4312-52
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0038304; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Inventory Completion: University of Tennessee, Department of Anthropology,
Knoxville, TN
AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
SUMMARY: In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act
(NAGPRA), the University of Tennessee, Department of Anthropology (UTK) 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: Dr. Ellen Lofaro, University of Tennessee, Office of Repatriation, 5723
Middlebrook Pike, Knoxville, TN 37921-6053, telephone (865) 974-3370, email
nagpra@utk.edu.
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 UTK, and additional information on the determinations in this notice,
including the results of consultation, can be found in its inventory or related records. The
National Park Service is not responsible for the determinations in this notice.
Abstract of information available
Human remains representing, at least six individuals have been identified. The two
associated funerary objects are one lot of ceramics and one lot of faunal remains. In February
2009, students from the Mars Hill Bible School in Florence, Lauderdale County, Alabama found

remains while out around a bluff, and later found additional remains while they were looking in
the same area. After the students removed the remains and took them to class, the Sherriff’s
Department was contacted to take possession of them. An investigator from the department sent
the remains to Dr. Lee Jantz at UTK for examination. These remains were retained by the UTK
Forensic Anthropology Center (FAC) as case 09-02. They were housed by the FAC until they
were recently transferred to the UTK Office of Repatriation (OR). Some of the remains were
“repaired” using an unknown, thick foam-like adhesive material.
Human remains representing, at least two individuals have been identified. No associated
funerary objects are present. A scout leader found the remains in a cave in Franklin County,
Tennessee, and alerted law enforcement officials. A police officer received the remains from the
scout leader on September 20, 1997. The officer transferred them to the Franklin County
Sherriff’s Department two days later. A captain from the department contacted Dr. William Bass
at UTK for assistance in determining if the remains were of medicolegal concern. The remains
were transferred to UTK on September 26, 1997, and examined by Michelle Hamilton. Once
determined to be of Native American origin, the remains were retained by the FAC as case 97-28.
They remained at the FAC until they were recently transferred to the OR. To our knowledge, the
remains were not treated with any potentially hazardous substances.
Human remains representing, at least one individual have been identified. The one
associated funerary object is one lot of faunal remains. At an unknown time, these remains were
removed by an unknown party, from a cave in Franklin County, TN. On August 9, 2012, the
remains were given to an investigator with the county Sherriff’s Department. The investigator
transferred them to a Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) Special Agent, who contacted Dr.
Lee Meadows Jantz at UTK to have them examined. The remains were retained by the FAC as
case 12-07. They remained at the FAC until they were recently transferred to the OR. To our
knowledge, no potentially hazardous substances were used to treat any of the remains or objects.
Human remains representing, at least two individuals have been identified. No associated
funerary objects are present. Cavers discovered the remains while exploring with a group of
children in Grundy County, TN, on February 13, 1995, and alerted law enforcement officials.

That same day, a TBI agent contacted Dr. Murray Marks at the FAC for his assistance, and a
team of graduate students were sent to the site to investigate further. Once the examination of the
remains was complete, they were determined to be Native American, and they were retained by
the FAC as case 95-9. They remained at the FAC until they were recently transferred to the OR.
Some of the remains were “repaired” using glue, but to our knowledge, no potentially hazardous
substances were used to treat any of the remains.
Human remains representing, at least one individual have been identified. No associated
funerary objects are present. On Saturday, January 7, 2006, a resident of Pelham, TN, was
digging for projectile points when he found human remains below the surface. He removed them
and took them to Grundy County law enforcement officials. On January 10, the remains were
transferred to a TBI Special Agent, who subsequently sent them to UTK for examination, where
they were received on February 26. After the remains were examined and determined not to be of
medicolegal concern (not a missing person or crime victim), they were retained by the FAC as
case 06-06. They remained at the FAC until they were recently transferred to the OR. To our
knowledge, no potentially hazardous substances were used to treat any of the remains.
Human remains representing, at least two individuals have been identified. No associated
funerary objects are present. The remains were found in a cave in Lawrenceburg, Lawrence
County, TN, by an unknown party in February 1981, and local law enforcement officials were
informed. A TBI agent contacted Bass for assistance in identifying the remains, and subsequently
sent them to UTK where they were examined by Patrick Willey in March 1981. Once determined
to be Native American and not of recent origin, the remains were retained by the FAC as case 818. They remained at the FAC until they were recently transferred to the OR. To our knowledge,
no potentially hazardous substances were used to treat any of the remains.
Human remains representing, at least two individuals have been identified. The four
associated funerary objects are one lot of botanicals, one lot of faunal remains, one lot of lithics,
and one lot of unidentified objects. At an unknown time, these remains and funerary objects were
found by an unknown party in a cave in Lawrence County, TN. In January 1996, a TBI agent
informed Bass of the discovery, and the remains were sent to Bass at UTK for examination,

which was completed on February 8, 1996. Once determined not to be of recent origin, the
remains were retained by the FAC as case 96-04. They remained at the FAC until they were
recently transferred to the OR. To our knowledge, no potentially hazardous substances were used
to treat any of the remains or objects.
Lauderdale County, Alabama, and Franklin, Grundy, and Lawrence Counties, Tennessee,
are part of the aboriginal Homeland of the Chickasaw people, as documented in the Treaties with
the United States and Chickasaw of 1805, 1816, and 1818. These counties are also part of the
aboriginal Homeland of the Cherokee, as documented in Treaties with the Cherokee, 1806, 1807,
and 1819.
Cultural affiliation
Based on the information available and the results of consultation, cultural affiliation is
reasonably identified by the geographical location or acquisition history of the human remains
and associated funerary objects described in this notice.
Determinations
UTK has determined that:
•

The human remains described in this notice represent the physical remains of 16
individuals of Native American ancestry.

•

The seven 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 human remains and associated funerary objects
described in this notice and the Cherokee Nation; Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians; The
Chickasaw Nation; and the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in 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 an Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization with cultural affiliation.
Repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects described 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, UTK 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. UTK 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: July 10, 2024.

Melanie O’Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2024-15832 Filed: 7/17/2024 8:45 am; Publication Date: 7/18/2024]