[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 213 (Thursday, November 4, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67998-67999]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-27917]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Inventory Completion: U.S. Department of Agriculture, 
Forest Service, Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests, Gainesville, GA

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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    Notice is here given in accordance with the Native American Graves 
Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), 25 U.S.C. 3003, of the 
completion of an inventory of human remains and associated funerary 
objects in the possession of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest 
Service, Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests, Gainesville, GA. The 
human remains and associated funerary objects were removed from Greene 
County, GA.
    This notice is published as part of the National Park Service's 
administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA, 25 U.S.C. 3003(d)(3). The 
determinations in this notice are the sole responsibility of the 
museum, institution, or Federal agency that has control of the Native 
American human remains and associated funerary objects. The National 
Park Service is not responsible for the determinations in this notice.
    A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by the 
professional staff of the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests, 
University of Georgia, and Southeastern Archaeological Services, Inc., 
and in consultation with the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, Oklahoma, and the 
Poarch Band of Creek Indians of Alabama.
    Sometime between 1985 and 1986, human remains representing a 
minimum of two individuals were removed from site 9GE1083, Greene 
County, GA. This site was disturbed by logging operations, and the 
human remains were removed by a local collector in late 1985 or early 
1986. No known individuals were identified. The 131 associated funerary 
objects are Lamar period ceramic pottery sherds.

[[Page 67999]]

    The site was investigated by Forest Service and contract 
archeologists and determined to be a boulder cache containing ceramic 
sherds and human skeletal remains. An area of charcoal rich soil was 
screened during the investigation, resulting in the recovery of a small 
number of ceramic sherds and bone fragments. A total of 478 pieces of 
human bone were recovered. No paired bones were identified that would 
indicate more than one individual; although differential wear on two 
teeth may indicate it is possible two individuals are present.
    Lamar period ceramics present at the site, which are associated 
with the Iron Horse, Dyar and Bell phases, suggest a date of 
approximately A.D. 1450-1670. Following 1670, this region was abandoned 
by Native Americans for a period of time, and the surviving populations 
are thought to have eventually joined with the Creek Confederacy. Based 
on a review of the archeology, ethnography and history of the region, 
officials of the Forest Service believe the human remains are Creek in 
affiliation. The Creek are represented by the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe 
of Texas; Alabama-Quassarte Tribal Town, Oklahoma; Coushatta Tribe of 
Louisiana; Kialegee Tribal Town, Oklahoma; Muscogee (Creek) Nation, 
Oklahoma; Poarch Band of Creek Indians of Alabama; and Thlopthlocco 
Tribal Town, Oklahoma.
    Officials of the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests have 
determined, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
above represent the physical remains of two individuals of Native 
American ancestry. Officials of the Chattahoochee-Oconee National 
Forests also have determined, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A), the 131 
objects described 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, officials of the 
Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests have determined, pursuant to 25 
U.S.C. 3001(2), there is a relationship of shared group identity that 
can be reasonably traced between the Native American human remains and 
associated funerary objects and the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas; 
Alabama-Quassarte Tribal Town, Oklahoma; Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana; 
Kialegee Tribal Town, Oklahoma; Muscogee (Creek) Nation, Oklahoma; 
Poarch Band of Creek Indians of Alabama; and Thlopthlocco Tribal Town, 
Oklahoma.
    Representatives of any other Indian Tribe that believes itself to 
be culturally affiliated with the human remains and associated funerary 
objects should contact James Wettstaed, Chattahoochee-Oconee National 
Forests, 1775 Cleveland Rd., Gainesville, GA 30501, telephone (770) 
297-3026, before December 6, 2010. Repatriation of the human remains 
and associated funerary objects to the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of 
Texas; Alabama-Quassarte Tribal Town, Oklahoma; Coushatta Tribe of 
Louisiana; Kialegee Tribal Town, Oklahoma; Muscogee (Creek) Nation, 
Oklahoma; Poarch Band of Creek Indians of Alabama; and Thlopthlocco 
Tribal Town, Oklahoma, may proceed after that date if no additional 
claimants come forward.
    The Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests are responsible for 
notifying the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas; Alabama-Quassarte 
Tribal Town, Oklahoma; Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana; Kialegee Tribal 
Town, Oklahoma; Muscogee (Creek) Nation, Oklahoma; Poarch Band of Creek 
Indians of Alabama; and Thlopthlocco Tribal Town, Oklahoma, that this 
notice has been published.

    Dated: October 29, 2010.
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2010-27917 Filed 11-3-10; 8:45 am]
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