2021-22741. Notice of Intent To Repatriate Cultural Items: Ohio History Connection, Columbus, OH

AGENCY:

National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

The Ohio History Connection, in consultation with the appropriate Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations, has determined that the cultural item listed in this notice meets the definition of an unassociated funerary object. Lineal descendants or representatives of any Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice that wish to claim this cultural item should submit a written request to the Ohio History Connection. If no additional claimants come forward, transfer of control of the cultural item 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 this cultural item should submit a written request with information in support of the claim to the Ohio History Connection at the address in this notice by November 18, 2021.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Nekole Alligood, NAGPRA Specialist, Ohio History Connection, 800 E 17th Avenue, Columbus, OH 43211, telephone [phone], email [e-mail].

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 a cultural item under the control of the Ohio History Connection, Columbus, OH, that meets the definition of an unassociated funerary object 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 Item

In 1886, one cultural item was removed from Duck River in Tennessee. According to the Ohio History Connection catalog, the object, a shell gorget, was part of the W.K. Moorehead collection. While the collection as a whole is described on an accession card as “general collection of archaeological specimens, mainly surface, assembled by W.K. Moorehead,” the notes for catalog number A0067/60 describe the object as belonging to “shell ornaments . . . from a grave, Duck River, Tenn.” Based upon evidence linking the Chickasaw people to the southeastern United States, including Tennessee, as documented in the Treaties of 1805 and 1816, a relationship of shared group identity can reasonably be traced between Muskogean linguistic cultures and this object.

Determinations Made by the Ohio History Connection

Officials of the Ohio History Connection have determined that:

• Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(B), the one cultural item described above is 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 object and The Chickasaw Nation.

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 this cultural item should submit a written request with information in support of the claim to Nekole Alligood, Ohio History Connection, 800 E 17th Avenue, Columbus, OH 43211, telephone [phone], email [e-mail], by November 18, 2021. After that date, if no additional claimants have come forward, transfer of control of the unassociated funerary object to The Chickasaw Nation may proceed.

The Ohio History Connection is responsible for notifying The Chickasaw Nation this notice has been published.

Dated: October 6, 2021.

Melanie O'Brien,

Manager, National NAGPRA Program.