[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 117 (Monday, June 18, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32842-32843]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-15310]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Inventory Completion for Native American Human Remains 
and Associated Funerary Objects in the Control of the U.S. Department 
of the Interior, National Park Service, Ocmulgee National Monument, 
Macon, GA

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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    Notice is hereby given in accordance with provisions of the Native 
American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), 43 CFR 10.9, 
of the completion of an inventory of human remains and associated 
funerary objects in the control of the U.S. Department of the Interior, 
National Park Service, Ocmulgee National Monument, Macon, GA.
    This notice is published as part of the National Park Service's 
administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA, 43 CFR 10.2(c). The 
determinations within this notice are the sole responsibility of the 
National Park Service unit that has control or possession of these 
Native American human remains and associated funerary objects. The 
Assistant Director, Cultural Resources Stewardship and Partnerships is 
not responsible for the determinations within this notice.
    A detailed assessment and inventory of the human remains and 
associated funerary objects has been made by National Park Service 
professional staff in consultation with representatives of the 
Absentee-Shawnee Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma; Alabama-Coushatta Tribes 
of Texas; Alabama-Quassarte Tribal Town, Oklahoma; Catawba Indian 
Nation; Cherokee Nation, Oklahoma; Chickasaw Nation, Oklahoma; Choctaw 
Nation of Oklahoma; Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana; Eastern Band of 
Cherokee Indians of North Carolina; Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma; 
Jena Band of Choctaw Indians, Louisiana; Kialegee Tribal Town of the 
Creek Indian Nation, Oklahoma; Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida; 
Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, Mississippi; Muscogee (Creek) 
Nation of Oklahoma; Poarch Band of Creek Indians of Alabama; Seminole 
Nation of Oklahoma; Seminole Tribe of Florida, Dania, Big Cypress, 
Brighton, Hollywood & Tampa Reservations; Thlopthlocco Tribal Town of 
the Creek Nation, Oklahoma; and United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee 
Indians of Oklahoma. The Shawnee Tribe, also known as the ``Loyal 
Shawnee'' or ``Cherokee Shawnee,'' a non-Federally recognized Native 
American group at the time that they were consulted, have since been 
recognized as eligible for the special programs and services provided 
by the United States to Indians because of their status as Indians 
under provisions of P.L. 106-568.
    Between 1957 and 1958, human remains representing eight individuals 
were recovered from the Trading Post area of the Macon Plateau unit of 
Ocmulgee National Monument. No known individuals were identified. The 
16,168 associated funerary objects are 16,147 glass beads, 1 tobacco 
pipe, 1 axe, 2 knives, 5 gunflints, 2 gun shot, 4 balls, 1 musket ball, 
1 glass fragment, 1 shell artifact, 2 spiral springs, and 1 gorget. The 
trading post at Macon was operated by the British from 1685-1717. The 
historic Creek town associated with the trading post has long been 
thought to have been Ocmulgee. Burials excavated at this site were 
identified as historic Creek on the basis of European trade goods found 
in association with the remains.
    In 1961 and 1962, human remains representing four individuals were 
recovered from the Ocmulgee Bottoms Salvage site. The Ocmulgee Bottoms 
Salvage site is located approximately one mile from the trading post 
site, within the boundary of Ocmulgee National Monument. No known 
individuals were identified. The 14,985 associated funerary objects are 
14,691 glass beads, 16 copper collar bands, 77 pieces of cloth, 91 
leather fragments, 71 iron bands, 2 copper gorgets, 1 iron hoe, 1 bag 
of wood, 23 plant seeds, 4 pieces of charcoal, 2 vessel fragments, and 
6 metal fragments. The four burials were identified as historic Creek 
on the basis of European trade goods and glass beads found in 
association with the remains, which date the burials to the years 
between 1600 and 1890. Due to its proximity to the trading post and the 
similarity of the types of objects found with the burials at the two 
sites, it is reasonable to conclude that the burials from the Ocmulgee 
Bottoms Salvage site date to the 1685-1717 period.
    Residents of the Creek town of Ocmulgee moved to the Chatahoochee 
River after 1717. Historical documentation reflects a great deal of 
movement and reorganization among the Creeks and the Creek Confederacy 
during the 18th and 19th centuries. Ten present-day Indian tribes are 
thought to include Creek descendants, including Alabama-Coushatta 
Tribes of Texas; Alabama-Quassarte Tribal Town, Oklahoma; Coushatta 
Tribe of Louisiana; Kialegee Tribal Town of the Creek Indian Nation, 
Oklahoma; Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida; Muscogee (Creek) 
Nation of Oklahoma; Poarch Band of Creek Indians of Alabama; Seminole 
Nation of Oklahoma; Seminole Tribe of Florida, Dania, Big Cypress, 
Brighton, Hollywood & Tampa Reservations; and Thlopthlocco Tribal Town 
of the Creek Nation, Oklahoma.
    Based on the above-mentioned information, the superintendent of 
Ocmulgee National Monument has determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 
10.2(d)(1), the human remains listed above represent the physical 
remains of 12 individuals of Native American ancestry. The 
superintendent of Ocmulgee National Monument also has determined that, 
pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2(d)(2), the 31,153 objects listed above are 
reasonably believed to have been placed with or near individual human 
remains at the time of death or later as part of the death rite or 
ceremony. Lastly, the superintendent of Ocmulgee National Monument has 
determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2(e), there is a relationship of 
shared group identity that can be reasonably traced between the Native 
American human remains and funerary objects and the Alabama-Coushatta 
Tribes of Texas; Alabama-Quassarte Tribal Town, Oklahoma; Coushatta 
Tribe of Louisiana; Kialegee Tribal Town of the Creek Indian Nation, 
Oklahoma; Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida; Muscogee (Creek) 
Nation of Oklahoma; Poarch Band of Creek Indians of Alabama; Seminole 
Nation of Oklahoma; Seminole Tribe of Florida, Dania, Big Cypress, 
Brighton,

