Notice2025-14279
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]
[Pages 35725-35726]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-14279]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[N6359; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0040616; 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, 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#f68c979591978484938282b69983d8939283"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="cfb5aeaca8aebdbdaabbbb8fa0bae1aaabba">[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
One associated funerary object was removed from the Heerwald/Jordan
site (34CU27), in Custer County, OK. The one associated funerary object
is one lot of ceramic vessels. This list of objects is an addition to a
group of associated funerary objects previously identified in a Notice
of Inventory Completion published in the Federal Register on November
1, 2017 (82 FR 50667).
This site is on private land on a ridge south of Turkey Creek, a
tributary of the Washita River. This object was removed by James
Schaeffer of the Highway Salvage Archaeology program in 1957, when I-40
was constructed south of old US 66, and was subsequently donated to the
Museum. This site is from the Plains Village Period, Washita River
phase (approximately 1250-1400 CE). This phase demonstrates continuity
in material culture with known groups of the Wichita and Affiliated
Tribes. Oral history as well as post-contact records support the
presence of the Wichita in this area. To our knowledge, no potentially
hazardous chemicals were used to treat the associated funerary objects.
One associated funerary object was removed from the Brewer site
(34ML3), in McClain County, OK. The one associated funerary object is
one lot of ceramic vessels. This list of objects is an addition to a
group of associated funerary objects previously identified in a Notice
of Inventory Completion published in the Federal Register on November
1, 2017 (82 FR 50667).
This site on the south bank of the Canadian River was originally
surveyed and recorded in 1950, by the University of Oklahoma. William
Villines of Rosedale, OK, brought a collection from the site to the
Department of Anthropology at the University in 1951. In 1986,
additional collections were removed by Richard Drass, Robert Brooks,
and Alan Wormser of the Oklahoma Archeological Survey, after more
material was exposed by oil well workers. The collections were
accessioned by the Museum in 1953 and 1988. This is a Paoli phase (900-
1250 CE) settlement. The Paoli phase demonstrates continuity in the
material culture with the subsequent Washita River phase and later
known groups of the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes. Oral history as well
as post-contact records support the presence of the Wichita in this
area. To our knowledge, no potentially hazardous chemicals were used to
treat the associated funerary objects.
[[Page 35726]]
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 two 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 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. 2025-14279 Filed 7-28-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
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