[Federal Register: December 13, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 240)]
[Notices]
[Page 77908]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr13de00-77]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

Notice of Inventory Completion for Native American Human Remains
and Associated Funerary Objects in the Possession of the Louisiana
State University Museum of Natural Science, Baton Rouge, LA

AGENCY: National Park Service.

ACTION: Notice.

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    Notice is hereby given in accordance with provisions of the Native
American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), 43 CFR 10.9,
of the completion of an inventory of human remains and associated
funerary objects in the possession of the Louisiana State University
Museum of Natural Science, Baton Rouge, LA.
    This notice is published as part of the National Park Service's
administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA, 43 CFR 10.2 (c). The
determinations within this notice are the sole responsibility of the
museum, institution, or Federal agency that has control of these Native
American human remains and associated funerary objects. The National
Park Service is not responsible for the determinations within this
notice.
    A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by Louisiana
State University Museum of Natural Science professional staff in
consultation with representatives of the Chitimacha Tribe of Louisiana.
    In 1929-1930, human remains representing seven individuals were
removed during excavations conducted at the Fatherland Site (22AD001),
Adams County, MS, by Moreau B. Chambers. Mr. Chambers donated these
remains to the Lousiana State University Museum of Natural Science in
1930. Museum records indicate that these remains were found in Burial
7, and Burial 13C. No known individuals were identified. The 85
associated funerary objects are textile fragments, shell fragments,
wood fragments, trunk parts, and iron nails. One hundred and seven
unassociated funerary objects also were removed during these
excavations.
    The Fatherland Site is located on the west side of St. Catherine
Creek, about three miles south of Natchez, MS. The material culture
excavated from the Fatherland Site dates to A.D. 1682-1729. Historical
and archeological evidence demonstrate that the Fatherland Site is the
Grand Village of the Natchez. This settlement was occupied until 1729,
when the Natchez lost a war with the French and were forced to flee.
The majority resided for some time with the Chickasaw, though some
moved to live with the Upper Creek and the Cherokee. Each of these
groups were removed with their hosts to Indian Territory in the 19th
century.
    Based on the archeological, ethnohistorical, and historical
evidence, the human remains and objects from the Fatherland Site are
determined to be affiliated with the Chitimacha Tribe of Louisiana. The
Chitimacha Tribe of Louisiana is the sole remaining Federally
recognized tribe that share cultural attributes with the late
prehistoric Delta-Natchezan complex from which both the Natchez and the
Chitimacha derived. On the basis of linguistic and sociocultural
evidence, the Chitimacha Tribe of Louisiana is considered to be the
most closely related of the Federally recognized Native American
groups.
    Based on the above-mentioned information, Louisiana State
University Museum of Natural Science officials have determined that,
pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 (d)(1), the human remains listed above
represent the physical remains of seven individuals of Native American
ancestry. Officials of the Louisiana State University Museum of Natural
Science also have determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 (d)(2), the
85 objects listed 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 Louisiana
State University Museum of Natural Science have determined that,
pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 (e), there is a relationship of shared group
identity that can be reasonably traced between these Native American
human remains and associated funerary objects and the Chitimacha Tribe
of Louisiana.
    This notice has been sent to officials of the Chitimacha Tribe of
Louisiana; the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma; the United Keetoowah Band
of Cherokee Indians of Oklahoma; the Muskogee Creek; and the Chickasaw
Nation, Oklahoma. Representatives of any other Indian tribe that
believes itself to be culturally affiliated with these human remains
and associated funerary objects should contact Dr. Rebecca Saunders,
Assistant Curator of Anthropology, Louisiana State Museum of Natural
Science, 119 Foster Hall, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, telephone (225) 578-
6562, before January 12, 2001. Repatriation of the human remains and
associated funerary objects to the Chitimacha Tribe of Louisiana may
begin after that date if no additional claimants come forward.

    Dated: November 30, 2000.
John Robbins,
Assistant Director, Cultural Resources, Stewardship, and Partnerships.
[FR Doc. 00-31659 Filed 12-12-00; 8:45 am]
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