Notice2025-14159
Notice of Inventory Completion: The University of Tennessee, Department of Anthropology, Knoxville, TN, and University of Kansas, Topeka, KS
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
July 28, 2025
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentNational Park Service
Abstract
In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), The University of Tennessee, Department of Anthropology (UTK) and the University of Kansas (KU) have completed an inventory of human remains and associated funerary objects and have 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.
Full Text
<html>
<head>
<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 142 (Monday, July 28, 2025)</title>
</head>
<body><pre>
[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 142 (Monday, July 28, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35544-35545]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-14159]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[N6325; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0040515; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Inventory Completion: The University of Tennessee,
Department of Anthropology, Knoxville, TN, and University of Kansas,
Topeka, KS
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) and the University of Kansas (KU) have completed an
inventory of human remains and associated funerary objects and have
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 August 27, 2025.
ADDRESSES: Send written requests for repatriation of the human remains
and associated funerary objects in this notice to Dr. Ellen Lofaro,
University of Tennessee, Office of Repatriation, 5723 Middlebrook Pike,
Knoxville, TN 37996, email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#cca2adabbcbead8cb9b8a7e2a9a8b9"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="137d7274636172536667783d767766">[email protected]</span></a> and Dr. Thomas Torma,
University of Kansas, Office of Audit, Risk & Compliance, The
University of Kansas, 1450 Jayhawk Boulevard, 351 Strong Hall Lawrence,
KS 66045, email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#9befb6eff4e9f6fadbf0eeb5feffee"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="a3d78ed7ccd1cec2e3c8d68dc6c7d6">[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 UTK
and KU, 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, five individuals have been
identified. These individuals were removed from the Taylor Mound site,
14DP3, in Doniphan County, KS, during a field school led by Dr.
Patricia O'Brien of Kansas State University in the summer of 1968. This
site dates to the Middle Woodland period (circa BCE 350-400 CE).
Ceramics were also found that showed continued usage of the site into
the late prehistoric period (Central Plains Tradition), 1100-1350 CE.
Based on a past pattern of practice, it is likely that William Bass
brought these human remains with him from KU when he began working at
UTK in 1971. The two lots of associated funerary objects are one lot of
lithics and one lot of objects placed with or near human remains.
Human remains representing, at least, one individual have been
identified. This individual was removed from the Kelley site, 14DP11,
in Doniphan County, KS, between 1967 and 1968 during a field school
taught jointly by Dr. Alfred E. Johnson at KU, Dr. O'Brien at Kansas
State University, staff at Wichita State University, and staff at the
University of Missouri. This site dates to the mid-late Woodland with a
Valley Variant/Steed Kisker Phase component, circa 1000-1250 CE. Based
on a past pattern of practice, it is likely that William Bass brought
these human remains with him from KU when he began working at UTK in
1971. The one lot of associated funerary objects is one lot of objects
placed with or near human remains.
To our knowledge, no potentially hazardous substances have been
used to treat any of the Ancestral remains or 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 human remains and associated funerary objects described in
this notice. Cultural affiliation between the human remains and Indian
Tribes listed in this notice was established via geographical,
archaeological, Native American Traditional Knowledge/Expert Opinion,
and oral history. Doniphan County, KS, is part of the aboriginal lands
of Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska and Kaw Nation.
Determinations
UTK and KU have determined that:
<bullet> The human remains described in this notice represent the
physical remains of six individuals of Native American ancestry.
<bullet> The three 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.
<bullet> There is a connection between the human remains and
associated funerary objects described in this notice and the Iowa Tribe
of Kansas and Nebraska and the Kaw Nation, 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 August
27, 2025. If competing requests for repatriation are received, UTK and
KU 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 and KU are responsible for sending a copy of this notice
to the Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations identified in
this notice.
[[Page 35545]]
Authority: Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act,
25 U.S.C. 3003, and the implementing regulations, 43 CFR 10.10.
Dated: July 1, 2025.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2025-14159 Filed 7-25-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
</pre><script data-cfasync="false" src="/cdn-cgi/scripts/5c5dd728/cloudflare-static/email-decode.min.js"></script></body>
</html>Indexed from Federal Register on July 28, 2025.
This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.