Notice of Inventory Completion: Mississippi Department of Archives and History, Jackson, MS

AGENCY:

National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

The Mississippi Department of Archives and History (MDAH) has completed an inventory of human remains and associated funerary objects, in consultation with the appropriate Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations, and has determined that there is a cultural affiliation between the human remains and associated funerary objects and present-day Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations. Lineal descendants or representatives of any Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice that wish to request transfer of control of these human remains and associated funerary objects should submit a written request to the Mississippi Department of Archives and History. If no additional requestors come forward, transfer of control of the human remains and associated funerary objects to the lineal descendants, Indian Tribes, or Native Hawaiian organizations stated in this notice may proceed.

DATES:

Lineal descendants or representatives of any Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice that wish to request transfer of control of these human remains and associated funerary objects should submit a written request with information in support of the request to the Mississippi Department of Archives and History at the address in this notice by October 20, 2021.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Meg Cook, Director of Archaeology Collections, Mississippi Department of Archives and History, Museum Division, 222 North Street, P.O. Box 571, Jackson, MS 39205, telephone (601) 576-6927, email mcook@mdah.ms.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Notice is here given in accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), 25 U.S.C. 3003, of the completion of an inventory of human remains and associated funerary objects under the control of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History, Jackson, MS. The human remains and associated funerary objects were removed from six sites in Tunica County, Mississippi.

This notice is published as part of the National Park Service's administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA, 25 U.S.C. 3003(d)(3). The determinations in this notice are the sole responsibility of the museum, institution, or Federal agency that has control of the Native American human remains and associated funerary objects. The National Park Service is not responsible for the determinations in this notice.

Consultation

A detailed assessment of human remains was made by the Mississippi Department of Archives and History professional staff in consultation with representatives of the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas [previously listed as Alabama-Coushatta Tribes of Texas]; Alabama-Quassarte Tribal Town; Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana; Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians; Jena Band of Choctaw Indians; Miami Tribe of Oklahoma; Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians; Quapaw Nation [previously listed as The Quapaw Tribe of Indians]; The Chickasaw Nation; The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma; The Muscogee (Creek) Nation; and The Osage Nation [previously listed as Osage Tribe] (hereafter referred to as “The Tribes”).

History and Description of the Remains

Beginning in 1971, human remains representing, at minimum, 11 individuals were removed from the following sites in Tunica County, MS: Beaver Dam (22TU513), Canon (22TU523), Clay Ball (22TU600), Martin #2 (22TU534), Parker-McClintock (22TU594), and Sledge (22TU510). The human remains belong to individuals of unidentified sex and age. No known individuals were identified. Associated funerary objects were removed from the Canon, Parker-McClintock, and Sledge sites. The 15 associated funerary objects are three lots of ceramic sherds, one lot of ceramic vessels, one lot of charcoal, one lot of clay beads, one lot of daub, two lots of faunal bones, one lot of fired clay, two lots of lithic debitage, one lot metal, one lot pit fill, and one lot of unworked stone.

The Mississippi Department of Archives and History has determined that the human remains of these individuals are Native American through the circumstances of acquisition, as well as through the observance of biological markers consistent with this ancestry. The circumstances of acquisition, including excavation notes and associated funerary objects, show that these human remains are affiliated with Mississippian cultures that are indigenous to these areas of Mississippi. Present day Indian Tribes associated with these cultures include The Tribes.

Determinations Made by the Mississippi Department of Archives and History

Officials of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History have determined that:

• Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described in this notice represent the physical remains of 11 individuals of Native American ancestry.
• Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A), the 15 associated funerary objects described in this notice are reasonably believed to have been placed with or near individual human remains at the time of death or later as part of the death rite or ceremony.
• Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(2), there is a relationship of shared group identity that can be reasonably traced between the Native American human remains and associated funerary objects and The Tribes.

Additional Requestors and Disposition

Lineal descendants or representatives of any Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice that wish to request transfer of control of these human remains and associated funerary objects should submit a written request with information in support of the request to Meg Cook, Director of Archaeology Collections, Mississippi Department of Archives and History, Museum Division, 222 North Street, P.O. Box 571, Jackson, MS 39205, telephone (601) 576-6927, email mcook@mdah.ms.gov, by October 20, 2021. After that date, if no additional requestors have come forward, transfer of control of the human remains and associated funerary objects to The Tribes may proceed.

The Mississippi Department of Archives and History is responsible for notifying The Tribes that this notice has been published.