Notice2025-15961
Notice of Inventory Completion: The University of Tennessee, McClung Museum of Natural History & Culture, Knoxville, TN
Primary source
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Published
August 21, 2025
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentNational Park Service
Abstract
In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, McClung Museum of Natural History & Culture (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.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 160 (Thursday, August 21, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 160 (Thursday, August 21, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40846-40847]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-15961]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[N6388; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0040685; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Inventory Completion: The University of Tennessee,
McClung Museum of Natural History & Culture, Knoxville, TN
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 University of Tennessee, Knoxville,
McClung Museum of Natural History & Culture (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 September 22, 2025.
ADDRESSES: Send written requests for repatriation of the 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#254b44425557446550514e0b404150"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="e48a8583949685a491908fca818091">[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 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 faunal; lithics;
ceramics; shell beads; and objects placed with or near human remains.
These objects were recovered from the Wafford Farm site, 40HS218, in
Humphreys County, TN, by an unknown individual before 1943. These
objects were included in the George Barnes ``collection'' that was
purchased by UTK in 1949. 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 reasonably identified by the geographical
location of the associated funerary objects described in this notice.
Determinations
UTK has determined that:
<bullet> 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.
<bullet> There is a connection between the associated funerary
objects described in this notice and The Chickasaw Nation.
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:
[[Page 40847]]
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 September 22, 2025. 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 is 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: July 15, 2025.
Mariah Soriano,
Acting Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2025-15961 Filed 8-20-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
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