Notice2025-14278
Notice of Inventory Completion: Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK
Primary source
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Published
July 29, 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 143 (Tuesday, July 29, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 143 (Tuesday, July 29, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Page 35721]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-14278]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[N6358; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0040615; 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 August 28, 2025.
ADDRESSES: Send written requests for repatriation of the associated
funerary objects in this notice to Zachary Garrett, 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#7a001b191d1b08081f0e0e3a150f541f1e0f"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="c0baa1a3a7a1b2b2a5b4b480afb5eea5a4b5">[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
SNOMNH, 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
Three associated funerary objects were removed from the Eufaula
Mound site (34Mi45), also known as the Groseclose site, in McIntosh
County, OK. The three associated funerary objects are one lot of
ceramic sherds, one lot of red ochre, and one lot of stone pipes. The
site lies at the confluence of the North Canadian and Canadian Rivers,
approximately 80 kilometers west of Spiro Mounds. Following extensive
damage to the site from agricultural activities and looting,
excavations were carried out by the Works Progress Administration in
May-August 1940. The site was later flooded following the construction
of the Eufaula Dam in 1964. Collections removed during the excavations
were split between the Creek Memorial Museum (now known as the Creek
Nation Council House) and SNOMNH. This site has both pre-contact and
historic components. This notice includes only objects from the pre-
contact component. These associated funerary objects were most likely
interred during the local Harlan through early Norman phases (1100-1300
CE) of the Mississippian Period. Cultural affiliation was established
through Tribal Consultation, and is supported by archaeological
information, ethnographic information, ethnohistorical information, and
tribal oral histories. To our knowledge, no potentially hazardous
materials were used to treat the associated funerary objects.
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 January 27, 2020 (85 FR
4700).
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 three 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 associated funerary
objects 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 August 28, 2025. If
competing requests for repatriation are received, SNOMNH 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. 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: July 9, 2025.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2025-14278 Filed 7-28-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
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