[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 47 (Friday, March 8, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16798-16799]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-04989]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0037564; 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.

DATES: Repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary 
objects in this notice may occur on or after April 8, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Celise Chilcote-Fricker, William S. Webb Museum of 
Anthropology, University of Kentucky, 1020 Export St., 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, and additional information on the determinations in this notice, 
including the results of consultation, can be found in the inventory or 
related records. The National Park Service is not responsible for the 
determinations in this notice.

Abstract of Information Available

    Based on the information available, human remains representing, at 
least, one individual have been reasonably identified. No associated 
funerary objects are present. The site 15BE06 (Petersburg) in Boone, KY 
was initially excavated by the University of Kentucky Program for 
Cultural Resource Assessment in 1990. A Fort Ancient determination for 
these human remains is based on the presence of shell-tempered ceramics 
and contact-period burial associations.
    Based on the information available, human remains representing, at 
least, 42 individuals have been reasonably identified. The 31 
associated funerary objects are one lot lithic, seven bone beads, one 
cannel coal pendant, one worked cannel coal, two lots ceramic, two lots 
charcoal, two lots faunal, two lots floatation, two limestone disks, 
seven projectile points, two lots shell, and two bifaces. Site 15BB12 
(Buckner) in Bourbon, KY was first excavated in 1939 by the University 
of Kentucky Museum of Anthropology under contract to the Works Progress 
Administration, surface collections in 1977 by Turnbow and Hockensmith 
were later donated to the WSWM and then the site was excavated again in 
1987 by the University of Kentucky Field School. 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.
    Based on the information available, human remains representing, at 
least, one individual have been reasonably identified. No associated 
funerary objects are present. Site 15BB45 (New Field) in Bourbon, KY 
was excavated in 1992 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 C14 dates.
    Based on the information available, nine associated funerary 
objects are two lots faunal, two lots ceramic, two lots lithic, two 
lots charcoal, and one lot floatation. Site 15BK02 (Snag Creek/

[[Page 16799]]

Sharp/Bradford) in Bracken, KY 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, combined with C14 dates which suggest 
occupation between 1400 and 1500 CE.
    Based on the information available, the seven associated funerary 
objects are one lot shell, one ceramic sherd, three shells, and two 
lithics. Burials from site 15BK04 (Augusta) in Bracken, KY were 
excavated by Louie Edwards while digging a basement at his house and 
donated to the WSWM in 1950. A Fort Ancient determination for these 
human remains is based on the presence of stone box burials, weeping-
eye shell gorgets, shell-tempered sherds from a known Fort Ancient 
village site and C14 dates from 1290-1640 CE.
    Based on the information available, human remains representing, at 
least, seven individuals have been reasonably identified. The 27 
associated funerary objects are one turtle shell, three lots faunal, 
two lots lithic, two lithics, two lots shell, three lots charcoal, two 
lots ceramic sherds, six shells, one lot bone bead fragments, one bone 
bead, two shell beads, one copper bead, and one bone drift. Site 15BK06 
(Augusta) in Bracken, KY was excavated in 2016 by the Kentucky 
Archaeological Survey as a salvage project related to residential 
basement excavation. A Fort Ancient determination for these human 
remains is based on the presence of diagnostic limestone/shell-tempered 
ceramics and projectile points.
    Based on the information available, human remains representing, at 
least, six individuals have been reasonably identified. The 67 
associated funerary objects are six lots ceramic sherds, six lots 
lithic, six lots shell fragments, three lots wood fragments, six lots 
charcoal, six lots faunal remains, one perforated human tooth, 26 shell 
beads and seven bone beads. Site 15BK200 (Augusta) in Bracken, KY was 
excavated in 2023 by the Kentucky Archaeological Survey salvage 
excavation from Augusta city infrastructure development. A Fort Ancient 
determination for these human remains is based on the presence of 
diagnostic limestone/shell-tempered ceramics and projectile points.
    Based on the information available, human remains representing, at 
least, 23 individuals have been reasonably identified. No associated 
funerary objects are present. Site 15MS01 (Fox Farm/Fox Field) in 
Mason, KY was first surveyed, surface collected and excavated by E.S. 
Maxwell and William S. Webb between 1920 and 1930 and donated to the 
University of Kentucky Museum of Anthropology. Another excavation took 
place in 1969 by Maysville Community College students which was donated 
to the Kentucky Gateway Museum Center, who then donated it to the WSWM 
in 2009. Additional donations to the WSWM were made by private 
collectors in 1960, 1991, and 2018. Additional individuals were found 
in the WSWM collections in 2024. A Fort Ancient determination for these 
human remains is based on diagnostic ceramic types, triangular 
projectile points, and marine shell gorgets.

Cultural Affiliation

    Based on the information available and the results of consultation, 
cultural affiliation is clearly identified by the information available 
about the human remains and associated funerary objects described in 
this notice.

Determinations

    The WSWM has determined that:
     The human remains described in this notice represent the 
physical remains of 80 individuals of Native American ancestry.
     The 141 objects described in this notice are reasonably 
believed to have been placed intentionally with or near individual 
human remains at the time of death or later as part of the death rite 
or ceremony.
     There is a reasonable connection 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 
authorized representative identified in this notice under 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 April 8, 2024. 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 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 10.10.

    Dated: February 29, 2024.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2024-04989 Filed 3-7-24; 8:45 am]
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