hematite object, one stone ring, five lithic drills, one sub-
rectangular bar, two grinding stones, one whet stone, two lithic hoes, 
four pipes, 17 scrapers, 90 projectile points, two bone spatulas, one 
antler flaker, three antler projectile points, two worked antler 
points, one bone projectile point, one dog tooth, one bone flaker, one 
bone fish hook, one bone pin, one bone pendant, 15 bone drifts, 30 bone 
tubes, eight worked faunal bones, 18 bone awls, six bone scrapers, 46 
bored faunal teeth, 110 bone beads, eight potsherds, 12 complete 
ceramic pots, 11 copper tubes, 13 copper sheet fragments, two copper 
pendants, seven copper coils, one copper band, 159 copper beads, two 
copper bracelets, 856 shell beads, 136 shell disc beads, 79 shell 
pendants, 276 marginella beads, one conch, nine shells, nine shell 
gorgets, three conch gorgets, 16 drilled shells, one shell mask, four 
worked shells, and one shell spoon.
    Human remains representing, at minimum, five individuals were 
removed from site 15HR21/15HR22 (Florence) in Harrison, KY. This site 
was first surveyed in 1987 by UK archeologists and human remains were 
surface-collected. The site was then excavated between 1989 and 1990 by 
the Kentucky Archaeology Survey and Kentucky Heritage Council. A Fort 
Ancient determination for these human remains is based on diagnostic 
ceramic types, triangular projectile points, and C14 dates. No 
associated funerary objects are present.
    Human remains representing, at minimum, two individuals were 
removed from site 15JS95 (Unnamed) in Jessamine, KY. The site was 
excavated by the Office of State Archaeology and the University of 
Kentucky Museum of Anthropology staff in 1987. A Fort Ancient 
determination for these human remains is based on the light tooth wear, 
the cranial modification, and the proximity of the burial to other Fort 
Ancient sites. No associated funerary objects are present.
    Human remains representing, at minimum, two individuals were 
removed from site 15ME62 (Dry Branch Creek) in Mercer, KY. This site 
was first surveyed in 1995 and 1996 during planning for a bridge 
replacement. Excavation followed in 1998, as part of a Phase III 
mitigation project undertaken by Wilbur Smith Associates. A Fort 
Ancient determination for these human remains is based on diagnostic 
ceramic types, triangular projectile points, and C14 dates. No 
associated funerary objects are present.
    Human remains representing, at minimum, 10 individuals were removed 
from site 15MS01 (Fox Farm/Fox Field) in Mason, KY. This site was first 
surveyed, surface collected and excavated by E.S. Maxwell and William 
S. Webb between 1920 and 1930, and all materials were donated to the 
University of Kentucky Museum of Anthropology. In 1969, an excavation 
by Maysville Community College students took place. The excavated 
materials from that excavation were initially donated to the Kentucky 
Gateway Museum Center; in 2009, they were donated to the WSWM. 
Additional donations to the WSWM were made by private collectors in 
1960, 1991, and 2018. A Fort Ancient determination for these human 
remains is based on diagnostic ceramic types, triangular projectile 
points, and marine shell gorgets. The two associated funerary objects 
are one engraved rattlesnake motif shell gorget, and one large copper 
tube bead.
    Human remains representing, at minimum, one individual were removed 
from site 15MS47 (Unnamed) in Mason, KY. This mound site was disturbed 
by construction activity in 1979. Ancestral remains were removed by the 
construction crew and recovered by WSWM personnel during an 
investigation of the site. A Fort Ancient determination for these human 
remains is based on burial form and their proximity to other Fort 
Ancient sites. No associated funerary objects are present.

[[Page 48916]]

    Human remains representing, at minimum, one individual were removed 
from site 15UN30 (Unnamed) in Union, KY. This site was excavated by the 
University of Kentucky Museum of Anthropology in 1969. A Fort Ancient 
determination for these human remains is based on diagnostic shell-
tempered ceramics and projectile points. No associated funerary objects 
are present.
    Human remains representing, at minimum, six individuals were 
removed from site 15UN37 (Unnamed) in Union, KY. These human remains 
were donated to WSWM by a private collector. A Fort Ancient 
determination for these human remains is based on the proximity of site 
to other Fort Ancient sites in Union County. No associated funerary 
objects are present.
    Human remains representing, at minimum, one individual were removed 
from site 15UN39 (Unnamed) in Union, KY. This site was excavated by the 
University of Kentucky Museum of Anthropology in 1969. A Fort Ancient 
determination for these human remains is based on diagnostic shell-
tempered ceramics and projectile points. No associated funerary objects 
are present.
    Human remains representing, at minimum, two individuals were 
removed from site 15UN42 (Unnamed) in Union, KY. This site was 
excavated by the University of Kentucky Museum of Anthropology in 1969. 
A Fort Ancient determination for these human remains is based on 
diagnostic shell-tempered ceramics and projectile points. No associated 
funerary objects are present.

Cultural Affiliation

    The human remains and associated funerary objects in this notice 
are connected to one or more identifiable earlier groups, tribes, 
peoples, or cultures. There is a relationship of shared group identity 
between the identifiable earlier groups, tribes, peoples, or cultures 
and one or more Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations. The 
following types of information were used to reasonably trace the 
relationship: anthropological, archeological, folkloric, geographical, 
historical, linguistic, and oral traditional.

Determinations

    Pursuant to NAGPRA and its implementing regulations, and after 
consultation with the appropriate Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian 
organizations, the WSWM has determined that:
     The human remains described in this notice represent the 
physical remains of 583 individuals of Native American ancestry.
     The 2,774 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.
     There is a relationship of shared group identity that can 
be reasonably traced between the human remains and associated funerary 
objects described in this notice and the Absentee-Shawnee Tribe of 
Indians of Oklahoma; Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma; and the Shawnee 
Tribe.

Requests for Repatriation

    Written requests for repatriation of the human remains and 
associated funerary objects in this notice must be sent to the 
Responsible Official identified in ADDRESSES. Requests for repatriation 
may be submitted by:
    1. Any one or more of the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian 
organizations identified in this notice.
    2. Any lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian 
organization not identified in this notice who shows, by a 
preponderance of the evidence, that the requestor is a lineal 
descendant or a culturally affiliated Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian 
organization.
    Repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects 
in this notice to a requestor may occur on or after August 28, 2023. If 
competing requests for repatriation are received, the WSWM must 
determine the most appropriate requestor prior to repatriation. 
Requests for joint repatriation of the human remains and associated 
funerary objects are considered a single request and not competing 
requests. The WSWM is responsible for sending a copy of this notice to 
the Indian Tribes identified in this notice.
    Authority: Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, 
25 U.S.C. 3003, and the implementing regulations, 43 CFR 10.9, 10.10, 
and 10.14.

Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2023-16068 Filed 7-27-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P