Notice2025-16120
Notice of Inventory Completion: University of Alabama Museums, Tuscaloosa, AL
Primary source
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Published
August 22, 2025
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentNational Park Service
Abstract
In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the University of Alabama Museums has completed an inventory of human remains and associated funerary objects 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 161 (Friday, August 22, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 161 (Friday, August 22, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41111-41113]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-16120]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[N6461; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0040882; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Inventory Completion: University of Alabama Museums,
Tuscaloosa, AL
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 University of Alabama Museums has
completed an inventory of human remains and associated funerary objects
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 September 22, 2025.
ADDRESSES: Send written requests for repatriation of the human remains
and associated funerary objects in this notice to Dr. William Bomar,
Executive Director, University of Alabama Museums, Box 870340,
Tuscaloosa, AL 35487, email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#1b797974767a695b6e7a357e7f6e"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="b2d0d0dddfd3c0f2c7d39cd7d6c7">[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
[[Page 41112]]
sole responsibility of the University of Alabama Museums, 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, 40 individuals have been
identified. The 17 lots of associated funerary objects are charcoal,
botanical, lithic, rock, groundstone, soapstone bowl, shell, and faunal
bone.
Lamar County
In 1966, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual,
was removed from site 1Lr34, Stucks Bluff Site. Site 1Lr34 was recorded
by Margaret Clayton of the University of Alabama. The site was
excavated by the University of Alabama and the Alabama Archaeological
Society in 1966. The site is a small bluff shelter in Northeast Lamar
County. The shelter floor is only slightly above the Buttahatchee and
was subject to frequent floods. Excavations encountered mixed Archaic
and Woodland materials in the upper two strata. Below these strata, a
layer of culturally sterile sand sealed a lower Middle to late Archaic
stratum. The site appears to have never been intensively occupied. No
known individuals are identified. The five lots of associated funerary
objects include charcoal, nutshell, lithic, rock, and groundstone.
Madison County
In 1993, human remains representing, at minimum, 12 individuals,
were removed from site 1Ma307, the Ditto Landing (Ditto 3) Site. Site
1Ma307 was recorded by Chris McLaughlin. The site appears to be a Late
Woodland or Early Mississippian village site. Plowing has intruded
several areas of midden or pits containing shell which has been
scattered on the surface by cultivation. Creek stamped and shell
tempered pottery are present. Small triangular points and drill
fragments were collected. Phase II testing and excavations of a portion
of the site were conducted by Carey Oakley of the University of
Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama during October of 1993. Excavation of
features was accomplished after mechanical removal of the plowzone. The
site was found to be multicomponent with features associated with the
Middle Archaic, Late Archaic, Middle Woodland, and Late Woodland. A
total of 29 features were excavated, including seven burials. Many of
the features appeared to be deep storage pits. No known individuals are
identified. The 10 lots of associated funerary objects include ``all
material'', seed, and shell.
Between 1970 and 1988, human remains representing, at minimum, one
individual, was removed from site 1Ma329, the Shelta Cave Site. Site
1Ma329 was recorded by Richard Cobb of Florence, Alabama. Shelta Cave
was owned for about 20 years by the National Speleological Society. The
cave was commercialized around 1888 and a certain amount of
construction, largely consisting of trail building, was carried out
inside the cave. A series of shallow tests were made on April 10, 1988,
in multiple areas. Fairly heavy scattered charcoal was observed in each
test, but no lithics, shell, or bone was present. The only probable
artifact recovered was a medium-sized hammerstone with some probably
wear marks. This was found down the slope from the east entrance and
likely rolled down from the surface. Bill Torode found possible cranial
fragments in the same general area in the 1970s, but these had been
removed by unknown persons in later years. No known individuals are
identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
In 1977, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual,
was removed from site 1Ma55. Site 1Ma55 consists of a thin scatter of
lithic debris contained within a plow zone context. The sparse density
of material would imply that the area had been intermittently occupied
during the Archaic/Woodland period and probably represents a hunting
station. No known individuals are identified. No associated funerary
objects are present.
Between 1962 and 2007, human remains representing, at minimum, one
individual, was removed from site 1Ma82, Cambron Site 193. Site 1Ma82
was recorded by Charles Hubbert of the University of Alabama. The site
was entered into the file based on a site form from James Cambron. Site
1Ma338 was recorded by Jeff Thomson, Owens Crossroads, Alabama. At one
end of the site one Clovis, one Greenbriar, and several Kirks were
found. A midden deposit found is mostly attributed to the Late Archaic
and Woodland. Material on the northwest end is very sparse, but two
Kirks were recovered. An update for the site was submitted in August of
2007. Site 1Ma82 was combined with 1Ma338 as a result of OAR Project
07-195. No known individuals are identified. No associated funerary
objects are present.
Marion County
In 2009, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual,
was removed from site 1Mr305, EM/RS2/3 Site. Site 1Mr305 was submitted
by Kareen Hawsey of the Office of Archaeological Research in March of
2009. Site 1Mr305 was originally identified in 2007 by R. Lance
Richardson at the Office of Archaeological Research. This site consists
of two adjacent bluff shelters and a small terrace on the northern side
of a steep slope overlooking an intermittent drainage. The easternmost
shelter has talus rockfall over almost its entire floor, while the
western shelter and terrace are relatively clear of rockfall. A Phase
II program was conducted in January of 2008 at site 1Mr305. One
sandstone lined pit, and another possible pit were located in the
western bluff shelter. Soil profiles across the site indicate cultural
and natural deposits also present at the site. The diverse artifact
assemblage recovered at the site indicates that a wide variety of
activities was conducted there during the early Archaic through the
Late Woodland periods. No known individuals are identified. No
associated funerary objects are present.
