Notice2025-14274
Notice of Intended Repatriation: Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, Division of Archaeology, Nashville, TN
Primary source
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Published
July 29, 2025
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentNational Park Service
Abstract
In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, Division of Archaeology (TDEC-DOA) intends to repatriate certain cultural items from Williamson County, Tennessee 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.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 143 (Tuesday, July 29, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 143 (Tuesday, July 29, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Page 35729]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-14274]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[N6352; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0040607; 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 Environment and
Conservation, Division of Archaeology (TDEC-DOA) intends to repatriate
certain cultural items from Williamson County, Tennessee 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 August 28, 2025.
ADDRESSES: Send additional, written requests for repatriation of the
cultural items in this notice to Phillip R. Hodge, Tennessee Department
of Environment and Conservation, Division of Archaeology (TDEC-DOA),
1216 Foster Avenue, Cole Building #3, Nashville, TN 37243, email
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#c292aaabaeec8aada6a5a782b6aceca5adb4"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="95c5fdfcf9bbddfaf1f2f0d5e1fbbbf2fae3">[email 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 12 cultural items have been requested for repatriation.
Site 40WM87, Williamson County, TN
The 10 unassociated funerary objects consisting of five
Mississippian period ceramic vessels, three lithic adzes, and two
ceramic ear ornaments. These materials were excavated by a private
consultant under a Davidson County Chancery Court order in 1987,
following disturbance to a stone box cemetery during grading for a
residential subdivision. The associated skeletal remains were reburied
by the consultant. There is no record describing the reburial location
or date.
Site 40WM32, Williamson County, TN
The two unassociated funerary objects consisting of one fragmentary
Mississippian period jar and one lithic biface. No information is
available regarding the acquisition of these materials. No information
is available regarding the acquisition of these materials.
There is no known exposure to hazardous substances or treatments.
Determinations
The TDEC-DOA has determined that:
<bullet> The 12 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.
<bullet> There is a reasonable connection between the cultural
items described in this notice and the Absentee-Shawnee Tribe of
Indians of Oklahoma; Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas; Cherokee Nation;
Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians; Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma;
Poarch Band of Creek Indians; Shawnee Tribe; The Chickasaw Nation; The
Muscogee (Creek) Nation; Thlopthlocco Tribal Town; and the United
Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma.
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 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 August 28, 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 items 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: July 9, 2025.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2025-14274 Filed 7-28-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
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