Tennessee plans to repatriate Native American cultural items that were once displayed at Old Stone Fort State Archaeological Park’s museum in Coffee County.
A Federal Register notice published October 30 identifies the items as one lot of two-hole stone gorgets removed from an unidentified site in the county. The notice says local residents donated them years ago, but the park has no other record of how it acquired them.
The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation’s Division of Archaeology determined that the items qualify as unassociated funerary objects and have cultural connections to six tribal nations.
Repatriation may take place on or after November 30. That is the earliest permitted date, rather than an announced transfer date. If competing requests are received, the division must determine the appropriate recipient before proceeding.
The process is being conducted under the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act.