[[Page 32843]]

Hollywood & Tampa Reservations; and Thlopthlocco Tribal Town of the 
Creek Nation, Oklahoma. This notice has been sent to officials of the 
Absentee-Shawnee Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma; Alabama-Coushatta Tribes 
of Texas; Alabama-Quassarte Tribal Town, Oklahoma; Catawba Indian 
Nation; Cherokee Nation, Oklahoma; Chickasaw Nation, Oklahoma; Choctaw 
Nation of Oklahoma; Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana; Eastern Band of 
Cherokee Indians of North Carolina; Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma; 
Jena Band of Choctaw Indians, Louisiana; Kialegee Tribal Town of the 
Creek Indian Nation, Oklahoma; Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida; 
Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, Mississippi; Muscogee (Creek) 
Nation of Oklahoma; Poarch Band of Creek Indians of Alabama; Seminole 
Nation of Oklahoma; Seminole Tribe of Florida, Dania, Big Cypress, 
Brighton, Hollywood & Tampa Reservations; Shawnee Tribe; Thlopthlocco 
Tribal Town of the Creek Nation, Oklahoma; and United Keetoowah Band of 
Cherokee Indians of Oklahoma. Representatives of any other Indian tribe 
that believes itself to be culturally affiliated with these human 
remains and associated funerary objects should contact Jim David, 
Superintendent, Ocmulgee National Monument, 1207 Emery Highway, Macon, 
GA 31217, telephone (478) 752-8257, before July 18, 2001. Repatriation 
of the human remains and associated funerary objects to the Alabama-
Coushatta Tribes of Texas; Alabama-Quassarte Tribal Town, Oklahoma; 
Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana; Kialegee Tribal Town of the Creek Indian 
Nation, Oklahoma; Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida; Muscogee 
(Creek) Nation of Oklahoma; Poarch Band of Creek Indians of Alabama; 
Seminole Nation of Oklahoma; Seminole Tribe of Florida, Dania, Big 
Cypress, Brighton, Hollywood & Tampa Reservations; and Thlopthlocco 
Tribal Town of the Creek Nation, Oklahoma may begin after that date if 
no additional claimants come forward.

    Dated: May 7, 2001.
Frank P. McManamon,
Assistant Director, Cultural Resources Stewardship and Partnerships.
[FR Doc. 01-15310 Filed 6-15-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-F