Notice2025-15966
Notice of Inventory Completion: Kansas State Historical Society, 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
August 21, 2025
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentNational Park Service
Abstract
In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Kansas State Historical Society (KSHS) has completed an inventory of human remains and associated funerary objects and has 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 160 (Thursday, August 21, 2025)</title>
</head>
<body><pre>
[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 160 (Thursday, August 21, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40854-40856]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-15966]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[N6435; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0040845; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Inventory Completion: Kansas State Historical Society,
Topeka, KS
AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and
Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Kansas State Historical Society (KSHS)
has completed an inventory of human remains and associated funerary
objects and has 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 September 22, 2025.
ADDRESSES: Send written requests for repatriation of the human remains
and associated funerary objects in this notice to Dr. Nicole Klarmann,
Kansas State Historical Society, 6425 SW 6th Avenue, Topeka, KS 66615-
1099, email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#d0bba3b8a3febeb1b7a0a2b190bba3feb7bfa6"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="117a6279623f7f7076616370517a623f767e67">[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
KSHS, 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, one individual have been
identified from site 14EW485 in Ellsworth County, KS (UBS 2010-06). No
associated funerary objects are present. A human tooth was found in the
collections by KSHS lab staff.
Human remains representing, at least, three individuals have been
identified from the Davis site (14GE141) in Geary County, KS (UBS 1991-
37). The 75 associated funerary objects are pottery sherds, projectile
points, a scraper, chipped stone including quartz points and an
obsidian core. Human remains and objects were removed from this mound
by the landowner in 1879.
Human remains representing, at least, 13 individuals have been
identified from the Schiller site (14GE305) in Geary County, KS (UBS
1991-46). The 817 associated funerary objects are projectile points,
bone awls, bone hairpins, animal teeth, glass beads, shell beads, and
bird bone beads and fragments. The human remains and objects were
removed from a mound near Junction City in the 1880's and given to KSHS
in 1903 and 1904.
Human remains representing, at least, five individuals have been
identified from the Neimuller site (14GE301/14GE3) in Geary County, KS
(UBS 1992-16). The 14 associated funerary objects are a pottery sherd,
flint chips, and a shell fragment. KSHS completed a salvage excavation
after the two stone mounds had already been looted and excavated over
the decades.
Human remains representing, at least, three individuals have been
identified from Geary County, KS (UBS 1995-16). The one associated
funerary object is a bone bead. The remains were removed from a mound
near Ft. Riley by an individual who then sold them to a museum.
Human remains representing, at least, one individual have been
identified from the Henderson/Indian Statue site (14GE304) in Geary
County, KS (UBS 2000-34). The 50 associated funerary objects are dart
points, arrow points, cutting and scraping tools, pipestone, pottery,
knives, an ax, and stone. This site was disrupted by pothunting and the
erection of a statue. The landowner gave the human remains and objects
to KSHS in 1900.
Human remains representing, at least, one individual have been
identified from the Jewell site (14GE306) in Geary County, KS (UBS
2000-35). The six associated funerary objects are shell
[[Page 40855]]
fragments, fossilized bone, an unmodified chert chip, and a unifacial
scraper. The human remains and objects were collected from the surface
of a mound burial by a KSHS archaeologist.
The eight associated funerary objects from site 14LY304 in Lyon
County, KS (UBS 2024-16) are faunal remains and a flake. A rock filled
mound was found atop a ridge and was recorded by KSHS in 1964. The
University of Tennessee, Knoxville has the associated human remains
from this site.
Human remains representing, at least, four individuals have been
identified from Range Mound (14ML307) in Mitchell County, KS (UBS 1990-
29). The 281 associated funerary objects are shell beads, pottery
sherds, bones from various animals including deer, puma, turtle,
pronghorn, bobcat, badger, turkey, some modified, chipped stone tools
and debris. The human remains and objects are from a rock-filled burial
mound that was excavated by KSHS prior to a housing project taking
place. There may be shellac on the remains.
Human remains representing, at least, seven individuals have been
identified from White Mound (14MO323) in Morris County, KS (UBS 1991-
56). The 2,116 associated funerary objects are partial pottery vessels,
pottery sherds, projectile points, a scraper, chipped stone debris,
shell disc beads, and shell pendants. KSHS excavated this mound as part
of the Council Grove reservoir project in 1964. Some of the pots and
bowls were reconstructed, however, the records do not specify which
type of adhesive was used.
Human remains representing, at least, 11 individuals have been
identified from the Vohs site (14OB401) in Osborne County, KS (UBS
1989-18J, UBS 1991-61). The 1,954 associated funerary objects are
pottery sherds, shells, worked flint, projectile points, scrapers,
rocks, quartzite, cutting tools, a possible knife, a possible shaft
smoother, shale, core sections, crystalline, a glass button, hardened
and baked clay, and limestone. The remains and objects were removed
over time by the landowner and a collector through excavation and
surface collecting.
Human remains representing, at least, one individual have been
identified from Osborne County, KS (UBS 1990-06A). The 1,307 associated
funerary objects are army brass buttons, mess kit and scissors, parts
of a bridle and girth, brass bracelets, lead bullets, epaulet of a Lt.
Colonel, doll dish, buttons, projectile points, musket caps, a brass
spur, cloth, a scraper, non-human bones, a leather pouch, paint, rocks,
stone, and beads. The remains and objects were excavated by a professor
and his students in 1933. Varnish and glue are present on the remains.
