[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 146 (Tuesday, July 30, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61146-61147]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-16711]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0038355; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: University of Florida, Florida 
Museum of Natural History, Gainesville, FL

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 University of Florida-Florida Museum of 
Natural History (FLMNH) 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 August 29, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Michelle LeFebvre, University of Florida, Florida Museum of 
Natural History, 1659 Museum Road, Gainesville, FL 32611, telephone 
(352) 273-1917, 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 
FLMNH, 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

    Human remains representing, at least, one individual have been 
identified. The 605 associated funerary objects are invertebrate 
specimens, vertebrate specimens, pottery sherds, and a lithic point. 
The human remains and associated funerary objects were removed from the 
Calusa Island site (8LL45) located on Calusa Island in Lee County, FL, 
between February 10-14, 2020, by an archaeological investigation led by 
the FLMNH. The project included the excavation of a 1x2 m test unit 
along a heavily eroded edge of the coastal midden on the north 
shoreline of the island. The test unit was not completed during the 
2020 field season and was backfilled for completion later that same 
year. The excavated

[[Page 61147]]

assemblage was securely stored at the FLMNH Randell Research Center on 
Pine Island, near Calusa Island. The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 
March 2020, followed by Hurricane Ian destruction in September 2022, 
delayed the completion of the test unit. Following the hurricane, the 
excavated assemblage on Pine Island was moved to the FLMNH research and 
collections facility in Gainesville, FL, at the University of Florida. 
Analysis of the excavated assemblage commenced in January 2023 and led 
to the identification of human remains. Upon their identification, on 
January 27, 2024, the human remains were reported to the Florida Bureau 
of Archaeological Research and the State Archaeologist assumed 
jurisdiction of the human remains in compliance with Florida State 
Statute 872.05. All other handling of the associated test unit 
archaeological assemblage ceased. Through consultation, on March 26, 
2024, the 872.05 process and state jurisdiction of the assemblage ended 
at the request of the Seminole Tribe of Florida and the FLMNH initiated 
NAGPRA compliance for the repatriation of the human remains and 
associated funerary objects. During NAGPRA consultation, it was 
determined the human remains are culturally affiliated with the 
Seminole Tribe of Florida and the associated funerary objects include 
all excavated finds from the test unit. No hazardous substances were 
used to treat any of the human remains or associated funerary objects.

Cultural Affiliation

    Based on the information available and the results of consultation, 
cultural affiliation is reasonably identified by the geographical 
location or acquisition history of the human remains and associated 
funerary objects described in this notice.

Determinations

    The University of Florida-Florida Museum of Natural History has 
determined that:
     The human remains described in this notice represent the 
physical remains of one individual of Native American ancestry.
     The 605 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 Seminole 
Tribe of Florida.

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 
University of Florida-Florida Museum of Natural 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 
University of Florida-Florida Museum of Natural 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 10.10.

    Dated: July 17, 2024.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2024-16711 Filed 7-29-24; 8:45 am]
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