82 FR 25619 - Notice of Inventory Completion: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Ocmulgee National Monument, Macon, GA

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 105 (June 2, 2017)

The U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Ocmulgee National Monument 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 present-day Indian tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations. 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 Ocmulgee National Monument. If no additional requestors come forward, transfer of control of the human remains and associated funerary objects to the lineal descendants, Indian tribes, or Native Hawaiian organizations stated in this notice may proceed.

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 105 (Friday, June 2, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25619-25620]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-11448]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-23203; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: U.S. Department of the Interior, 
National Park Service, Ocmulgee National Monument, Macon, GA

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, 
Ocmulgee National Monument 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 present-day Indian tribes or Native 
Hawaiian organizations. 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 
Ocmulgee National Monument. If no additional requestors come forward, 
transfer of control of the human remains and associated funerary 
objects to the lineal descendants, Indian tribes, or Native Hawaiian 
organizations 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 Ocmulgee National Monument at the address in 
this notice by July 3, 2017.

ADDRESSES: Jim David, Superintendent, Ocmulgee National Monument, 1207 
Emery Highway, Macon, GA 31217, telephone (478) 752-8257, email 
[email protected].

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 U.S. Department of 
the Interior, National Park Service, Ocmulgee National Monument, Macon, 
GA. The human remains and associated funerary objects were removed from 
Funeral Mound, Bibb County, GA.
    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 
Superintendent, Ocmulgee National Monument.

Consultation

    A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by Ocmulgee 
National Monument professional staff in consultation with 
representatives of 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, Catawba 
Indian Nation (aka Catawba Tribe of South Carolina), Cherokee Nation, 
Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana, Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, Eastern 
Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma, Jena Band of Choctaw Indians, Kialegee 
Tribal Town, Miccosukee Tribe of Indians, Mississippi Band of Choctaw 
Indians, Poarch Band of Creeks (previously listed as the Poarch 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)), Shawnee Tribe, The Chickasaw Nation, 
The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, The Muscogee (Creek) Nation, The 
Seminole Nation of Oklahoma, Thlopthlocco Tribal Town, and United 
Keetowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma.

History and Description of the Remains

    Between 1933 and 1934, human remains representing, at minimum, four 
individuals were removed from Funeral Mound C in Bibb County, GA, 
during legally authorized projects sponsored by the Works Progress 
Administration. No known individuals were identified. The 42 associated 
funerary objects are 1 adz, 1 biface, 1 bowl, 1 animal bone, 2 gorgets, 
1 jar, 1 elbow pipe, 2 projectile points, 4 scrapers, 1 piece of 
shatter, 2 worked shells, 5 spoons, and 20 vessel fragments.
    While Mound C is a burial mound dating to the Macon Plateau phase 
of the Early Mississippian period (A.D. 900 to A.D. 1100), several 
historic burials were placed in the upper levels of the mound and in 
the adjacent village area. Burials excavated at this site were 
identified as historic Creek on the basis of European trade goods found 
in association with the remains. The historic Creek town associated 
with the trading post near Mound C has long been thought to be 
Ocmulgee. Residents of Ocmulgee moved to the Chattahoochee River after 
1717.
    Historical documentation reflects a great deal of movement and 
reorganization among the Creeks and the Creek Confederacy during the 
18th and 19th centuries. Ten present-day Indian tribes include Creek 
descendants--the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas (previously listed as 
the Alabama-Coushatta Tribes of Texas), Alabama-Quassarte Tribal Town, 
Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana, Kialegee Tribal Town, Miccosukee Tribe of 
Indians, Poarch Band of Creeks (previously listed as the Poarch 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 Muscogee (Creek) Nation, The 
Seminole Nation of Oklahoma, and Thlopthlocco Tribal Town.

Determinations Made by Ocmulgee National Monument

    Officials of Ocmulgee National Monument have determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice represent the physical remains of four individuals of 
Native American ancestry.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A), the 42 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 and the Alabama-
Coushatta Tribe of Texas (previously listed as the Alabama-Coushatta 
Tribes of Texas), Alabama-Quassarte Tribal Town, Coushatta Tribe of 
Louisiana, Kialegee Tribal Town, Miccosukee Tribe of Indians, Poarch 
Band of Creeks (previously listed as the Poarch 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 Muscogee (Creek) Nation, The Seminole Nation 
of Oklahoma, and Thlopthlocco Tribal Town.

Additional Requestors and Disposition

    Lineal descendants or representatives of any Indian tribe or Native 
Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice

[[Page 25620]]

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 Jim David, Superintendent, 
Ocmulgee National Monument, 1207 Emery Highway, Macon, GA 31217, 
telephone (478) 752-8257, email [email protected], by July 3, 2017. 
After that date, if no additional requestors have come forward, 
transfer of control of the human remains and associated funerary 
objects to the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas (previously listed as 
the Alabama-Coushatta Tribes of Texas), Alabama-Quassarte Tribal Town, 
Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana, Kialegee Tribal Town, Miccosukee Tribe of 
Indians, Poarch Band of Creeks (previously listed as the Poarch 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 Muscogee (Creek) Nation, The 
Seminole Nation of Oklahoma, and Thlopthlocco Tribal Town may proceed.
    Ocmulgee National Monument is responsible for notifying 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, Catawba Indian Nation (aka Catawba Tribe 
of South Carolina), Cherokee Nation, Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana, 
Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma, 
Jena Band of Choctaw Indians, Kialegee Tribal Town, Miccosukee Tribe of 
Indians, Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, Poarch Band of Creeks 
(previously listed as the Poarch 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)), Shawnee Tribe, The Chickasaw Nation, The Choctaw Nation 
of Oklahoma, The Muscogee (Creek) Nation, The Seminole Nation of 
Oklahoma, Thlopthlocco Tribal Town, and United Keetowah Band of 
Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma that this notice has been published.

    Dated: April 3, 2017.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2017-11448 Filed 6-1-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4312-52-P