Notice2025-19955
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
November 17, 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 Davidson County, 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 219 (Monday, November 17, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 219 (Monday, November 17, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51386-51389]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-19955]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[N6559; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0041182; 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
Davidson County, 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 December 17, 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#f1a199989ddfb99e959694b1859fdf969e87"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="f9a9919095d7b1969d9e9cb98d97d79e968f">[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, 238 individuals have been
identified. The 449 associated funerary objects include 193 artifacts
and two hundred and 256 lots of artifacts described below.
Unknown Site, Davidson County, TN
Human Remains representing, at least, 35 individuals. Remains of at
least 16 individuals contain no record of timing of acquisition.
Remains of at least four individuals were transferred to TDEC-DOA by
the Davidson County Medical Examiner. Remains of at least three
individuals were donated to TDEC-DOA by the Tennessee State Museum in
1995. Remains of at least 12 individuals were donated to TDEC-DOA by
private citizens in 1989, 1991, 2008, 2020, and 2024. There is no known
exposure to hazardous substances or treatments.
Site 40DV2, Davidson County, TN
Human remains representing, at least, one individual. These remains
were encountered during construction and collected by the Davidson
County Medical Examiner. They were transferred to TDEC-DOA in 2010.
There is no known exposure to hazardous substances or treatments.
Site 40DV3, Davidson County, TN
Human remains representing, at least, 27 individuals and nine
associated funerary objects consisting of one ceramic effigy vessel,
six ceramic sherds, one lot of unsorted artifacts, and one lot of
freshwater shell. Remains of at least 15 individuals and one lot of
AFOs were excavated by TDEC-DOA staff in 1973 prior to construction of
Interstate 440; Remains of at least three individuals were donated to
TDEC-DOA by the Davidson County Medical Examiner in 1998, with no
additional information available regarding the circumstances of
collection; Remains of at least four individuals, one effigy vessel,
six ceramic sherds, and one lot of AFOs were donated to TDEC-DOA by
private citizens in 1971, 2005, 2007, and 2014 with no additional
information available regarding the circumstances of collection.
Remains of at least four individuals were donated to TDEC-
[[Page 51387]]
DOA with no additional information available regarding the timing or
circumstances of collection; Remains of at least one individual were
removed under a Chancery court order in 2016 and donated to TDEC-DOA
for repatriation. There is no known exposure to hazardous substances or
treatments.
Site 40DV5, Davidson County, TN
Human remains representing, at least, one individual and four
associated funerary objects consisting of one ceramic bowl; one effigy
ceramic bowl; one shell spoon; and one lot of marine shell beads. This
site was excavated in 1991 and 1992 by private consultants prior to a
TDOT bridge replacement. Ancestral remains were subsequently reburied
by the consultant under Tennessee cemetery law. These materials were
curated with TDEC-DOA beginning in 1992. There is no known exposure to
hazardous substances or treatments.
Site 40DV6, Davidson County, TN
Human remains representing, at least, 103 individuals and 367
associated funerary objects consisting of one carved deer phalanx; two
partial unreconstructed ceramic vessels; nine shell tempered ceramic
vessels; six ceramic effigy vessels; 110 marine shell beads; two
freshwater bivalve spoons; one unmodified freshwater bivalve shell; one
groundstone tool; one soil covered rock; seven soil samples; and 227
lots of associated funerary artifacts. All NAGPRA materials from site
40DV6 (Gordontown site) were recovered by TDEC-DOA staff in 1986 during
salvage excavations ahead of subdivision construction. There is no
known exposure to hazardous substances or treatments.
Site 40DV7, Davidson County, TN
Human remains representing, at least, two individuals. Remains of
at least one individual were collected by a private individual from the
shoreline of the Cumberland River and donated to TDEC-DOA in 2024;
Remains of at least one individual were recovered by TDEC-DOA staff
during construction monitoring in 2011. There is no known exposure to
hazardous substances or treatments.
Site 40DV8, Davidson County, TN
Human remains representing, at least, 13 individuals and one
associated funerary object consisting of one shell tempered ceramic
bowl. Remains of at least 11 individuals and one ceramic bowl were
donated to the TDOA by private individuals in 2005 and 2007 with no
additional information available regarding the circumstances of
collection; Remains of at least one individual were donated to TDEC-DOA
with no additional information available regarding the timing or
circumstances of collection; Remains of at least one individual were
recovered by TDEC-DOA staff in 1990 from stone box graves disturbed
during residential water line construction. There is no known exposure
to hazardous substances or treatments.
