Notice2025-17880
Notice of Inventory Completion: Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, Division of Archaeology, Nashville, 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
September 16, 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) has completed an inventory of human remains and associated funerary objects from unknown sites in Tennessee 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 177 (Tuesday, September 16, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 177 (Tuesday, September 16, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44698-44699]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-17880]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[N6534; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0041088; 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 Environment and
Conservation, Division of Archaeology (TDEC-DOA) has completed an
inventory of human remains and associated funerary objects from unknown
sites in Tennessee 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 October 16, 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, 1216 Foster Avenue, Cole Building #3, Nashville, TN 37243,
email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#42122a2b2e6c0a2d26252702362c6c252d34"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="db8bb3b2b7f593b4bfbcbe9bafb5f5bcb4ad">[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 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, 60 individuals have been
identified. The one associated funerary object is one lot of artifacts.
Unknown Sites, TN
Human remains representing, at least, two individuals were donated
to TDEC-DOA by the University of Georgia in 2025 with no record as to
the original circumstances of collection.
Human remains representing, at least, three individuals, and one
lot of artifacts are identified on storage boxes as being from the
``Yeatman Collection'' and were donated to TDEC-DOA by archaeology
faculty from Sewanee, the University of the South.
Human remains representing, at least, 23 individuals were donated
to TDEC-
[[Page 44699]]
DOA with no record as to the timing, donor, or original circumstances
of collection.
Human remains representing, at least, one individual were donated
to TDEC-DOA by the Mississippi Department of History and Archives for
repatriation.
Human remains representing, at least, one individual were
discovered in flea market in Virginia, with an alleged provenience of
Tennessee. They were delivered anonymously to a member of Tennessee
Commission on Indian Affairs, and then transferred to TDEC-DOA for
repatriation.
Human remains representing, at least, one individual were donated
to the Rocky Mount Historical Association and transferred to TDEC-DOA
in 1999.
Human remains representing, at least, one individual were collected
by private individuals and donated to TDEC-DOA in 2008.
Human remains representing, at least, two individuals were donated
to TDEC-DOA by Wake Forest University for repatriation. The box
containing the remains is labeled ``40M1.''
Human remains representing, at least, four individuals were donated
to TDEC-DOA by the Scaritt Museum in 1992.
Human remains representing, at least, eight individuals were
donated to TDEC-DOA by faculty from East Tennessee State University in
2023.
Human remains representing, at least, two individuals were donated
to the TDEC-DOA by a private archaeological consultant in 2010.
Human remains representing, at least, four individuals were
collected by private individuals and donated to TDEC-DOA in 2010.
Human remains representing, at least, eight individuals from the
collection of the Tennessee State Museum were transferred to TDEC-DOA
in 1995 (MNI=1) and 2021 (MNI=7).
No further information exists as to the geographic origins or
circumstances of collection for any of the above-listed materials.
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 TCED-DOA has determined that:
<bullet> The human remains described in this notice represent the
physical remains of, at least, 60 individuals of Native American
ancestry.
<bullet> The one lot 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 in this notice and the Cherokee
Nation; Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians; and the United Keetoowah Band
of Cherokee Indians of 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 October
16, 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
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: September 4, 2025.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2025-17880 Filed 9-15-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
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