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 WSWM, 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, one individual has been identified. The 14 associated funerary objects are two lots faunal, three lots lithic, two lots shell, two lots textiles, two lots botanics, one lot charcoal, one lot sherds and one drilled carapace fragment. Site ( printed page 72894) 15McY1138, Rock Creek Mummy Shelter, in McCreary County, Kentucky was excavated by a private collector in the 1960s and then donated to the WSWM in 1991, the site was then surface collected in 1988 by the USDA FS DBNF as part of a Storm Salvage Survey and again in 2014 as part of a site monitoring project which also includes a donation by a private collector in 2011. No known hazardous substances are present.

Human remains representing, at least, one individual has been identified. No associated funerary objects are present. Site 15McYxx, is an unknown site in McCreary County, Kentucky. These remains were donated at an unknown time, by an unknown person and found in an envelope addressed to Professor Charles Snow. No known hazardous substances are present.

Human remains representing, at least, three individuals have been identified. The 52 associated funerary objects are three antler awls, one antler flaker, one lot unmodified antler, one lot modified antler, one elk tooth pendant with plaited string, two lots unmodified faunal, five bone awls, two bone flakers, one modified bone, one lot turtle shell, three lots sherds, one hematite axe, one lot bifaces, eight celts, three lots lithic, one lot lithic hoes, one lot projectile points, three lithic scrapers, one lithic gorget, three stone plummets, one drilled banner stone, one lot textile, one lot shell, three lots botanics, one wooden awl, one cradle board and one wooden awl. Sites 15MF1 Newt Kash Shelter, 15MF2 Ash Cave, 15MF3 Dark Hollow Shelter, 15MF4 Hog Creek Shelter, 15MF5 Brashford Shelter, 15MF6 Edwards Branch Shelter, 15MF7 Amos Branch Shelter, 15MF8 Flint Cave, and 15MF9 Brier Branch Shelter, in Menifee County, Kentucky were excavated by Webb and Funkhouser of the University of Kentucky in 1935 as part of their `Rock Shelters in Menifee County, Kentucky' Survey. Artifacts from all nine sites were catalogued in a single series and cannot be individually reconciled. In 1978, the USDA FS DBNF accepted a donation from 15MF1 by a private collector and in 1993, the site was surface collected by the USDA FS DBNF as part of a site monitoring project. No known hazardous substances are present.

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 WSWM has determined that:

• The human remains described in this notice represent the physical remains of five individuals of Native American ancestry.
• The 66 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 Absentee-Shawnee Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma; Cherokee Nation; Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians; Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma; Shawnee Tribe; 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 December 14, 2026. If competing requests for repatriation are received, the WSWM and the USDA FS DBNF 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 WSWM and the USDA FS DBNF are 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 72893