2024-26462. Notice of Inventory Completion: Cumberland University, Lebanon, TN

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Department of the Interior

National Park Service

1. [NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0039027; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]

AGENCY:

National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Cumberland University has completed an inventory of human remains and associated funerary objects and has determined that there is no lineal descendant and no Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization with cultural affiliation.

DATES:

Upon request, repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects in this notice may occur on or after December 16, 2024.

ADDRESSES:

Rachael C. Bible, Cumberland University, 1 Cumberland Drive, Lebanon, TN 37087, 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 Cumberland University, and additional information on the determinations in this notice, including the results of consultation, can be found in its inventory or related records. The National Park Service is not responsible for the determinations in this notice.

Abstract of Information Available

Human remains representing, at least, two individuals have been identified. The three associated funerary objects are one scapula of a Virginia opossum ( Didelphis virginiana), one premolar of an unidentified ungulate, and one shard of faunal long bone of unidentified taxonomic origin. In 1972, the remains and funerary objects were removed from the archaeological site known as Castalian Springs (40SU14) by the Cumberland College Archaeology Club. Cumberland University was, at the time, known as Cumberland College. The remains and funerary objects were rediscovered during a collection inventory.

Consultation

Invitations to consult were sent to the Absentee-Shawnee Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma; Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas; Alabama-Quassarte Tribal Town; Catawba Indian Nation; Cherokee Nation; Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana; Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians; Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma; Jena Band of Choctaw Indians; Kialegee Tribal Town; Miami Tribe of Oklahoma; Miccosukee Tribe of Indians; Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians; Peoria Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma; Poarch Band of Creek Indians; Quapaw Nation; Seminole Tribe of Florida; Shawnee Tribe; The Chickasaw Nation; The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma; The Muscogee (Creek) Nation; The Osage Nation; The Seminole Nation of Oklahoma; Thlopthlocco Tribal Town; and the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma.

The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians; Quapaw Nation; Shawnee Tribe; The Muscogee (Creek) Nation; Thlopthlocco Tribal Town; and the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma responded to the invitation and participated in consultation.

Cultural Affiliation

The following types of information about the cultural affiliation of the human remains and associated funerary objects in this notice are available: archaeological, geographical, and other relevant information. The information, including the results of consultation, identified:

1. No earlier group is connected to the human remains or associated funerary object.

2. No Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization is connected to the human remains or associated funerary objects.

3. No relationship of shared group identity between the earlier group and ( print page 90047) the Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization that can be reasonably traced through time.

Determinations

Cumberland University has determined that:

• The human remains described in this notice represent the physical remains of two individuals of Native American ancestry.
• The three 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.
• No known lineal descendant who can trace ancestry to the human remains and associated funerary objects in this notice has been identified.
• No Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization with cultural affiliation to the human remains and associated funerary objects in this notice has been clearly or reasonably identified.

Requests for Repatriation

Written requests for repatriation of the human remains and 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 any lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization who shows, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the requestor is a lineal descendant or an Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization with cultural affiliation.

Upon request, repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects described in this notice may occur on or after December 16, 2024. If competing requests for repatriation are received, Cumberland University must determine the most appropriate requestor prior to repatriation. Requests for joint repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects are considered a single request and not competing requests. Cumberland University is responsible for sending a copy of this notice to any consulting lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization.

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

Dated: November 5, 2024.

Melanie O'Brien,

Manager, National NAGPRA Program.