Notice of Intended Disposition: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Hopewell Culture National Historical Park, Chillicothe, OH

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 Superintendent, HOCU, and additional information on the human remains and associated funerary objects in this notice, including the results of consultation, can be found in the related records.

Abstract of Information Available

Based on the information available, human remains representing, at least, one individual have been reasonably identified. The 126 associated funerary objects are one biface fragment, one faunal remain, two prismatic blade fragments, two pieces of copper, eight chert debitage, 49 fire-cracked rocks, four soil samples, 12 botanical samples, two charcoal samples, and 45 ceramic sherds. In 2004, human remains and funerary objects were removed from the Riverbank Site in Ross County, OH by National Park Service archeologists with the Midwest Archeological Center. The human remains and funerary objects date to the Middle Woodland period.

Determinations

HOCU has determined that:

• The human remains described in this notice represent the physical remains of one individual of Native American ancestry.
• The 126 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.
• The Absentee-Shawnee Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma; Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma; and the Shawnee Tribe have priority for disposition of the human remains and associated funerary objects described in this notice.

Claims for Disposition

Written claims for disposition of the human remains and associated funerary objects in this notice must be sent to the appropriate official identified in this notice under ADDRESSES . If no claim for disposition is received by October 15, 2025, the human remains and associated funerary objects in this notice will become unclaimed human remains and associated funerary objects. Claims for disposition may be submitted by:

1. Any lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization 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 they have priority for disposition.

Disposition of the human remains and associated funerary objects in this notice may occur on or after November 14, 2024. If competing claims for disposition are received, HOCU must determine the most appropriate claimant prior to disposition. Requests for joint disposition of the human remains and associated funerary objects are considered a single request and not competing requests. HOCU is responsible for sending a copy of this notice to the lineal descendants, 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. 3002, and the implementing regulations, 43 CFR 10.7.

[FR Doc. 2024-23726 Filed 10-11-24; 8:45 am]

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