[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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