2024-26465. Notice of Intended Repatriation: Tennessee State Museum, Nashville, TN

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Department of the Interior

National Park Service

1. [NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0039022; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]

AGENCY:

National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Tennessee State Museum intends to repatriate certain cultural items that meet the definition of unassociated funerary objects and that have a cultural affiliation with the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice.

DATES:

Repatriation of the cultural items in this notice may occur on or after December 16, 2024.

ADDRESSES:

Debbie Shaw, Tennessee State Museum, 1000 Rosa L Parks Blvd., Nashville, TN 37243, telephone [phone], email [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

This notice is published as part of the National Park Service's administrative ( print page 90050) responsibilities under NAGPRA. The determinations in this notice are the sole responsibility of the Tennessee State Museum, and additional information on the determinations in this notice, including the results of consultation, can be found in the summary or related records. The National Park Service is not responsible for the determinations in this notice.

Abstract of Information Available

A total of 120 cultural items have been requested for repatriation. The 120 unassociated funerary objects are three bracelets, two bells, five tinklers, four pendants, 89 beads, seven buttons, one earring, one tube, one brooch, one buckle, one jaw harp, one padlock, one projectile point, one bullet, one hanger/sword and one pipe. These items are associated with Overhill Cherokee towns (Tellico and Citico sites) in Monroe County, TN and one item has a provenience of the Old Town Site (40WM2) in Williamson County, TN.

Determinations

The Tennessee State Museum has determined that:

• The 120 unassociated funerary objects described in this notice are reasonably believed to have been placed intentionally with or near human remains, and are connected, either at the time of death or later as part of the death rite or ceremony of a Native American culture according to the Native American traditional knowledge of a lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization. The unassociated funerary objects have been identified by a preponderance of the evidence as related to human remains, specific individuals, or families, or removed from a specific burial site or burial area of an individual or individuals with cultural affiliation to an Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization.
• There is a reasonable connection between the cultural items described in this notice and the Cherokee Nation; Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians; and the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma.

Requests for Repatriation

Additional, written requests for repatriation of the cultural items 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 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 cultural items in this notice to a requestor may occur on or after December 16, 2024. If competing requests for repatriation are received, the Tennessee State Museum must determine the most appropriate requestor prior to repatriation. Requests for joint repatriation of the cultural items are considered a single request and not competing requests. The Tennessee State Museum is responsible for sending a copy of this notice to the Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations identified in this notice and to any other consulting parties.

Authority: Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, 25 U.S.C. 3004 and the implementing regulations, 43 CFR 10.9.

Dated: November 5, 2024.

Melanie O'Brien,

Manager, National NAGPRA Program.