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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 10 (Thursday, January 16, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4796-4797]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-01004]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0039310; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]

Notice of Inventory Completion: Tennessee Department of 
Conservation and Environment, Division of Archaeology, Nashville, TN

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and 
Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Tennessee Department of Conservation and 
Environment, Division of Archaeology (TDEC-TDOA) has completed an 
inventory of human remains and associated funerary objects and has 
determined that there is a cultural affiliation between the human 
remains and associated funerary objects and Indian Tribes or Native 
Hawaiian organizations in this notice.

DATES: Repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary 
objects in this notice may occur on or after February 18, 2025.

ADDRESSES: Phillip R. Hodge, Tennessee Department of Environment and 
Conservation, Division of Archaeology (TDEC-TDOA), 1216 Foster Avenue, 
Cole Building #3, Nashville, TN 37243, telephone (615) 626-2025, email 
[email protected].

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 
TDEC-TDOA, 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 13 individuals have been 
identified. The six associated funerary objects are two deer ulnae, one 
lot of faunal material, one lot of ceramic sherds, one lot of 
freshwater shell fragments, and one lot of associated funerary objects 
that have not been inventoried.

Sweetwater Island (40LD186), Loudon County, TN

    Ancestral remains of at minimum two individuals were recovered by 
TDEC-TDOA personnel from Sweetwater Island in the Tennessee River in 
1974. No record exists as to the specific circumstances surrounding 
their collection. The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians claimed these 
ancestors on June 10, 2021. Consultation took place on May 24, June 6, 
and June 24, 2024. There is no known exposure to hazardous substances 
or treatments.

Unknown Site, Lenoir City, Loudon County, TN

    Ancestral remains of at minimum two individuals and three 
associated funerary objects consisting of one lot of ceramic sherds, 
one lot of freshwater shell fragments, and one lot of faunal material 
were recovered during construction in Lenoir City, Tennessee in June 
2023. Those were turned over to local law enforcement, transferred to 
the Knox County Forensic Center, and then transferred to the TDEC-TDOA 
for repatriation. These ancestors and associated funerary objects had 
not been previously reported to National NAGPRA. Consultation took 
place on May 24, June 6, and June 24, 2024. There is no known exposure 
to hazardous substances or treatments. In consultation on May 24, 2024 
TDEC-TDOA suggested that these ancestors be included in the current 
claim. All Tribal Partners have agreed to this course of action.

McMahan Mound (40SV1), Sevierville, Sevier County, TN

    Ancestral remains of at minimum two individuals and one lot of 
associated funerary objects that have not been inventoried were 
recovered by TDEC-TDOA in 1976 prior to construction of a highway 
bypass. The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians claimed these ancestors on 
June 10, 2021. The original TDEC-TDOA NAGPRA inventory lists a single 
individual from this site. During review of site documentation prior to 
consultation, TDEC-TDOA staff identified a second ancestor as well as 
artifacts from associated feature fill. Consultation took place on May 
24, June 6, and June 24, 2024. Tribal partners requested in 
consultation on May 24, 2024 that the associated funerary objects be 
lotted and not formally inventoried. There is no known exposure to 
hazardous substances or treatments.

Great Smoky Mountain Children's Home (40SV53), Sevierville, Sevier 
County, TN

    Ancestral remains of a minimum number of three commingled 
individuals were exposed by mechanical excavation at the Great Smoky 
Mountain Children's Home in Sevierville, Tennessee in 2014. Those 
remains were transferred to the Division of Archaeology for 
repatriation. The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians claimed these 
ancestors on June 10, 2021. Consultation took place on May 24, June 6, 
and June 24, 2024. There is no known exposure to hazardous substances 
or treatments.

Unknown Site, Sevierville, Sevier County TN

    Ancestral remains of a minimum of four individuals and two 
associated funerary objects consisting of two deer ulnae, originate 
from an unknown site in Sevierville, Sevier County, Tennessee. Original 
NAGPRA inventory sheet suggest they were collected in 1931. No 
additional records exist as to the timing, donor, or circumstances of 
acquisition. Consultation took place on May 24, June 6, and June 24, 
2024. In consultation on May 24, 2024 TDEC-TDOA suggested that these 
ancestors be included in the current claim. All Tribal Partners have 
agreed to this course of action. There is no known exposure to 
hazardous substances or treatments.

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 TDEC-TDOA has determined that:

[[Page 4797]]

     The human remains described in this notice represent the 
physical remains of at least 13 individuals of Native American 
ancestry.
     The two associated funerary objects and four lots of 
associated funerary 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; The Muscogee (Creek) 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 February 
18, 2025. If competing requests for repatriation are received, the 
TDEC-TDOA 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 TDEC-TDOA is responsible for sending a copy of 
this notice to the Indian Tribes and 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.

    Dated: January 6, 2025.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2025-01004 Filed 1-15-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
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