Notice2025-23540
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
December 22, 2025
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentNational Park Service
Abstract
In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Tennessee Department of Conservation and Environment, Division of Archaeology (TDEC-DOA) has completed an inventory of human remains and associated funerary objects from Hamilton County, TN 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 243 (Monday, December 22, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 243 (Monday, December 22, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Page 59854]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-23540]
[[Page 59854]]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[N6808; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0041629; 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 Conservation and
Environment, Division of Archaeology (TDEC-DOA) has completed an
inventory of human remains and associated funerary objects from
Hamilton County, TN 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 January 21, 2026.
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#e9b9818085c7a1868d8e8ca99d87c78e869f"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="a7f7cfcecb89efc8c3c0c2e7d3c989c0c8d1">[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, seven individuals and 50 lots
of associated funerary objects have been identified.
Site 40HA60, Hamilton County, TN
Human remains representing, at least, six individuals and 50 lots
of associated funerary objects. Lotted AFOs include 33 lots of unsorted
artifacts associated with unprovenanced ancestral remains and 17 lots
of unsorted artifacts from ``structure/house 2'' associated with site
burials 3, 4, and 5. These materials were donated to TDEC-DOA in 2007
by archaeology faculty from Sewanee, the University of the South. No
information is available regarding the circumstances surrounding their
original acquisition. There is no known exposure to hazardous
substances or treatments.
Unknown Site, Hamilton County, TN
Human remains representing, at least, one individual. The box
containing the ancestral remains indicates they were recovered from an
estate. No further information is available regarding their collection
or donation. 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 at least seven individuals of Native American
ancestry.
<bullet> The 50 lots of associated funerary 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 described
in this notice and the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas; Cherokee
Nation; Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians; Poarch Band of Creek Indians;
The Muscogee (Creek) Nation; Thlopthlocco Tribal Town; 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 January
21, 2026. 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: December 11, 2025.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2025-23540 Filed 12-19-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
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