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. No associated funerary objects are present. On October 28, 2018, remains of two individuals were seized by Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries from a vehicle search in Chatham, LA, in Jackson Parish. On November 27, 2018, the individuals were transported by Louisiana State Police to LSU FACES Laboratory in Baton Rouge for identification. On June 26, 2020, the individuals were escorted to Louisiana Division of Archaeology. These individuals were seized during criminal investigation; it is unknown where they were being transported from and there were no associated materials. Additional osteological research could not provide any further information.

Human remains representing at least one individual has been identified. No associated funerary objects are present. The human remains were given to the University of Louisiana Monroe at an unknown time in the past. No documents were collected. In 2019, Diana Greenlee escorted the remains to Louisiana Division of Archaeology. This individual was transferred to the university at some point prior to 2019 with no associated materials or records. Additional osteological research could not provide any further information.

Human remains representing at least one individual have been identified. No associated funerary objects are present. The human cranium fragment was collected at an unknown time in the past by a member of the Watkins family. In September 2021, Nancy Watkins donated her family's artifact collection to Louisiana Division of Archaeology. There is no indication of when or where this individual was collected, though notes from other locations indicate the collector was recording some trips ca. 1950-1960. Additional osteological research could not provide any further information.

Consultation

Invitations to consult were sent to the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas; Caddo Nation of Oklahoma; Chitimacha Tribe of Louisiana; Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana; Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma; Jena Band of Choctaw Indians; Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians; Quapaw Nation; Seminole Tribe of Florida; The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma; The Muscogee (Creek) Nation; The Osage Nation; The Seminole Nation of Oklahoma; and the Tunica-Biloxi Indian Tribe.

Cultural Affiliation

The following types of information about the cultural affiliation of the human remains in this notice are available: none. The information, including the results of consultation, identified.

1. No earlier group connected to the human remains. ( printed page 48939)

2. No Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization} connected to the human remains.

3. No relationship of shared group identity between the earlier group and the Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization that can be reasonably traced through time.

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.
• No known lineal descendant who can trace ancestry to the human remains in this notice has been identified.
• No Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization with cultural affiliation to the human remains described in this notice has been clearly or reasonably identified.

Requests for Repatriation

Written requests for repatriation of the human remains in this notice must be sent to the authorized representative identified in this notice under ADDRESSES . Requests for repatriation may be submitted by any lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization 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.

Upon request, repatriation of the human remains described in this notice to a requestor may occur on or after September 2, 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 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 or 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.

91 FR 48938