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[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 199 (Tuesday, October 17, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48242-48243]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-22435]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0024051; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]

Notice of Inventory Completion: U.S. Department of Defense, 
Defense Health Agency, National Museum of Health and Medicine, Silver 
Spring, MD

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Defense, Defense Health Agency, 
National Museum of Health and Medicine, has completed an inventory of 
human remains, in consultation with the appropriate Indian Tribes or 
Native Hawaiian organizations, and has determined that there is no 
cultural affiliation between the human remains and any present-day 
Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations. Representatives of any 
Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this 
notice that wish to request transfer of control of these human remains 
should submit a written request to the National Museum of Health and 
Medicine. If no additional requestors come forward, transfer of control 
of the human remains to the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian 
organizations stated in this notice may proceed.

DATES: Representatives of any Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian 
organization not identified in this notice that wish to request 
transfer of control of these human remains should submit a written 
request with information in support of the request to the National 
Museum of Health and Medicine at the address in this notice by November 
16, 2017.

ADDRESSES: Mr. Brian F. Spatola, Curator of Anatomical Division, 
National Museum of Health and Medicine, U.S. Army Garrison Forest Glen, 
2500 Linden Lane, Silver Spring, MD 20910, telephone (301) 319-3353, 
email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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 under 
the control of the National Museum of Health and Medicine, Silver 
Spring, MD. The human remains were removed from the Moundville site 
(1TU500) in Hale County, AL.
    This notice is published as part of the National Park Service's 
administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA, 25 U.S.C. 3003(d)(3) and 
43 CFR 10.11(d).

[[Page 48243]]

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. The National Park Service is not responsible 
for the determinations in this notice.

Consultation

    A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by the National 
Museum of Health and Medicine professional staff in consultation with 
representatives of the Absentee-Shawnee Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma; 
Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas (previously listed as the Alabama-
Coushatta Tribes of Texas); Alabama-Quassarte Tribal Town; Cherokee 
Nation; Chitimacha Tribe of Louisiana; Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana; 
Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians; Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma; 
Jena Band of Choctaw Indians; Kialegee Tribal Town; Mississippi Band of 
Choctaw Indians; Poarch Band of Creeks (previously listed as the Poarch 
Band of Creek Indians of Alabama); Seminole Tribe of Florida 
(previously listed as the Seminole Tribe of Florida (Dania, Big 
Cypress, Brighton, Hollywood & Tampa Reservations)); Shawnee Tribe; The 
Chickasaw Nation; The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma; The Muscogee (Creek) 
Nation; The Quapaw Tribe of Indians; The Seminole Nation of Oklahoma; 
Thlopthlocco Tribal Town; Tunica-Biloxi Indian Tribe; and the United 
Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma (``The Tribes'').

History and Description of the Remains

    In early 1905 and late 1906, human remains representing, at 
minimum, 28 individuals were removed from the Moundville Site (1TU500) 
in Hale County, AL. The remains were removed by Clarence B. Moore 
during an archeological investigation of burial mounds and cemeteries 
near Moundville, AL. Artifacts were present at the time of excavation, 
but were not retained with the human remains. The human remains were 
donated to the Army Medical Museum by Clarence B. Moore in 1906. The 
date of the site associated with the human remains is approximately 
A.D. 700 to 1540. The remains consist of partial skeletons or single 
bone elements. Age and sex could not be identified. No known 
individuals were identified. No associated funerary objects are 
present.

Determinations Made by the National Museum of Health and Medicine

    Officials of the National Museum of Health and Medicine have 
determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice are Native American based on: Osteological evidence, 
collection history, artifacts, and association with prehistoric 
archeological sites.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice represent the physical remains of 28 individuals of 
Native American ancestry.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(2), a relationship of shared 
group identity cannot be reasonably traced between the Native American 
human remains and any present-day Indian Tribe.
     Treaties, Acts of Congress, or Executive Orders, indicate 
that the land from which the Native American human remains were removed 
is the aboriginal land of The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma.
     Pursuant to 43 CFR 10.11(c)(1), the disposition of the 
human remains may be to The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and, if joined 
with the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, The Muscogee (Creek) Nation.

Additional Requestors and Disposition

    Representatives of any Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization 
not identified in this notice that wish to request transfer of control 
of these human remains should submit a written request with information 
in support of the request to Mr. Brian F. Spatola, Curator of 
Anatomical Division, National Museum of Health and Medicine, U.S. Army 
Garrison Forest Glen, 2500 Linden Lane, Silver Spring, MD 20910, 
telephone (301) 319-3353, email [email protected], by 
November 16, 2017. After that date, if no additional requestors have 
come forward, transfer of control of the human remains to The Choctaw 
Nation of Oklahoma and, if joined with the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, 
The Muscogee (Creek) Nation, may proceed.
    The National Museum of Health and Medicine is responsible for 
notifying The Tribes that this notice has been published.

    Dated: August 22, 2017.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2017-22435 Filed 10-16-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
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