[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 221 (Monday, November 17, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68478-68479]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-27136]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-17072; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Intent To Repatriate Cultural Items: U.S. Department of
Agriculture, Forest Service, Cherokee National Forest, Cleveland, TN
AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Forest Service,
Cherokee National Forest, in consultation with the appropriate Indian
tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations, has determined that the
cultural items listed in this notice meet the definition of
unassociated funerary objects. Lineal descendants or representatives of
any Indian tribe or Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this
notice that wish to claim these cultural items should submit a written
request to the USDA Forest Service, Cherokee National Forest. If no
additional claimants come forward, transfer of control of the cultural
items to the lineal descendants, Indian tribes, or Native Hawaiian
organizations stated in this notice may proceed.
DATES: Lineal descendants or representatives of any Indian tribe or
Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice that wish to
claim these cultural items should submit a written request with
information in support of the claim to the USDA Forest Service,
Cherokee National Forest at the address in this notice by December 17,
2014.
ADDRESSES: Mr. JaSal Morris, Forest Supervisor, Supervisor's Office,
USDA Forest Service, Cherokee National Forest, 2800 Ocoee Street N.,
Cleveland, TN 37312, telephone (423) 476-9700.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice is here given in accordance with the
Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), 25
U.S.C. 3005, of the intent to repatriate cultural items under the
control of the USDA Forest Service, Cherokee National Forest,
Cleveland, TN, that meet the definition of unassociated funerary
objects under 25 U.S.C. 3001.
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 cultural items. The National Park Service is not responsible
for the determinations in this notice.
History and Description of the Cultural Items
In 1977 and 1978, 346 cultural items were removed from the Jackson
Farm site (40Wg17) in Washington County, TN, by the Forest Service
archeologist Dr. Howard Earnest. Dr. Earnest removed human remains at
the same time, but the human remains are not associated with these
cultural items. Dr. Earnest excavated 20 burial units that were
extensively disturbed through massive sheet erosion of the site from
flooding of the Nolichucky River in the fall of 1977. The cultural
items removed by Dr. Earnest have been curated by Western Carolina
University since excavation. The 346 unassociated funerary objects are
292 whole glass beads; 3 half glass beads; 3 marine shell gorgets; 25
tubular brass beads; 1 brass gorget; 1 brass animal effigy pendant with
brass tear-shaped pendants; 1 miniature brass effigy axe; 19 mica
discs; and 1 brass cone or tinkler.
Based on the location of the Jackson Farm site, it is reasonable to
assume a relationship of shared group identity between these cultural
items and the Cherokee people, currently represented by the Cherokee
Nation, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, and the United Keetoowah
Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma.
Determinations Made by the USDA Forest Service Cherokee National Forest
Officials of the USDA Forest Service, Cherokee National Forest have
determined that:
Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(B), the 346 cultural items
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 and are believed, by a preponderance of the
evidence, to have been removed from a specific burial site of a Native
American individual.
Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(2), there is a relationship of
shared group identity that can be reasonably traced between the
unassociated funerary objects and the Cherokee Nation, the Eastern Band
of Cherokee Indians, and the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians
in Oklahoma.
Additional Requestors and Disposition
Lineal descendants or representatives of any Indian tribe or Native
Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice that wish to claim
these cultural items should submit a written request with information
in support of the claim to Mr. JaSal Morris, Forest Supervisor,
Supervisor's Office, USDA Forest Service, Cherokee National Forest,
2800 Ocoee Street N., Cleveland, TN 37312, telephone (423) 476-9700, by
December 17, 2014. After that date, if no additional claimants have
come forward, transfer of control of the unassociated funerary objects
to the Cherokee Nation, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, and the
United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma may proceed.
The USDA Forest Service, Cherokee National Forest is responsible
for notifying the Cherokee Nation, the Eastern Band of Cherokee
Indians, and the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma
that this notice has been published.
[[Page 68479]]
Dated: October 29, 2014.
Melanie O'Brien,
Acting Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2014-27136 Filed 11-14-14; 8:45 am]
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