[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 107 (Monday, June 3, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47597-47598]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-12069]


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

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0038009; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: Auburn University, Auburn, AL

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and 
Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), Auburn University 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 July 3, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Michael Walters, Auburn University, 7030 Haley Center, 
Auburn, AL 36849, telephone (334) 844-8300, 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 Auburn 
University, 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 five individuals have been identified. The 6,067 associated 
funerary objects are 5,720 beads, two lots of beads, 16 ceramic sherds, 
one lot of ceramic sherds, eight lots of charcoal, one clay pipe, one 
potter's clay, 60 pieces of daub, three lots of fabric, three lots of 
faunal bone, one lot of fiber, six pieces of glass, 34 lots of lithics, 
109 lots of metal items, 13 metal bracelets, eight metal broaches/
buckles, five metal gorgets, one metal musket ball, seven metal 
thimbles, one cast-iron kettle, seven metal earrings, one iron ring, 
one lot of iron scissors, one lot of metal pins, one silver piece, two 
triangles, four peach pits, 10 lots of red pigment, seven lots of plant 
material, 20 seeds, two lots of seeds, one lot of shell fragments, 
three lots of soil samples, one lot of wood, two unidentified objects, 
and four lots of unidentified objects. The human remains and associated 
funerary objects were removed from Hickory Ground (1EE89x1) in Elmore 
County, AL, by Dr. John Cottier of Auburn University and Dr. Craig 
Sheldon of Auburn University at Montgomery in 1992 and 1994. Auburn 
University received the collection at an unknown date. Hickory Ground 
is culturally affiliated to Poarch Band of Creek Indians and The 
Muscogee (Creek) Nation. No known hazardous substances were used to 
treat the human remains or associated funerary objects.

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

    Auburn University has determined that:
     The human remains described in this notice represent the 
physical remains of five individuals of Native American ancestry.
     The 6,067 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 Poarch 
Band of Creek Indians and The Muscogee (Creek) Nation.

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.

[[Page 47598]]

    Repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects 
in this notice to a requestor may occur on or after July 3, 2024. If 
competing requests for repatriation are received, Auburn University 
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. Auburn University 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: May 22, 2024.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2024-12069 Filed 5-31-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P