4312-52
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0038074; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Inventory Completion: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service,
Canaveral National Seashore, New Smyrna Beach, FL
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, Canaveral National
Seashore (CANA) has completed an inventory of human remains and associated funerary objects
and has determined that there is a cultural affiliation between the human remains and associated
funerary objects and Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice.
DATES: Repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects in this notice may
occur on or after [INSERT DATE 30 DAYS AFTER DATE OF PUBLICATION IN THE
FEDERAL REGISTER].
ADDRESSES: Carmen Thomson, Superintendent, Canaveral National Seashore, 212 S.
Washington Avenue, Titusville, FL 32951, telephone (321) 291-1860, email
Carmen_Thomson@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, CANA, 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
Based on the information available, human remains representing, at least, two individuals
have been reasonably identified. The four associated funerary objects are three lithic fragments
and one ceramic vessel fragment. On June 12, 2022, human remains which were removed from

the park in the 1970s during road construction in front of the Apollo Visitor Center were returned
to the park by a park visitor. The location was originally believed to be a naturally occurring sand
dune but has since been reassessed as a Sand Burial Mound. No hazardous substances have been
used to treat the human remains.
Cultural affiliation
Based on the information available and the results of consultation, cultural affiliation is
clearly identified by the information available about the human remains and associated funerary
objects described in this notice.
Determinations
CANA has determined that:
•

The human remains described in this notice represent the physical remains of two
individuals of Native American ancestry.

•

The four 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 reasonable connection between the human remains described in this notice and
the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians; Seminole Tribe of Florida; The Muscogee (Creek)
Nation; and The Seminole Nation of Oklahoma.

Requests for Repatriation
Written requests for repatriation of the human remains and 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 human remains and associated funerary objects in this notice to a

requestor may occur on or after [INSERT DATE 30 DAYS AFTER DATE OF PUBLICATION
IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER]. If competing requests for repatriation are received, CANA
must determine the most appropriate requestor prior to repatriation. Requests for joint repatriation
of the human remains and associated funerary objects are considered a single request and not
competing requests. CANA 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: June 3, 2024.
Melanie O’Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2024-12818 Filed: 6/11/2024 8:45 am; Publication Date: 6/12/2024]