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 100 individuals have been identified from site 16RI13, Gold Mine, in Richland Parish, LA. At minimum, 13 associated funerary objects are present including ceramics. Excavations took place in the summers from 1978 to 1980. Avocational archaeologists conducted 1978 session. In 1979, the volunteers were partially supervised by an osteology graduate student from the University of Arkansas. In 1980, John Belmont from Harvard University was hired with the help of an NSF grant. The Gold Mine collection remained at University of Arkansas in Fayetteville after the culmination of fieldwork. In early 2002, the human remains were loaned to Mark Murray at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. In August of 2002, the remaining collection was transferred to University of Louisiana Lafayette. Upon completion of analysis, the collection was donated to LDOA on June 16, 2006. On August 3, 2021, the human remains were returned to the remaining collection.

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 100 individuals of Native American ancestry.
• The 13 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 Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana; Jena Band of Choctaw Indians; Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians; and The Choctaw 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 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 48431