2024-27497. Notice of Intended Repatriation: University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL

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Department of the Interior

National Park Service

1. [NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0039100; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]

AGENCY:

National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) 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 26, 2024.

ADDRESSES:

Dr. Lauren Downs, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Department of Anthropology, UH 3165, 1720 2nd Avenue, South, Birmingham, AL 35294-1241, 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 UAB, 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 two lots of cultural items have been requested for repatriation. The two lots of unassociated funerary objects are one lot of pottery from two partial vessels and one lot of flaked stone tools. The unassociated funerary objects were removed from a limestone lined grave reported to be sixty miles north of Murray, Kentucky. This description places the geographic location in or near Crittenden, Livingston, Lyon, or Marshall County, Kentucky, or Hardin or Pope County, Illinois. The collection was donated to UAB at an unknown date. No cultural affiliation information is included in UAB's internal records, but the geographical origin of the objects and relevant archaeological information reasonably identify a cultural affiliation with the Cherokee Nation, Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, Miami Tribe of Oklahoma, Quapaw Nation, Shawnee Tribe, and The Chickasaw Nation. There is no record of any potentially hazardous substances used to treat the unassociated funerary objects.

Determinations

The University of Alabama at Birmingham has determined that:

• The two lots of 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 Chickasaw Nation.

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 ( print page 92964) 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 26, 2024. If competing requests for repatriation are received, UAB 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. UAB 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 18, 2024.

Melanie O'Brien,

Manager, National NAGPRA Program.