[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 146 (Tuesday, July 30, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61142-61143]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-16710]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0038354; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 
Little Rock District, Little Rock, AR

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 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Little 
Rock District has completed an inventory of associated funerary objects 
and has determined that there is a cultural affiliation between the 
associated funerary objects and Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian 
organizations in this notice.

DATES: Repatriation of the associated funerary objects in this notice 
may occur on or after August 29, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Mr. Allen Wilson, District Archaeologist and Tribal Liaison, 
U.S. Army Corps Engineers, Little Rock District, P.O. Box 867, Little 
Rock, AR 72203, telephone (501) 324-5752, 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 
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Little Rock District, and additional 
information on the determinations in this notice, including the results 
of consultation, can be found in its inventory or related records. The 
National Park Service is not responsible for the determinations in this 
notice.

Abstract of Information Available

    In 1961, Charles McGimsey of the University of Arkansas undertook 
archaeological research at the Mineral Springs site (3HO1) on the 
Millwood Reservoir, Howard County, AR. Artifacts indicate a Fourche 
Maline phase with a Caddoan Mississippian occupation of the site from 
500 B.C. to the Contact Period. A Notice of Inventory Completion was 
published in the Federal Register on January 16, 2014 (79 FR 2864-2866) 
listing a minimum of 11 individuals and 106 associated funerary objects 
from this site. Subsequently, 766 additional associated funerary 
objects were identified in collections at the University of Arkansas. 
The collection is located at the University of Arkansas Museum, 
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR. The 766 associated funerary 
objects are two celts, 558 individual and 25 lots of ceramic sherds, 
four individual and two lots of fragmented ceramic vessels, 20 intact 
vessels, one cut nail, one faunal bone, three fragmented clay pipes, 
five glass fragments, four groundstone, two incomplete celts, 112 
individual and one lot of lithics, three lithic flakes, five polished 
stones, seven projectile points, two reconstructed vessels, one red 
ochre, three rocks, four shell fragments, and one walnut shell.
    In 1961, Michael P. Hoffman of the University of Arkansas undertook 
archaeological research at the Bell site (3HO11) on the Millwood 
Reservoir, Howard County, AR. Artifacts indicate a late Fourche Maline 
phase with a Caddoan Mississippian occupation of the site from 500 B.C. 
to the Contact Period. A Notice of Inventory Completion was published 
in the Federal Register on January 16, 2014 (79 FR 2864-2866) listing a 
minimum of three individuals and no associated funerary objects. 
Subsequently, 24 additional associated funerary objects were identified 
in collections at the University of Arkansas. The collection is stored 
in the University of Arkansas Museum, University of Arkansas, 
Fayetteville, AR. The 24 associated funerary objects are one daub, two 
individual and one lot of faunal bone, two lithic bifaces, two chipped 
stone, three unmodified quartzite, 11 ceramics, and two shells.
    In the early 1960s, under the direction of James Scholtz, the 
University of Arkansas undertook archaeological research at the White 
Cliffs site (3LR12) on the Millwood Reservoir, Little River County, AR. 
Artifacts indicate an early Caddoan Mississippian occupation of the 
site from A.D. 900 to 1200. A Notice of Inventory Completion was 
published in the Federal Register on January 14, 2014 (70 FR 2864-2866) 
listing a minimum of 11 individuals and 19 associated funerary objects. 
Subsequently, 284 additional associated funerary objects were 
identified in collections at the University of Arkansas. The collection 
is stored in the University of Arkansas Museum, University of Arkansas, 
Fayetteville, AR. The 284 associated funerary objects are 20 biface 
fragments, 82 ceramic sherds, four lots of charcoal, 68 pieces of 
debitage, one decorated pipe, three drills, 39 faunal bones, four 
gravers, six groundstone fragments, one modified faunal bone, 37 
projectile points, two lots of soil matrix, one uniface, and 16 
unmodified stones.
    In the early 1960s, under the direction of Charles McGimsey, the 
University of Arkansas undertook archaeological research at the Old 
Martin Place site (3LR49) on the Millwood Reservoir, Little River 
County, AR. Artifacts indicate a Fourche Maline phase with a Caddoan 
Mississippian occupation of the site from 500 to the Contact Period. A 
Notice of Inventory Completion was published in the Federal Register on 
January 16, 2014 (79 FR 2864-2866) listing a minimum of 47 individuals 
and eight associated funerary objects. Subsequently, 78 additional 
associated funerary objects were identified in collections at the 
University of Arkansas. The collection is stored in the University of 
Arkansas Museum, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR. The 78 
associated funerary objects are 11 ceramic sherds, 21 faunal bones, 25 
lithics, one lot of mixed faunal, five rocks, 14 shells, and one soil 
sample.
    In the early 1960s, Michael P. Hoffman of the University of 
Arkansas undertook archaeological research at the Millers Crossing site 
(3SV10) on the Millwood Reservoir, Sevier, AR. Artifacts indicate an 
early Caddoan Mississippian occupation of the site from A.D. 900 to 
1200. A Notice of Inventory Completion was published in the Federal 
Register on January 16, 2014 (79 FR 2864-2866) listing a minimum of 
seven individuals and 16 associated funerary objects. Subsequently, 47 
additional associated funerary objects were identified in collections 
at the University of Arkansas. The collection is stored in the 
University of Arkansas Museum, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, 
AR. The 47 associated funerary objects are one stone knife, 42 ceramic 
sherds, two lithics, one faunal bone, and one shell.
    In the early 1960s, Michael P. Hoffman of the University of 
Arkansas undertook archaeological research at the Graves Chapel site 
(3SV15) on the Millwood Reservoir, Sevier, AR. Artifacts indicate a 
late Archaic period (3000-650 B.C.) and Late Woodland (A.D. 500-900) to 
Early Caddoan Mississippian (A.D. 900-1200) components of the site. A 
Notice of

[[Page 61143]]

Inventory Completion was published in the Federal Register on January 
16, 2014 (79 FR 2864-2866) listing a minimum of five individuals and no 
associated funerary objects. Subsequently, 53 associated funerary 
objects were discovered in collections at the University of Arkansas. 
The collection is stored in the University of Arkansas Museum, 
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR. The 53 associated funerary 
objects are one charcoal sample, 46 ceramic sherds, and six lithics.
    In the early 1960s, archaeological research was conducted at the 
Millwood Reservoir site (3SV21) in Sevier County, AR. Artifacts 
indicate a late prehistoric period occupation of the site from A.D. 900 
to 1500. A Notice of Inventory Completion was published in the Federal 
Register on January 16, 2014 (79 FR 2864-2866) listing a minimum of two 
individuals and no associated funerary objects. Subsequently, five 
associated funerary objects were discovered collections at the in 
University of Arkansas. The collection is stored in the University of 
Arkansas Museum, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR. The five 
associated funerary objects are two projectile points, one groundstone, 
one chipped stone, and one shell.

Cultural Affiliation

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

Determinations

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Little Rock District has 
determined that:
     The 1,257 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 connection between the human remains and 
associated funerary objects described in this notice and the Caddo 
Nation of Oklahoma.

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 an Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization with 
cultural affiliation.
    Repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects 
described in this notice to a requestor may occur on or after August 
29, 2024. If competing requests for repatriation are received, the U.S. 
Army Corps of Engineers, Little Rock District 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 U.S. Army 
Corps of Engineers, Little Rock District 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: July 17, 2024.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2024-16710 Filed 7-29-24; 8:45 am]
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