Notice2025-11926
Notice of Inventory Completion: Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK
Primary source
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Published
June 27, 2025
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentNational Park Service
Abstract
In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History (SNOMNH) 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.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 122 (Friday, June 27, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 122 (Friday, June 27, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27665-27666]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-11926]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0040446; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Inventory Completion: Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of
Natural History, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK
AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and
Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural
History (SNOMNH) 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 July 28, 2025.
ADDRESSES: Send written requests for repatriation of the human remains
and associated funerary objects in this notice to Zachary Garrett,
NAGPRA Program Coordinator, Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural
History, University of Oklahoma, 2401 Chautauqua Avenue, Norman, OK
73072-7029, email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#d6acb7b5b1b7a4a4b3a2a296b9a3f8b3b2a3"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="d0aab1b3b7b1a2a2b5a4a490bfa5feb5b4a5">[email protected]</span></a>.
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
SNOMNH, and additional information on the determinations in this
notice, including the results of consultation, can be found in the
inventory or related records. The National Park Service is not
responsible for the determinations in this notice.
Abstract of Information Available
Based on the information available, one associated funerary object
was removed from the Moore site (34Lf31) in LeFlore County, OK. The one
associated funerary object is one lot of ceramic vessels. This site is
located approximately two miles north of the town of Spiro, OK, and
within the floodplain of the Arkansas River. It was initially
discovered--and severely disturbed--by a railroad that cut through the
site in 1885 and was later impacted by extensive farming activities and
looting. In 1938 and 1939, excavations were carried out by the Works
Progress Administration, and the University of Oklahoma conducted
additional salvage excavations in 1969. The associated finds were
transferred to SNOMNH following each excavation season. This funerary
object was likely interred during the Fort Coffee phase (1450-1650 CE).
Cultural affiliation was determined through Tribal consultation, and
included consideration of anthropological, archeological, geographical,
and historical information. To our knowledge, no potentially hazardous
materials were used to treat the associated funerary object. This list
of objects is an addition to the group of associated funerary objects
previously identified in a Notice of Inventory Completion published in
the Federal Register on December 19, 2023 (88 FR 87803).
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
SNOMNH has determined that:
<bullet> The one object described in this notice is 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.
<bullet> There is a connection between the associated funerary
object described in this notice and the Caddo Nation of Oklahoma and
the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes (Wichita, Keechi, Waco, & Tawakonie),
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 July 28, 2025. If competing
requests for repatriation are received, the SNOMNH must determine the
most appropriate requestor prior to repatriation. Requests for joint
repatriation of the associated funerary objects are considered a single
[[Page 27666]]
request and not competing requests. SNOMNH 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: June 17, 2025
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2025-11926 Filed 6-26-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
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