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 Superintendent, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and additional information on the cultural items in this notice, including the results of consultation, can be found in the related records.

Abstract of Information Available

Based on the information available, the 164 unassociated funerary objects include one large chert blade, 148 lithic flakes, one small mammal radius, five pottery sherds, one ground stone, six ceramic daubs, and two pieces of red ochre/hematite. These items were initially discovered on December 2, 2014, during trenching associated with Metcalf Bottoms in Sevier County, TN. They were identified as cultural items in consultation with Tribes as part of a larger survey of potential NAGPRA materials in the park museum collections between 2022 and 2024.

Determinations

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park has determined that:

• The 164 unassociated funerary objects described in this notice are reasonably believed to have been placed intentionally with or near human remains, and are connected, either at the time of death or later as part of the death rite or ceremony of a Native American culture according to the Native American traditional knowledge of a lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization. The unassociated funerary objects have been identified by a preponderance of the evidence as related to human remains, specific individuals, or families, or removed from a specific burial site or burial area of an individual or individuals with cultural affiliation to an Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization.
• The Cherokee Nation; Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians; and the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma have priority for disposition of the cultural items described in this notice.

Claims for Disposition

Written claims for disposition of the cultural items in this notice must be sent to the appropriate official identified in this notice under ADDRESSES . If no claim for disposition is received by August 24, 2027, the cultural items in this notice will become unclaimed cultural items. Claims for disposition may be submitted by:

1. Any lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization identified in this notice.

2. Any lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice who shows that they have priority for disposition.

Disposition of the cultural items in this notice may occur on or after September 23, 2026. If competing claims for disposition are received, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park must determine the most appropriate claimant prior to disposition. Claims for joint disposition of the cultural items are considered a single claim and not competing claims. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is responsible for sending a copy of this notice to the lineal descendants, Indian Tribes, and Native Hawaiian organizations identified in this notice and to any other consulting parties.

Authority: Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, 25 U.S.C. 3002, and the implementing regulations, 43 CFR 10.7.

91 FR 54757