Notice2025-10023

Notice of Inventory Completion: Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation Division of Archaeology, Nashville, TN

Primary source

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Published
June 3, 2025

Issuing agencies

Interior DepartmentNational Park Service

Abstract

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Tennessee Department of Conservation and Environment, Division of Archaeology (TDEC-DOA) has completed an inventory of human remains and associated funerary objects from Hardin County, TN and has determined that there is a cultural affiliation between the human remains and associated funerary objects and Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice.

Full Text

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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 105 (Tuesday, June 3, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 105 (Tuesday, June 3, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23545-23546]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-10023]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0040170; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: Tennessee Department of 
Environment and Conservation Division of Archaeology, Nashville, TN

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and 
Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Tennessee Department of Conservation and 
Environment, Division of Archaeology (TDEC-DOA) has completed an 
inventory of human remains and associated funerary objects from Hardin 
County, TN and has determined that there is a cultural affiliation 
between the human remains and associated funerary objects and Indian 
Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice.

DATES: Repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary 
objects in this notice may occur on or after July 3, 2025.

ADDRESSES: Phillip R. Hodge, Tennessee Department of Environment and 
Conservation, Division of Archaeology (TDEC-DOA), 1216 Foster Avenue, 
Cole Building #3, Nashville, TN 37243, telephone (615) 626-2025, email 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#97e7fffefbb9fff8f3f0f2d7e3f9b9f0f8e1"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="84f4ecede8aaecebe0e3e1c4f0eaaae3ebf2">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>.

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 the 
TDEC-DOA, 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 one lot of associated funerary objects are unsorted, 
commingled faunal material.

Hardin Creek Mound, Hardin County, TN (Site 40HR178)

    Human remains representing, at least, one individual, as well as 
one lot of associated funerary objects consisting of unsorted, 
commingled faunal material. No information is available regarding the 
collection or donation of these remains. There is no known exposure to 
hazardous substances or treatments.

Unknown Site, Hardin County, TN

    Human remains representing, at least, one individual fashioned into 
a gorget. This ancestor was looted from the Tennessee River bankline at 
an unknown site location in Hardin County and surrendered to TDEC-DOA 
in 2014. There is no known exposure to hazardous substances or 
treatments.

Cultural Affiliation

    Based on the information available and the results of consultation, 
cultural affiliation is reasonably identified by the geographical 
location or acquisition history of the human remains and associated 
funerary objects described in this notice.

Determinations

    The TDEC-DOA has determined that:
    <bullet> The human remains described in this notice represent the 
physical remains of at least, two individuals of Native American 
ancestry.
    <bullet> The one lot of funerary 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.
    <bullet> There is a connection between the human remains and 
associated funerary objects described in this notice and the Cherokee 
Nation; Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians; Poarch Band of Creek Indians; 
The Chickasaw Nation; and the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians 
in Oklahoma.

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:
    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 and associated funerary objects 
described in this notice to a requestor may occur on or after July 3, 
2025. If competing requests for repatriation are received, the TDEC-DOA 
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

[[Page 23546]]

competing requests. The TDEC-DOA 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: May 13, 2025.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2025-10023 Filed 6-2-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P


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Indexed from Federal Register on June 3, 2025.

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