2024-27513. Notice of Inventory Completion: University of Tennessee, Department of Anthropology, Knoxville, TN

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Department of the Interior

National Park Service

1. [NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0039108; 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 Tennessee, Department of Anthropology (UTK) has completed an inventory of human remains and has determined that there is a cultural affiliation between the human remains and Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice.

DATES:

Repatriation of the human remains in this notice may occur on or after December 26, 2024.

ADDRESSES:

Dr. Ellen Lofaro, University of Tennessee, Office of Repatriation, 5723 Middlebrook Pike, Knoxville, TN 37921-6053, 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 UTK, 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. No associated funerary objects are present. These individuals were removed by R.B. Aker at an unknown time from an unknown archaeological site in Platte County, Missouri. The only information available about the removal of these individuals is a label stating they were “dug years ago by Aker” from a “mound west of Parkville.” Aker actively excavated in Buchanan and Platte Counties, MO, and Parkville is located in Platte County. Based on a past pattern of practice, these individuals were probably transferred to William Bass while he was at the University of Kansas and brought by him to UTK when he began working there in 1971.

Through Tribal consultation, these individuals were identified as culturally affiliated with the Omaha Tribe of Nebraska and The Osage Nation, based off the following types of information: archaeological, geographical, historical, linguistic, and oral traditional.

Some of the remains were “repaired” using an unknown glue, and some were treated with an unknown preservative, however, to our knowledge no potentially hazardous substances were used to treat the remains.

Cultural Affiliation

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

Determinations

UTK has determined that:

• The human remains described in this notice represent the physical remains of two individuals of Native American ancestry.
• There is a connection between the human remains described in this notice and the Omaha Tribe of Nebraska and The Osage Nation.

Requests for Repatriation

Written requests for repatriation of the human remains in this notice must be sent to the authorized representative identified in this notice under ADDRESSES . Requests for repatriation may be submitted by: ( print page 92967)

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 an Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization with cultural affiliation.

Repatriation of the human remains described in this notice to a requestor may occur on or after December 26, 2024. If competing requests for repatriation are received, UTK must determine the most appropriate requestor prior to repatriation. Requests for joint repatriation of the human remains are considered a single request and not competing requests. UTK 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: November 18, 2024.

Melanie O'Brien,

Manager, National NAGPRA Program.