Notice of Inventory Completion: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park, Sullivan's Island, SC

AGENCY:

National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park (FOSU) has completed an inventory of associated funerary objects and has determined that there is a cultural affiliation between the associated funerary objects and Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice.

DATES:

Repatriation of the associated funerary objects in this notice may occur on or after October 15, 2024.

ADDRESSES:

J. Tracy Stakely, Superintendent, Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park, 1214 Middle Street, Sullivan's Island, SC 29482, telephone (843) 732-5014, email tracy_stakely@nps.gov.

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, FOSU, and additional information on the determinations in this notice, including the results of consultation, can be found in the inventory or related records.

Abstract of Information Available

In 1968 associated funerary objects were removed from the grave of Seminole leader Osceola in Charleston County, SC during excavation by John W. Griffin of the National Park Service. This excavation was conducted in response to a self-reported 1966 case of vandalism, wherein an individual claimed to have excavated and stolen the remains of Osceola. The remains of Osceola were re-interred following the excavation, but the associated funerary objects remained in National Park Service collections. The 35 associated funerary objects are five pottery sherds, two buttons, one bag of faunal bones, three bags of metals, 23 bags of mixed material, and one tombstone.

Cultural Affiliation

Based on the information available and the results of consultation, cultural affiliation is clearly identified by the information available about the associated funerary objects described in this notice.

Determinations

FOSU has determined that:

• The 35 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.
• There is a connection between the associated funerary objects described in this notice and the Seminole Tribe of Florida.

Requests for Repatriation

Written requests for repatriation of the 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 a culturally affiliated Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization.

Repatriation of the associated funerary objects in this notice to a requestor may occur on or after October 15, 2024. If competing requests for repatriation are received, FOSU must determine the most appropriate requestor prior to repatriation. Requests for joint repatriation of the associated funerary objects are considered a single request and not competing requests. FOSU 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.

[FR Doc. 2024-20872 Filed 9-12-24; 8:45 am]

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