Morgan County
Between 1972 and 2021, human remains representing, at minimum, four
individuals, were removed from site 1Mg76, Ed Smith Cave Site. Site
1Mg76 was recorded by John Walthall of the University of Alabama. The
site consists of a Copena burial cave. The site was revisited by
Charles Hubbert of the University of Alabama in September of 1991. Ben
Hoksbergen, Gretchen Eggimen, Scott Shaw, and Stacye Hathorn revisited
site 1Mg76 on behalf of the Archaeological Conservancy on August 7,
2021. Human bone fragments and at least one copper bead were noted.
Mineralized bone fragments were also noted, possibly indicating a
Pleistocene component. All Prehistoric material was scattered and was
most likely deposited in the cave through a sink or pit cave entrance
that has since been blocked. No known individuals are identified. The
one lot of associated funerary objects include lithic.
In 1941, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual,
was removed from site 1Mg72, the Higdon Site. Site 1Mg72 was recorded
by Walter Jones of the University of Alabama. The site consists of a
small, low, earthen mound. The site contained superficial deposits of
salt brine, including borax and potash. Human remains were in
fragmentary condition; features were
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limited largely to rough stone groups. Atlatl weights and projectile
points were also found as part of the mound fill. No known individuals
are identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
In 1997, one associated funerary object, was removed from Burial 1
at site 1Mg300. Site 1Mg300 was originally recorded by Charles Hubbert
of the University of Alabama. The site consists of lithic debris and
fire cracked rock noted and recovered from the beach area around three
sides of the site. Much of the site is located off TVA property and
could not be fully examined. The site was revisited in 1997 by Carey
Oakley of the University of Alabama. The site was to be destroyed by
plant construction. Portions of the plow zone were removed to search
for preserved features. None were found in the stripped area, but a
flexed human burial was encountered in the excavation of a nearby perc
test. Monitoring of the remaining soil removal was recommended. Four
additional features were observed during monitoring. The features
contained fire cracked rock, mussel shell, and very few artifacts. Soot
from a steatite vessel associated with the burial was dated to 2590+/-
60 B.P. No ancestral remains are present. The one lot of associated
funerary objects include a soapstone bowl.
Colbert County
Between 1961 and 1983, human remains representing, at minimum, two
individuals, were removed from site 1Ct127. Site 1Ct127 was recorded by
Horace Holland of Leighton, Alabama. A site called 1CtC127, probably in
the vicinity of Stanfield-Worley, was also tested during 1961. No site
form was completed for that site and so the number was reused. There is
no map or other information on that site except a few excavation notes
discovered in the county file during the 1983 site file revision
project. That site had not been entered into the file. No known
individuals are identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
In 1992, human remains representing, at minimum, 11 individuals,
from an unknown site were removed from Leighton Public Library and
transferred to the University of Alabama. The Alabama Museum of Natural
History received the ancestral remains in February of 1992 from a Mrs.
Layton. There is a letter addressed to Mrs. Layton from the Alabama
Museum of Natural History director at the time Dr. Doug Jones. No known
individuals are identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
Limestone County
At an unknown date, human remains representing, at minimum, one
individual, was removed from site LiA, Limestone County, Alabama. There
is no information available currently concerning geographical location
or acquisition history for this individual. The only information in our
collection is the label on the box housing the individual, which is
LiA, and a label on the human remains themselves indicating site LiA.
No known individuals are identified. No associated funerary objects are
present.
Perry County (Tennessee)
At an unknown date, human remains representing, at minimum, four
individuals, were removed from site 40Py87. The Tennessee Department of
Transportation excavated thousands of prehistoric artifacts along the
banks of a river in Perry County, Tennessee. The archaeology project
began with a set of design plans for a new structure that would
ultimately replace an outdated iron truss bridge. Federal and state
regulations require TDOT to preserve archaeological sites found within
the path of a construction project--making every effort to avoid sites
when possible or record sites when unavoidable. The Perry County site
was unavoidable, and TDOT archaeologists excavated as a means of
mitigation. Each uncovered artifact, spanning Paleoindian, Archaic,
Woodland, and Mississippian periods, was carefully and meticulously
washed, sorted, and catalogued for comparative analysis and reporting.
No known individuals are identified. No associated funerary objects are
present.
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 University of Alabama Museums has determined that:
<bullet> The human remains described in this notice represent the
physical remains of 40 individuals of Native American ancestry.
<bullet> The 17 lots of 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 as Colbert County, Limestone
County, and Perry County (Tennessee) in this notice and the Cherokee
Nation; Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians; The Chickasaw Nation; and The
Muscogee (Creek) Nation.
<bullet> There is a connection between the human remains and
associated funerary objects described as Lamar County, Madison County,
Morgan County, and Marion County in this notice and The Chickasaw
Nation and The Muscogee (Creek) Nation.
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 September
22, 2025. If competing requests for repatriation are received, the
University of Alabama Museums 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. The University of Alabama Museums
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: August 13, 2025.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2025-16120 Filed 8-21-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
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