Notice2025-15855
Notice of Inventory Completion: Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation Division of Archaeology, Nashville, TN, and University of Tennessee, Department of Anthropology, Knoxville, TN
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
August 20, 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) and the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Department of Anthropology (UTK), have completed an inventory of human remains and associated funerary objects from Roane County, TN, and have 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
<html>
<head>
<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 159 (Wednesday, August 20, 2025)</title>
</head>
<body><pre>
[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 159 (Wednesday, August 20, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40643-40644]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-15855]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[N6431; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0040838; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Inventory Completion: Tennessee Department of
Environment and Conservation Division of Archaeology, Nashville, TN,
and University of Tennessee, Department of Anthropology, Knoxville, TN
AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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) and the University of
Tennessee, Knoxville, Department of Anthropology (UTK), have completed
an inventory of human remains and associated funerary objects from
Roane County, TN, and have 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 September 19, 2025.
ADDRESSES: Send written requests for repatriation of the human remains
and associated funerary objects 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#46162e2f2a680e2922212306322868212930"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="a4f4cccdc88aeccbc0c3c1e4d0ca8ac3cbd2">[email protected]</span></a> and Dr. Ellen Lofaro,
University of Tennessee (UTK), Office of Repatriation, 5723 Middlebrook
Pike, Knoxville, TN 37996, email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#8be5eaecfbf9eacbfeffe0a5eeeffe"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="8be5eaecfbf9eacbfeffe0a5eeeffe">[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 responsibility of TDEC-DOA
and 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
Site 40RE119, Roane County, TN
Human remains representing, at least, five individuals and four
associated funerary objects. Fort Southwest Point was constructed in
1797 by federal troops, and it housed federal infantry, artillery, and
other units. In 1973 and 1974, UTK held field schools during the summer
and removed one individual along with one ceramic vessel. Fort
Southwest Point was the focus of TDEC-DOA excavations in 1984-1986.
During TDEC-DOA excavations, four individuals were removed along with
three associated funerary objects which include: one greenstone pendant
and two lots of artifacts including ceramic vessels, shell beads and
gorget, and turtle plastron. 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 and UTK have determined that:
<bullet> The human remains described in this notice represent the
physical remains of five individuals of Native American ancestry.
<bullet> The four 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 Alabama-
Coushatta Tribe of Texas; Cherokee Nation; Eastern Band of Cherokee
Indians; The Muscogee (Creek) 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
[[Page 40644]]
described in this notice to a requestor may occur on or after September
19, 2025. If competing requests for repatriation are received, TDEC-DOA
and UTK 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
competing requests. TDEC-DOA and UTK are 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: August 5, 2025.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2025-15855 Filed 8-19-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
</pre><script data-cfasync="false" src="/cdn-cgi/scripts/5c5dd728/cloudflare-static/email-decode.min.js"></script></body>
</html>Indexed from Federal Register on August 20, 2025.
This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.