81 FR 45532 - Notice of Inventory Completion: University of Alabama Museums, Tuscaloosa, AL

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 135 (July 14, 2016)

The University of Alabama Museums has completed an inventory of human remains and associated funerary objects in consultation with the appropriate Indian tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations, and has determined that there is a cultural affiliation between the human remains and associated funerary objects and a present-day Indian tribe. Lineal descendants or representatives of any Indian tribe or Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice that wish to request transfer of control of these human remains and associated funerary objects should submit a written request to the University of Alabama Museums. If no additional requestors come forward, transfer of control of the human remains and associated funerary objects to the Indian tribe stated in this notice may proceed.

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 135 (Thursday, July 14, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45532-45533]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-16609]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-21395; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: University of Alabama Museums, 
Tuscaloosa, AL

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The University of Alabama Museums has completed an inventory 
of human remains and associated funerary objects in consultation with 
the appropriate Indian tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations, and has 
determined that there is a cultural affiliation between the human 
remains and associated funerary objects and a present-day Indian tribe. 
Lineal descendants or representatives of any Indian tribe or Native 
Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice that wish to 
request transfer of control of these human remains and associated 
funerary objects should submit a written request to the University of 
Alabama Museums. If no additional requestors come forward, transfer of 
control of the human remains and associated funerary objects to the 
Indian tribe stated in this notice may proceed.

DATES: Lineal descendants or representatives of any Indian tribe or 
Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice that wish to 
request transfer of control of these human remains and associated 
funerary objects should submit a written request with information in 
support of the request to the University of Alabama Museums at the 
address in this notice by August 15, 2016.

ADDRESSES: Dr. Bill Bomar, Executive Director, University of Alabama 
Museums, Box 870340, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487, telephone (205) 348-7552.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice is here given in accordance with the 
Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), 25 
U.S.C. 3003, of the completion of an inventory of human remains and 
associated funerary objects under the control of the University of 
Alabama Museums, Tuscaloosa, AL. The human remains and associated 
funerary objects were removed from an undocumented bluff shelter along 
the Warrior River in Blount County, AL.
    This notice is published as part of the National Park Service's 
administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA, 25 U.S.C. 3003(d)(3). The 
determinations in this notice are the sole responsibility of the 
museum, institution, or Federal agency that has control of the Native 
American human remains and associated funerary objects. The National 
Park Service is not responsible for the determinations in this notice.

Consultation

    A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by the 
University of Alabama Museums professional staff in consultation with 
the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. On October 21, 2015, an updated 
inventory was sent to the Absentee-Shawnee Tribe of Indians of 
Oklahoma, Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas (previously listed as the 
Alabama Coushatta Tribes of Texas), Alabama-Quassarte Tribal Town, 
Cherokee Nation, Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana, Eastern Band of the 
Cherokee Indians, Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma, Kialegee Tribal 
Town, Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, Poarch Band of Creeks 
(previously listed as the Parch Band of Creek Indians of Alabama), 
Seminole Tribe of Florida (previously listed as the Seminole Tribe of 
Florida (Dania, Big Cypress, Brighton, Hollywood & Tampa 
Reservations)), The Chickasaw Nation, The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, 
The Muscogee (Creek) Nation, The Seminole Nation of Oklahoma, 
Thlopthlocco Tribal Town, Tunica-Biloxi Indian Tribe, and the United 
Keetoowah Band of the Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma.

History and Description of the Remains

    In late 1963, the University of Alabama Museums was contacted 
regarding human remains representing a minimum of one individual 
removed from an unknown site in Blount County, AL, near the US 31 
bridge over the Warrior River. There is a letter on file referencing 
these human remains, dated November 19, 1963. At an unknown date after 
November 1963, these human remains were donated to The University of 
Alabama Museums by Mr. Ferril Goodwin, Sumiton, AL. No known 
individuals were identified. These human remains were included in a 
NAGPRA inventory (Human Remains ID 3925 in Unaffiliated Remains: Part 
5, Warrior River Survey Project Collection). At a later date, 
associated artifacts were identified in the collection, along with a 
note linking the artifacts to the human remains. The two associated 
funerary objects are fragments of 1 large, rectangular woven cane 
basket and 4 fragments of an unidentified wooden object. Based on the 
style and technology of the basket, the University of Alabama Museums 
believe the likely cultural affiliation of the human remains is 
Choctaw.

Determinations Made by the University of Alabama Museums

    Officials of the University of Alabama Museums have determined 
that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice represent the physical remains of one individual of 
Native American ancestry.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A), the two 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.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(2), there is a relationship of 
shared group identity that can be reasonably traced between the Native 
American human remains and associated funerary objects to The Choctaw 
Nation of Oklahoma.

Additional Requestors and Disposition

    Lineal descendants or representatives of any Indian tribe or Native 
Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice that wish to 
request transfer of control of these human remains and associated 
funerary objects should submit a written request with information in 
support of the request to Dr. Bill Bomar, Executive Director, 
University of Alabama Museums, Box 870340, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487, 
telephone (205) 348-7552, by August 15, 2016. After that date, if no 
additional requestors have come forward, transfer of control of the 
human remains and associated funerary objects to The Choctaw Nation of 
Oklahoma may proceed.
    The University of Alabama Museums is responsible for notifying to 
the Absentee-Shawnee Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma, Alabama-Coushatta 
Tribe of Texas (previously listed as the Alabama Coushatta Tribes of 
Texas), Alabama-Quassarte Tribal Town, Cherokee Nation, Coushatta Tribe 
of Louisiana, Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians, Eastern Shawnee 
Tribe of Oklahoma, Kialegee Tribal Town, Mississippi Band of Choctaw 
Indians, Poarch Band of Creeks (previously listed as the Parch Band of 
Creek Indians of Alabama), Seminole Tribe of Florida (previously listed 
as the Seminole Tribe of Florida (Dania, Big Cypress, Brighton,

[[Page 45533]]

Hollywood & Tampa Reservations)), The Chickasaw Nation, The Choctaw 
Nation of Oklahoma, The Muscogee (Creek) Nation, The Seminole Nation of 
Oklahoma, Thlopthlocco Tribal Town, Tunica-Biloxi Indian Tribe, and the 
United Keetoowah Band of the Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma that this 
notice has been published.

    Dated: June 27, 2016.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2016-16609 Filed 7-13-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4312-50-P