Notice2025-10026

Notice of Intended Repatriation: 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) intends to repatriate a certain cultural item from Henry County, TN that meets the definition of an unassociated funerary object and that has a cultural affiliation with the 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]
[Page 23560]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-10026]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0040169; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Intended Repatriation: 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) intends to repatriate a 
certain cultural item from Henry County, TN that meets the definition 
of an unassociated funerary object and that has a cultural affiliation 
with the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice.

DATES: Repatriation of the cultural item 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#b9c9d1d0d597d1d6dddedcf9cdd797ded6cf"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="3c4c545550125453585b597c4852125b534a">[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 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 one cultural item from Henry County, TN has been 
requested for repatriation. The one unassociated funerary object is a 
ceramic vessel originally from the collections of the Mississippi 
Department of Archives and History, which was donated to TDEC-DOA in 
2023. No information exists as to the circumstances of its original 
collection. There is no known exposure to hazardous substances or 
treatments.

Determinations

    The TDEC-DOA has determined that:
    <bullet> The one unassociated funerary object described in this 
notice is 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 object has 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.
    <bullet> There is a reasonable connection between the cultural item 
described in this notice and The Chickasaw Nation.

Requests for Repatriation

    Additional, written requests for repatriation of the cultural item 
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 item 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 
cultural item are considered a single request and not 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 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: May 13, 2025.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2025-10026 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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