Notice of Inventory Completion: Fernbank Museum of Natural History, Atlanta, GA

Issuing agencies

Abstract

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), Fernbank Museum of Natural History has completed an inventory of human remains and has determined that there is a cultural affiliation between the human remains and Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice.

Full Text

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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 203 (Thursday, October 22, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 203 (Thursday, October 22, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66716-66717]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-21553]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[N7577; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0044029; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: Fernbank Museum of Natural 
History, Atlanta, GA

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and 
Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), Fernbank Museum of Natural History has 
completed an inventory of human remains and has determined that there 
is a cultural affiliation between the human remains and Indian Tribes 
or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice.

DATES: Repatriation of the human remains in this notice may occur on or 
after November 23, 2026.

ADDRESSES: Send written requests for repatriation of the human remains 
in this notice to Wil Grewe-Mullins, Fernbank Museum of Natural 
History, 767 Clifton Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30307, email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#f1a6989ddfb683948694dcbc849d9d989f82b19794839f93909f9a9c848294849cdf9e8396"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="3e69575210794c5b495b13734b525257504d7e585b4c505c5f5055534b4d5b4b5310514c59">[email&#160;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 
Fernbank Museum of Natural History, 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 one individual have been 
identified. No associated funerary objects are present. The ancestors 
were recovered from 9LI66, Walburg Creek (AMNH 385), on St. Catherines 
Island in Liberty County, Georgia. These materials were recovered from 
two test pits during archaeological excavations conducted in the 1970s 
by the American Museum of Natural History under the direction of Dr. 
David Hurst Thomas. The remains were subsequently subjected to 
bioarcheological study under the direction of Dr. Clark S. Larsen, 
working in collaboration with the American Museum of Natural History. 
After storage for intervals at the American Museum of Natural History 
and on St. Catherines Island, the remains and funerary objects were 
transferred in 2004 to Fernbank Museum of Natural History by the St. 
Catherines Island and Edward John Noble Foundations. There is no 
evidence of any potentially hazardous substances used to treat any of 
the human remains.
    Human remains representing at least 15 individuals have been 
identified. No associated funerary objects are present. The ancestors 
were recovered from 9Li74, Santa Catalina de Guale Mission cemetery, on 
St. Catherines Island in Liberty County, Georgia. The materials were 
recovered during archaeological excavations under the direction of Dr. 
David Hurst Thomas and Dr. Clark Larsen, working in collaboration with 
the American Museum of Natural History. The remains represent small 
quantities of highly fragmented bone and ash that were sent to the 
University of Wisconsin--Madison for isotopic analysis and recently 
integrated into the collection at Fernbank. There is no evidence of any 
potentially hazardous substances used to treat any of the human 
remains.
    Human remains representing at least two individuals have been 
identified. No associated funerary objects are present. The ancestors 
were identified in collections with no context or provenience other 
than they were recovered from St. Catherines Island in Liberty County, 
Georgia. The materials would have been recovered during archaeological 
excavations conducted by the American Museum of Natural History under 
the direction of Dr. David Hurst Thomas. The remains were likely 
subjected to bioarcheological study under the direction of Dr. Clark S. 
Larsen, working in collaboration with the American Museum of Natural 
History. After storage for intervals at the American Museum of Natural 
History and on St. Catherines Island, the remains were transferred in 
2004 to Fernbank Museum of Natural History by the St. Catherines Island 
and Edward John Noble Foundations. There is no evidence of any 
potentially hazardous substances used to treat any of the human 
remains.

Cultural Affiliation

    Based on the information available and the results of consultation, 
cultural affiliation is reasonably identified by the geographical 
location and acquisition history of the human remains described in this 
notice.

Determinations

    The Fernbank Museum of Natural History has determined that:
    <bullet> The human remains described in this notice represent the 
physical remains of at least 18 individuals of Native American 
ancestry.
    <bullet> There is a connection between the human remains described 
in this notice and the Alabama-Quassarte Tribal Town; Miccosukee Tribe 
of Indians; Poarch Band of Creek Indians; Seminole Tribe of Florida; 
The Muscogee (Creek) Nation; The Seminole Nation of Oklahoma; and the 
Thlopthlocco Tribal Town.

Requests for Repatriation

    Written requests for repatriation of the human remains 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 described in this notice to a 
requestor may occur on or after November 23, 2026. If competing 
requests for repatriation are received, the Fernbank Museum of Natural 
History must determine the most appropriate requestor prior to 
repatriation. Requests for joint repatriation of the human remains are 
considered a single request

[[Page 66717]]

and not competing requests. The Fernbank Museum of Natural History 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: October 15, 2026.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2026-21553 Filed 10-21-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P


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