Site 40DV11, Davidson County, TN
Human remains representing, at least, 10 individuals and 16
associated funerary objects consisting of two fragmentary remains of
shell tempered ceramic bowls; two freshwater shell spoons; one hooded
ceramic effigy bottle; one partially reconstructed ceramic vessel; one
short necked ceramic vessel; one ceramic bivalve effigy vessel; one
ceramic bowl; one ceramic ``rim rider'' effigy bowl; one partially
reconstructed ceramic vessel from burial floor; and five lots of
associated funerary artifacts. Remains of at least two individuals and
two partial ceramic bowls were disturbed by earthmoving in 1977 and
donated to TDEC-DOA; Remains of at least two individuals were excavated
by private consultant and donated to TDEC-DOA in 1980; Remains of at
least one individual, 14 AFOs were recovered by a private consultant
and donated to TDEC-DOA in 1995; Remains of at least four individuals
were excavated by a private individual, seized by law enforcement in
Macon County, Tennessee, and transferred to TDEC-DOA in 2005; Remains
of at least one individual were recovered in July 1977 and donated to
the Cumberland Science Museum, and transferred to TDEC-DOA in 1989.
There is no known exposure to hazardous substances or treatments.
Site 40DV12, Davidson County, TN
Human remains representing, at least, eight individuals and one
associated funerary object consisting of one shell fragment (which is
currently missing). These remains were donated to TDEC-DOA 1991. No
record exists as to the donor or original circumstances of collection.
There is no known exposure to hazardous substances or treatments.
Site 40DV14, Davidson County, TN
Human remains representing, at least, four individuals. At least
one individual was donated TDEC-DOA by the Davidson County Medical
Examiner with no information as to the circumstances surrounding
collection; At least one individual was collected from an eroded river
bank in 1973 and donated to TDEC-DOA in 1977. At least one individual
was donated to the TDEC-DOA in 1987 with no record as to the donor, or
original circumstances of collection. No information is available
regarding the collection or donation of at least one individual. There
is no known exposure to hazardous substances or treatments.
Site 40DV15, Davidson County, TN
Human remains representing, at least, three individuals and 18
associated funerary objects consisting of four shell tempered ceramic
sherds; two duck effigy ceramic bowls; one frog effigy vessel; one
human effigy bowl; one hunch-back hooded effigy bottle; one ceramic
bowl; one fire cracked rock; two lithic flakes; one carbon sample; one
partial freshwater bivalve; and three wood charcoal fragments. This
site was excavated by members of the Southeastern Indians Antiquity
Survey in 1966 and 1977 prior to destruction by neighborhood
development. The materials were donated to TDEC-DOA in 1986. There is
no known exposure to hazardous substances or treatments.
Site 40DV33, Davidson County, TN
Human remains representing, at least, one individual. These remains
excavated by a private individual in the 1970s and transferred to TDEC-
DOA in 2007. There is no known exposure to hazardous substances or
treatments.
Site 40DV39, Davidson County, TN
Human remains representing, at least, three individuals and one
associated funerary object consisting of one stone discoidal. At least
one individual was donated to TDEC-DOA between 1969 and 1987 with no
specific information regarding recovery. At least one individual was
donated to TDEC-DOA in 1990 with no specific information regarding
recovery. The one stone discodial was recovered by TDEC-DOA staff in
1984. At least one individual was recovered by TDEC-DOA staff between
1969 and 1987. There is no known exposure to hazardous substances or
treatments.
Site 40DV58, Davidson County, TN
Human remains representing, at least, two individuals. Remains of
at least one individual were donated to TDEC-DOA by a private
individual in 2020 with no information as to the circumstances
surrounding their collection; no information exists regarding the
acquisition of at least one individual. There is no known exposure to
hazardous substances or treatments.
[[Page 51388]]
Site 40DV60, Davidson County, TN
Human remains representing, at least, one individual. These remains
were excavated by a private individual and transferred to TDEC-DOA in
2007. There is no known exposure to hazardous substances or treatments.
Site 40DV83, Davidson County, TN
Human remains representing, at least, one ancestral individual, and
18 associated funerary objects consisting of one dog burial and 17 lots
of artifacts from burial feature fill. Ancestral remains from site
40DV83 were removed by TDEC-DOA staff under a Chancery Court order in
1987 ahead of construction. All remains were believed reinterred under
Tennessee cemetery law in July 1993. There is no known exposure to
hazardous substances or treatments.
Site 40DV131, Davidson County, TN
Human remains representing, at least, one individual. These
materials were donated to the Division of Archaeology. No record exists
as to the timing, donor, or original circumstances of collection. There
is no known exposure to hazardous substances or treatments.
