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 Louisiana Division of Archaeology, 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 two individuals have been identified from site 16MO103, Book Shepard, in Morehouse Parish, LA. At minimum, one lot of potentially associated funerary objects are present including ceramics, lithics, animal bone, and shell. Project fieldwork was conducted in February and March 1987 by Brockington and Associates; the project was curated with LDOA in 1990.

Human remains representing at least one individual have been identified from site 16WC13/16WC14, Hill Bayou/Hilton Mound, in West Carroll Parish, LA. A minimum, one lot of potentially associated funerary objects are present including ceramics and lithics. According to paperwork, this collection was made prior to August 1975 by the nearby landowner, Mr. Harper. The collections were made from both sites and therefore cataloged together. This project was stored at LSU until 1995 when it was transferred to LDOA for long term curation.

Human remains representing at least one individual have been identified from an unspecified location in northeast LA. No associated funerary objects were present. During the 1950s to 1960s, Guy J. Ragusa collected the human remains from a non-mound site in northeast Louisiana; the remains were in Guy Ragusa's possession until his death. On October 11, 2017, his son, Paul Ragusa, donated the remains to LDOA.

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 Louisiana Division of Archaeology has determined that:

• The human remains described in this notice represent the physical remains of four individuals of Native American ancestry.
• The two lots of 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 Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas; Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana; Jena Band of Choctaw Indians; Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians; Quapaw Nation; The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma; and the Tunica-Biloxi Indian Tribe.

Requests for Repatriation

Written requests for repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary ( printed page 48406) 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 31, 2026. If competing requests for repatriation are received, the Louisiana Division of Archaeology 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 Louisiana Division of Archaeology is responsible for sending a copy of this notice to the Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations identified in this notice and any other consulting parties.

Authority: Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, 25 U.S.C. 3003, and the implementing regulations, 43 CFR 10.10.

91 FR 48405