FR Doc 2010-20938[Federal Register: August 24, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 163)]
[Notices]               
[Page 52014-52015]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr24au10-72]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service
 
Notice of Inventory Completion: U.S. Department of Agriculture, 
Forest Service, Cherokee National Forest, Cleveland, TN

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 control of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest 
Service, Cherokee National Forest, Cleveland, TN. The human remains and 
associated funerary objects were removed from Washington County, TN.
    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 Georgia 
State University professional staff. Analysis of associated funerary 
objects was made by University of Tennessee and University of Georgia 
professional staff.
    In 1978, human remains representing a minimum of 36 individuals 
were removed from the Jackson Farm site (40Wg17), Washington County, 
TN, by the late Dr. Roy Dickens of the University of Georgia (later 
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill). In approximately 1980, Dr. 
Dickens transferred the human remains to the late Dr. R.L. Blakely of 
Georgia State University. The associated funerary objects, including 
shell beads and shell gorgets, stone and bone tools, ornaments, trade 
beads and metal trade objects were also excavated from these burials 
and were documented in reports generated in the 1980s by University of 
Tennessee and University of Georgia professional staff. However, no 
official

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count of the associated funerary objects was done for reporting 
purposes. No known individuals were identified. An unknown number of 
associated funerary objects were present.
    Analysis in the 1980s of the human remains and the associated 
funerary objects, and other artifacts excavated from 40Wg17, indicate 
these human remains are affiliated with the prehistoric/protohistoric 
Pisgah (A.D. 1250-1500) and the protohistoric/early historic Qualla 
(A.D. 1500-1800) archeological phases. The Pisgah and Qualla 
archeological phases are associated with the Cherokee Tribes. The 
Cherokee are represented by the Cherokee Nation, Oklahoma; Eastern Band 
of Cherokee Indians of North Carolina; and the United Keetoowah Band of 
Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma.
    Officials of the Forest Service have determined that, pursuant to 
25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described above represent the 
physical remains of 36 individuals of Native American ancestry. 
Officials of the Forest Service also have determined that, pursuant to 
25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A), the 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 Forest Service have determined that, 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 Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma, 
Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians of North Carolina, and the United 
Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma.
    In the early 1990s, these human remains and associated funerary 
objects were repatriated to the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians of 
North Carolina. Questions or concerns related to the repatriation of 
the human remains and/or associated funerary objects described in this 
notice or representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes 
itself to be culturally affiliated with the human remains and 
associated funerary objects should contact H. Thomas Speaks, Forest 
Supervisor, Cherokee National Forest Service, USDA Forest Service, 2800 
N. Ocoee St., Cleveland, TN 37312, telephone (423) 476-9700, before 
September 23, 2010.
    The Forest Service is responsible for notifying the Cherokee 
Nation, Oklahoma; Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians of North Carolina; 
and the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma that this 
notice has been published.

    Dated: August 18, 2010.
David Tarler,
Acting Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2010-20938 Filed 8-23-10; 8:45 am]
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