Human remains representing, at least, two individuals have been
identified from Osborne County, KS (UBS 1994-02). No associated
funerary objects are present. These remains were removed by children
playing near the North Fork Solomon River in Downs, KS in 1916.
Human remains representing, at least, one individual have been
identified from the Markley House 1 site (14OT308) in Ottawa County, KS
(UBS 2001-31). No associated funerary objects are present. Human teeth
were found while excavating an earth lodge in the 1940's.
Human remains representing, at least, one individual have been
identified from site 14OT402 in Ottawa County, KS (UBS 2008-07). The
one associated funerary object is a celt. A bone fragment was found
during lab analysis of an assemblage from this site.
Human remains representing, at least, one individual have been
identified from the Minneapolis site (14OT5) in Ottawa County, KS (UBS
2011-08). The 14,007 associated funerary objects are bone or shell
beads, mussel shells, various chipped stone tools, various ground stone
tools, pottery sherds, daub, burned earth, animal bone, and various
animal bone tools including needles, potential whistle, fishhook,
scapula hoes, awls, pendants, digging stick tips. The human remains and
objects were taken by a resident of Salina from the surface of the
mound/house feature. Some of the human bone fragments have been
reconstructed with glue.
Human remains representing, at least, one individual have been
identified from site 14RU326 in Russell County, KS (UBS 1990-36). No
associated funerary objects are present. The remains were said to be
found on the surface of a pre-historic site on a terrace of Paradise
Creek.
Human remains representing, at least, two individuals have been
identified from site 14SA2 in Saline County, KS (UBS 1990-07). The 900
associated funerary objects are projectile points, scrapers, a pipe
bowl, knife blades, manos, shaft smoothers, and pottery sherds. Two
human teeth were found during lab processing and were removed from a
possible ossuary.
The 233 associated funerary objects identified from the Salina
Burial Pit/Whiteford-Price site (14SA1) in Saline County, KS (UBS 1991-
74) are clam shell beads, biface sections, notched points, pottery
sherds, worked bone, shells, corn, wax cast of a pot, abrader, chipped
stone tools, salina burial pit key, and a pot with ``Indian Burial
Salina, Kansas'' written on it (possible souvenir). Human remains were
left in place, however, these objects were removed prior to the site
being acquired by the state of Kansas, which then sealed the burial
ground for protection. Some of the items may have been cleaned with
acetone.
The 400 associated funerary objects identified from the Lindeman
site (14SA412) in Saline County, KS (UBS 1996-23) are manos, abraders,
hammerstone, a nutting stone, celt, scrapers, knives, a projectile
point, bifaces, drills, debitage, flakes, a hoe, an awl, and pottery
sherds. The human remains from this site were formerly repatriated.
These are the objects removed from the site that should have originally
remained with them.
Human remains representing, at least, one individual have been
identified from the Blue Bead site (14SA301) in Saline County, KS (UBS
2003-01). The 13 associated funerary objects are faunal remains,
debitage, burned material, glass, modern ceramic, and sandstone.
Plowing and erosion exposed a burial which was removed by the landowner
and given to a local museum.
Human remains representing, at least, one individual have been
identified from site 14SA424 in Saline County, KS (UBS 2013-05). The
166 associated funerary objects are chipped stone tools, ground stone
tools, animal bone, and pottery. The human remains and objects were
removed by a local Salina resident from the ground's surface.
Human remains representing, at least, one individual have been
identified from site 14SA415 in Saline County, KS (UBS 2021-05). The
921 associated funerary objects are pottery, various chipped stone
tools, animal bone, charcoal, wood, burned earth, modified animal bone,
and various ground stone tools. The human remains were found among
funerary objects recovered near the Salina Burial pit and are
associated with that site.
Human remains representing, at least, seven individuals have been
identified from Clay County, KS (UBS 1996-20, UBS 1996-21, UBS 2000-39,
14CY458/UBS 2001-27), Cloud County, KS (UBS 2004-18), and Geary County,
KS (14GE347/UBS 1990-19). No associated funerary objects are present.
These remains were found in or near the Kansas River, the Republican
River, or an unrecorded gravel bar.
Human remains representing, at least, four individuals have been
identified from Ellsworth County, KS (UBS 1990-04), Ottawa County, KS
(UBS 2016-08), and Saline County, KS (UBS 1998-17, UBS 2014-01). No
associated funerary objects are present. These remains have
[[Page 40856]]
minimal information and are limited to county-level provenience. UBS
2014-01 has varnish or a similar product present and a paper product
that is somehow adhered to the remains.
Unless noted above, no known hazardous substances were used to
treat any of the human remains or associated funerary objects.
Cultural Affiliation
Based on the information available and the results of consultation,
cultural affiliation is reasonably identified by the geographical
location or acquisition history of the human remains and associated
funerary objects described in this notice.
Determinations
The KSHS has determined that:
<bullet> The human remains described in this notice represent the
physical remains of 72 individuals of Native American ancestry.
<bullet> The 23,270 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 Pawnee
Nation of Oklahoma and the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes (Wichita,
Keechi, Waco, & Tawakonie), 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 September
22, 2025. If competing requests for repatriation are received, the KSHS
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. The KSHS 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: August 6, 2025.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2025-15966 Filed 8-20-25; 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 August 21, 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.