Notice2022-27531
Notice of Inventory Completion: Alabama Department of Transportation, Montgomery, AL
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
December 20, 2022
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentNational Park Service
Abstract
The Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) has completed an inventory of human remains and associated funerary objects, in consultation with the appropriate Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations and has determined that there is a cultural affiliation between the human remains and associated funerary objects and present- day Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations. Lineal descendants or representatives of any Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice that wish to request transfer of control of these human remains and associated funerary objects should submit a written request to ALDOT. If no additional requestors come forward, transfer of control of the human remains and associated funerary objects to the lineal descendants, Indian Tribes, or Native Hawaiian organizations stated in this notice may proceed.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 87 Issue 243 (Tuesday, December 20, 2022)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 243 (Tuesday, December 20, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 77883-77884]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2022-27531]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0035042; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Inventory Completion: Alabama Department of
Transportation, Montgomery, AL
AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) has completed
an inventory of human remains and associated funerary objects, in
consultation with the appropriate Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian
organizations and has determined that there is a cultural affiliation
between the human remains and associated funerary objects and present-
day Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations. Lineal descendants
or representatives of any
[[Page 77884]]
Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this
notice that wish to request transfer of control of these human remains
and associated funerary objects should submit a written request to
ALDOT. If no additional requestors come forward, transfer of control of
the human remains and associated funerary objects to the lineal
descendants, Indian Tribes, or Native Hawaiian organizations stated in
this notice may proceed.
DATES: Lineal descendants or representatives of any Indian Tribe or
Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice that wish to
request transfer of control of these human remains and associated
funerary objects should submit a written request with information in
support of the request to ALDOT at the address in this notice by
January 19, 2023.
ADDRESSES: William B. Turner, Alabama Department of Transportation,
1409 Coliseum Blvd., Montgomery, AL 36110, telephone (334) 242-6144,
email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#ee9a9b9c808b9c99ae8a819ac09d9a8f9a8bc08f82c09b9d"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="dbafaea9b5bea9ac9bbfb4aff5a8afbaafbef5bab7f5aea8">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice is here given in accordance with the
Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), 25
U.S.C. 3003, of the completion of an inventory of human remains and
associated funerary objects under the control of the Alabama Department
of Transportation, Montgomery, AL. The human remains were removed from
Montgomery and Walker Counties, AL.
This notice is published as part of the National Park Service's
administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA, 25 U.S.C. 3003(d)(3). The
determinations in this notice are the sole responsibility of the
museum, institution, or Federal agency that has control of the Native
American human remains and associated funerary objects. The National
Park Service is not responsible for the determinations in this notice.
Consultation
A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by Alabama
Department of Transportation and the University of Alabama professional
staff in consultation with representatives of The Muscogee (Creek)
Nation.
History and Description of the Remains
In May of 2002, human remains representing, at minimum, two
individuals were removed from the Lost Creek site, 1Wa186, in Walker
County, AL, by the Office of Archaeological Research at the University
of Alabama Museums, prior to road relocation and bridge replacement by
the Alabama Department of Transportation. In May of 2002, the
collection was obtained by University of Alabama, and in 2022, ALDOT
assumed control. No known individuals were identified. The 155 lots of
associated funerary objects present in the collection include ceramic
sherds, sandstone fragments, lithic tools and debitage, fire cracked
rock, shell, faunal remains, botanical remains, and charcoal samples.
Based on analysis of the material cultural remains recovered from
1Wa186, the primary occupation of the site occurred during the West
Jefferson Phase of the Late Woodland.
In 1972, human remains representing, at minimum, 12 individuals
were removed from the Zeigler Site, 1Mt86, in Montgomery County, AL.
Burials were removed by University of Alabama archeologists working
under contract to ALDOT during Phase III Data Recovery excavations
conducted prior to Interstate 65 construction near the city of
Montgomery. In June of 1972, the collection was obtained by University
of Alabama, and in 2022, ALDOT assumed control. No known individuals
were identified. The 66 associated funerary objects are 65 shell beads
and 1 modified shell fragment.
Based on analysis of the artifacts recovered from 1Mt86, the site
is primarily a Late Woodland village belonging to the Hope Hull Phase.
Some evidence of an earlier, Late Woodland Autauga Phase was also
present at the site.
Cultural affiliation of the human remains listed in this notice
with The Muscogee (Creek) Nation is based on their recovery within the
historically Muskogean-speaking area.
Determinations Made by the Alabama Department of Transportation
Officials of the Alabama Department of Transportation have
determined that:
<bullet> Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described
in this notice represent the physical remains of 14 individuals of
Native American ancestry.
<bullet> Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A), the 221 objects
described in this notice are reasonably believed to have been placed
with or near individual human remains at the time of death or later as
part of the death rite or ceremony.
<bullet> Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(2), there is a relationship of
shared group identity that can be reasonably traced between the Native
American human remains and The Muscogee (Creek) Nation.
Additional Requestors and Disposition
Lineal descendants or representatives of any Indian Tribe or Native
Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice that wish to
request transfer of control of these human remains and associated
funerary objects should submit a written request with information in
support of the request to William B. Turner, Alabama Department of
Transportation, 1409 Coliseum Blvd., Montgomery, AL 36110, telephone
(334) 242-6144, email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#1f6b6a6d717a6d685f7b706b316c6b7e6b7a317e73316a6c"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="6a1e1f18040f181d2a0e051e44191e0b1e0f440b06441f19">[email protected]</span></a>, by January 19, 2023.
After that date, if no additional requestors have come forward,
transfer of control of the human remains and associated funerary
objects to The Muscogee (Creek) Nation may proceed.
The Alabama Department of Transportation is responsible for
notifying The Muscogee (Creek) Nation that this notice has been
published.
Dated: December 13, 2022.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2022-27531 Filed 12-19-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
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