Rules and Regulations. Notice

Agency: National Park Service, Interior
Action: Notice
Citation: FR Doc. 2025-16117 · N6458; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0040880; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000

Summary

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Kansas State Historical Society (KSHS) 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 September 22, 2025.

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 KSHS, 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 The 10 associated funerary objects from site 14SD350 in Sheridan County, KS (UBS 1990-27) are jasper flakes, animal bone fragments, mollusks, and a mulling stone. The human remains from this site were previously repatriated to Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma in 2000 and should have included the associated funerary objects. This burial was excavated by KSHS in 1978 from a stream terrace along the South Fork Solomon River. Human remains representing, at least, two individuals have been identified from an unknown location presumably in Nebraska (UBS 2005-14). No associated funerary objects are present. The Kansas UBS (Unmarked Burial Sites) board voted to consider these remains as subject to NAGPRA jurisdiction. No other provenience information is available. To our knowledge, no hazardous substances were used to treat any of the human remains or associated funerary objects. 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 The KSHS has determined that: • The human remains described in this notice represent the physical remains of two individuals of Native American ancestry. • The 10 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 Pawnee 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 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 September 22, 2025. If competing requests for repatriation are received, the KSHS 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. The KSHS is responsible for sending a copy of this notice to the Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations identified in this notice and any other consulting parties. Authority: Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, 25 U.S.C. 3003, and the implementing regulations, 43 CFR 10.10. Dated: August 13, 2025. Melanie O'Brien, Manager, National NAGPRA Program. [FR Doc. 2025-16117 Filed 8-21-25; 8:45 am]