Rules and Regulations. Notice

Agency: National Park Service, Interior
Action: Notice
Citation: FR Doc. 2026-01542 · N6895; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0041892; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000

Summary

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Office of Repatriation (UTK), has completed an inventory of associated funerary objects and has determined that there is a cultural affiliation between the associated funerary objects and Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice.

Dates

Repatriation of the associated funerary objects in this notice may occur on or after February 26, 2026.

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 The five lots of associated funerary objects are five lots of objects found with or near Ancestors. These objects were recovered from the Wright's Bend site (40RE69) in Roane County, TN, by UTK's Archaeological Research Lab under supervision of Michael Angst in June 2003 and housed at UTK since recovery. This site dates to the Middle Woodland to Late Mississippian periods, 1200-1400 C.E. To our knowledge, no potentially hazardous substances have been used to treat any of the associated funerary objects. Cultural Affiliation Based on the information available and the results of consultation, cultural affiliation is clearly identified by the information available about the associated funerary objects described in this notice. Determinations UTK has determined that: • The five lots of 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 associated funerary objects described in this notice and the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas; Cherokee Nation; Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians; The Muscogee (Creek) Nation; Thlopthlocco Tribal Town; and the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma. Requests for Repatriation Written requests for repatriation of the 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 associated funerary objects described in this notice to a requestor may occur on or after February 26, 2026. If competing requests for repatriation are received, UTK must determine the most appropriate requestor prior to repatriation. Requests for joint repatriation of the associated funerary objects are considered a single request and not competing requests. UTK are 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: January 15, 2026. Melanie O'Brien, Manager, National NAGPRA Program. [FR Doc. 2026-01542 Filed 1-26-26; 8:45 am]