2024-24427. Notice of Inventory Completion: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Hopewell Culture National Historical Park, Chillicothe, OH

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Department of the Interior

National Park Service

1. [NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0038936; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]

AGENCY:

National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Hopewell Culture National Historical Park (HOCU) has completed an inventory of associated funerary objects and has determined that there is a cultural affiliation between the associated funerary objects and Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice.

( print page 84395)

DATES:

Repatriation of the associated funerary objects in this notice may occur on or after November 21, 2024.

ADDRESSES:

Chris Alford, Superintendent, Hopewell Culture National Historical Park, 16062 State Route 104, Chillicothe, OH 45601, telephone [phone], email [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

This notice is published as part of the National Park Service's administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA. The determinations in this notice are the sole responsibility of the Superintendent, HOCU, and additional information on the determinations in this notice, including the results of consultation, can be found in the inventory or related records.

Abstract of Information Available

In 1963, associated funerary objects were removed from the Mound City Group, Ross County, OH during an excavation by the Ohio Historical Society under contract to the National Park Service (NPS). The associated funerary objects were removed from Federal property and were accessioned into the collections at Mound City Group National Monument (now Hopewell Culture National Historical Park). The funerary objects are associated with human remains that were included in a Notice of Inventory Completion published in the Federal Register on January 3, 2024 (89 FR 403) and most probably date to the Middle Woodland period. No known hazardous substances are present. The 22 associated funerary objects are seven shell beads and 15 copper artifacts.

Cultural Affiliation

Based on the information available and the results of consultation, cultural affiliation is clearly identified by the information available about the associated funerary objects described in this notice.

Determinations

HOCU has determined that:

• The 22 objects described in this notice are reasonably believed to have been placed intentionally with or near individual human remains at the time of death or later as part of the death rite or ceremony.
• There is a connection between the associated funerary objects described in this notice and the Absentee-Shawnee Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma; Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma; and the Shawnee Tribe.

Requests for Repatriation

Written requests for repatriation of the associated funerary objects in this notice must be sent to the authorized representative identified in this notice under ADDRESSES . Requests for repatriation may be submitted by:

1. Any one or more of the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations identified in this notice.

2. Any lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice who shows, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the requestor is a lineal descendant or a culturally affiliated Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization.

Repatriation of the associated funerary objects in this notice to a requestor may occur on or after November 21, 2024. If competing requests for repatriation are received, HOCU must determine the most appropriate requestor prior to repatriation. Requests for joint repatriation of the associated funerary objects are considered a single request and not competing requests. HOCU is responsible for sending a copy of this notice to the Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations identified in this notice.

Authority: Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, 25 U.S.C. 3003, and the implementing regulations, 43 CFR 10.10.

Dated: October 11, 2024.

Melanie O'Brien,

Manager, National NAGPRA Program.