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 UTK, 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, five individuals have been identified. The 22 associated funerary objects are four lots of ceramics, four lots of faunal material, five lots of lithics, five lots of shell, three lots of botanical material, and one lot of objects placed with or near human remains. The human remains and associated funerary objects were removed from the Harkrader site in Smyth County, VA. The site dates to between c. 1200 and 1600 CE. ( printed page 60403)

Human remains representing, at least, one individual have been identified. The four associated funerary objects are one lot of ceramics, one lot of lithics, one lot of faunal remains, and one lot of objects placed with or near human remains. The human remains and associated funerary objects were removed from an unnamed archaeological site in Smyth County, VA. Information about this site is minimal, but it is likely multicomponent (c. 1200 BCE and c. 1000-1600 CE.)

Human remains representing, at least, one individual have been identified. The three associated funerary objects are one lot of ceramics, one lot of lithics, and one lot of objects placed with or near human remains. The human remains and associated funerary objects were removed from an unnamed rockshelter site in Wise County, VA. The site dates to between c. 1000 and 1600 CE.

All the human remains and associated funerary objects described above were removed by a collector named Russell Frost at unknown dates prior to his death in 1983. Frost's parents brought these individuals and associated funerary objects to William Bass, UTK Anthropology, in 1983, and to the UTK McClung Museum in 1986. Some of the remains have been “repaired” using adhesive, but UTK has no records suggesting the presence of potentially hazardous materials.

Cultural Affiliation

Based on the information available and the results of consultation, cultural affiliation is clearly identified by the information available about the human remains and associated funerary objects described in this notice.

Determinations

UTK has determined that:

• The human remains described in this notice represent the physical remains of seven individuals of Native American ancestry.
• The 29 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 Cherokee Nation; Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians; Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma; Monacan Indian Nation; and the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in 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 October 23, 2026. If competing requests for repatriation are received, UTK 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. UTK 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 60402