Notice of Intended Repatriation: Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, Division of Archaeology, Nashville, TN

Issuing agencies

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) intends to repatriate certain cultural items removed from an unknown site in Coffee County, TN that meet the definition of unassociated funerary objects and that have a cultural affiliation with the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice.

Full Text

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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 209 (Friday, October 30, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 209 (Friday, October 30, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68552-68553]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-22150]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[N7602; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0044077; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Intended Repatriation: 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) intends to repatriate 
certain cultural items removed from an unknown site in Coffee County, 
TN that meet the definition of unassociated funerary objects and that 
have a cultural affiliation with the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian 
organizations in this notice.

DATES: Repatriation of the cultural items in this notice may occur on 
or after November 30, 2026.

ADDRESSES: Send additional, written requests for repatriation of the 
cultural items 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#95c5fdfcf9bbddfaf1f2f0d5e1fbbbf2fae3"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="6d3d050401432502090a082d1903430a021b">[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 
TDEC-DOA, and additional information on the determinations in this 
notice, including the results of consultation, can be found in the 
summary or related records. The National Park Service is not 
responsible for the determinations in this notice.

Abstract of Information Available

    A total of one lot of cultural items has been requested for 
repatriation. The one lot of unassociated funerary objects are two-hole 
stone gorgets. These gorgets were previously on display in Old Stone 
Fort State Archaeological Park's Museum in Coffee County, Tennessee. 
There is no record regarding the Park's acquisition of these objects 
other than that they were donated by local members of the public years 
prior. There is no known exposure to hazardous substances or 
treatments.

Determinations

    The TDEC-DOA has determined that:
    <bullet> The one lot of unassociated funerary objects described in 
this notice are reasonably believed to have been placed intentionally 
with or near human remains, and are connected, either at the time of 
death or later as part of the death rite or ceremony of a Native 
American culture according to the Native American traditional knowledge 
of a lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization. 
The unassociated funerary objects have been identified by a 
preponderance of the evidence as related to human remains, specific 
individuals, or families, or removed from a specific burial site or 
burial area of an individual or individuals with cultural affiliation 
to an Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization.
    <bullet> There is a connection between the cultural items described 
in this notice and the Cherokee Nation; Eastern Band of Cherokee 
Indians; The Chickasaw Nation; The Muscogee (Creek) Nation; The 
Seminole Nation of Oklahoma; and the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee 
Indians in Oklahoma.

Requests for Repatriation

    Additional, written requests for repatriation of the cultural items 
in this notice must be sent to the authorized representative identified 
in this notice under ADDRESSES. Requests for repatriation may be 
submitted by 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 a culturally affiliated Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian 
organization.
    Repatriation of the cultural items in this notice to a requestor 
may occur on or after November 30, 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 cultural

[[Page 68553]]

items 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 and 
to any other consulting parties.
    Authority: Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, 
25 U.S.C. 3004 and the implementing regulations, 43 CFR 10.9.

    Dated: October 22, 2026.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2026-22150 Filed 10-29-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P


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