[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 2 (Wednesday, January 3, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 396-397]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-28917]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0037162; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: Alabama Department of Archives 
and History, Montgomery, AL

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 Alabama Department of Archives and 
History (ADAH) 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 unknown 
locations, though likely from the state of Alabama.

DATES: Repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary 
objects in this notice may occur on or after February 2, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Kellie Bowers, NAGPRA Coordinator, the Alabama Department of 
Archives and History, P.O. Box 300100, 624 Washington Avenue, 
Montgomery, AL 36130, telephone (334) 353-4731, 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 
Alabama Department of Archives and History. 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

[[Page 397]]

records held by the Alabama Department of Archives and History.

Description

    On March 13, 1911, and on various unknown dates, human remains 
representing, at minimum, 38 individuals were removed from an unknown 
location by members of the Alabama Anthropological Society. Between 
1916 and 1951, the human remains were donated to the ADAH (Human 
Remains Identification Numbers 4102, 4108, 4109, 4115, 4129, 4130, 
4131, 4132, 4133, 4141, 4142, 4143, 4144, 4145, 4146, 4147, 4148, 4149, 
4150, 4151, 4152, 4153, 4154, 4155, 4156, 4157, 4158, 4159, 4160, 4161, 
4162, 4163, 4164, 4165, 4166, 4168, 4169). No associated funerary 
objects are present.
    At an unknown date, human remains representing, at minimum, one 
individual were removed from an unknown location by members of the 
Alabama Anthropological Society. Between 1916 and 1951, the human 
remains were donated to the ADAH (Human Remains Identification Number 
4167). The eight associated funerary objects are eight copper or brass 
bracelets.
    At an unknown date, human remains representing, at minimum, one 
individual were removed from an unknown location by members of the 
Alabama Anthropological Society. Between 1916 and 1951, the human 
remains were donated to the ADAH (Human Remains Identification Number 
AAS159-1). The one associated funerary object is one lot of faunal 
remains.
    At an unknown date, human remains representing, at minimum, one 
individual were removed from an unknown location by members of the 
Montgomery Art and Archaeology Society. In 2021, the human remains were 
donated to the ADAH (Human Remains Identification Number UNK1). The 
ADAH accepted these materials for the sole purpose of repatriation 
under NAGPRA. The one associated funerary object is one lot of faunal 
remains.
    At an unknown date, human remains representing, at minimum, one 
individual were removed from an unknown location by members of the 
Montgomery Art and Archaeology Society. In 2021, the human remains were 
donated to the ADAH (Human Remains Identification Number UNK2). The 
ADAH accepted these materials for the sole purpose of repatriation 
under NAGPRA. The two associated funerary objects are ceramic sherds.

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: geographical and historical information.

Determinations

    Pursuant to NAGPRA and its implementing regulations, and after 
consultation with the appropriate Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian 
organizations, the Alabama Department of Archives and History has 
determined that:
     The human remains described in this notice represent the 
physical remains of 42 individuals of Native American ancestry.
     The 12 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; Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas; Alabama-
Quassarte Tribal Town; Cherokee Nation; Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana; 
Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians; Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma; 
Jena Band of Choctaw Indians; Kialegee Tribal Town; Miccosukee Tribe of 
Indians; Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians; Poarch Band of Creek 
Indians; Seminole Tribe of Florida; Shawnee Tribe; The Chickasaw 
Nation; The Muscogee (Creek) Nation; The Seminole Nation of Oklahoma; 
and the Thlopthlocco Tribal Town.

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 in this notice to a requestor may 
occur on or after February 2, 2024. If competing requests for 
repatriation are received, the Alabama Department of Archives and 
History 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 Alabama Department of Archives and History is 
responsible for sending a copy of this notice to the Indian Tribes and 
Native Hawaiian organizations 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.

    Dated: December 20, 2023.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2023-28917 Filed 1-2-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P