Site 40DV148, Davidson County, TN
Human remains representing, at least, one individual. No record
exists as to the timing, donor, or original circumstances of
collection. There is no known exposure to hazardous substances or
treatments.
Site 40DV152, Davidson County, TN
Human remains representing, at least, two individuals. These
remains were removed from the site by a private consultant in 1997
under the terms of a Davidson County Chancery Court order, and
transferred to TDEC-DOA in 1997 at the request of the Tennessee
Commission of Indian Affairs. There is no known exposure to hazardous
substances or treatments.
Site 40DV160, Davidson County, TN
Human remains representing, at least, three individuals. Remains of
at least two individuals were recovered by TDEC-DOA staff during
construction monitoring in 2011. Remains of at least one individual
were collected by a private consultant and donated to TDEC-DOA on 4/16/
2012. There is no known exposure to hazardous substances or treatments.
Site 40DV161, Davidson County, TN
Human remains representing, at least, one individual. These remains
were transferred to TDEC-DOA by the Davidson County Medical Examiner in
2005. No records exist as to the circumstances of their collection.
There is no known exposure to hazardous substances or treatments.
Site 40DV247, Davidson County, TN
Human remains representing, at least, one individual. These remains
were excavated by TDEC-DOA staff in 1992 prior to residential
development. There is no known exposure to hazardous substances or
treatments.
Site 40DV266, Davidson County, TN
Human remains representing, at least, one individual. No
information is available regarding the collection or donation of these
remains. There is no known exposure to hazardous substances or
treatments.
Site 40DV301, Davidson County, TN
Human remains representing, at least, one individual, and nine
associated funerary objects consisting of one lithic drill; two shell
beads; two fragmented shell beads; one partial ceramic vessel; and
three lots of marine shell beads. Remains of at least one individual
were collected by a private individual and donated to TDEC-DOA in 1989.
No information exists as to the circumstances surrounding their
collection. All AFOs were excavated by a private consultant under a
Chancery Court order in 1989 and donated to TDEC-DOA. The associated
skeletal remains were reburied by the consultant under Tennessee
cemetery law. There is no known exposure to hazardous substances or
treatments.
Site 40DV307, Davidson County, TN
Human remains representing, at least, three individuals. Remains of
at least two individuals were collected by TDEC-DOA staff from the
eroding river bank in 2010; Remains of at least one individual were
collected by a private individual and donated to TDEC-DOA in 2011.
There is no known exposure to hazardous substances or treatments.
Site 40DV317, Davidson County, TN
Human remains representing, at least, one individual. These remains
were collected by Metro Nashville law enforcement and turned over to
the Nashville Medical Examiner. In 2024 they were transferred to TDEC-
DOA care. There is no known exposure to hazardous substances or
treatments.
Site 40DV392, Davidson County, TN
Human remains representing, at least, one individual, and one
associated funerary object consisting of one ceramic sherd. Remains of
at least one individual were collected from disturbed context by TDEC-
DOA staff in 1992. The site was excavated by a private consultant in
1998 under a Chancery Court order, with all ancestral remains
subsequently reburied by the consultant under Tennessee cemetery law.
The one ceramic sherd entered TDEC-DOA care in 1997. There is no known
exposure to hazardous substances or treatments.
Site 40DV434, Davidson County, TN
Human remains representing, at least, one individual. These remains
were excavated by a private individual in the late 1970s and donated to
TDEC-DOA in 2005. There is no known exposure to hazardous substances or
treatments.
Site 40DV525, Davidson County, TN
Human remains representing, at least, one individual. No
information is available regarding the collection or donation of these
remains. There is no known exposure to hazardous substances or
treatments.
Site 40DV551, Davidson County, TN
Human remains representing, at least, two individuals. These
remains were collected from the site surface by TDEC-DOA staff in 2000
and 2010. There is no known exposure to hazardous substances or
treatments.
Site 40DV556, Davidson County, TN
Human remains representing, at least, three individuals, and four
associated funerary objects consisting of three lithic flakes and one
lot of associated faunal material. These materials were excavated by a
private individual in the late 1960s and included in an estate. They
were donated to TDEC-DOA in 2019 for repatriation. 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 has determined that:
<bullet> The human remains described in this notice represent the
physical remains of 238 individuals of Native American ancestry.
<bullet> The 449 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.
[[Page 51389]]
<bullet> There is a connection between the human remains and
associated funerary objects 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; Shawnee Tribe; 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
described in this notice to a requestor may occur on or after December
17, 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 18, 2025.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2025-19955 Filed 11-14-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on November 17, 2025.
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