Notice2025-18570
Notice of Inventory Completion: William S. Webb Museum of Anthropology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY
Primary source
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Published
September 25, 2025
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentNational Park Service
Abstract
In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the the William S. Webb Museum of Anthropology, University of Kentucky (WSWM) 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
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 184 (Thursday, September 25, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 184 (Thursday, September 25, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Page 46249]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-18570]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[N6541; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0041129; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Inventory Completion: William S. Webb Museum of
Anthropology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY
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 the William S. Webb Museum of
Anthropology, University of Kentucky (WSWM) 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 October 27, 2025.
ADDRESSES: Send written requests for repatriation of the human remains
and associated funerary objects in this notice to Dr. Celise Chilcote-
Fricker, William S. Webb Museum of Anthropology, University of
Kentucky, 1020 Export Street, Lexington, KY 40504, email
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#cdaea8a1a4bea8e3abbfa4aea6a8bf8db8a6b4e3a8a9b8"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="6f0c0a03061c0a41091d060c040a1d2f1a0416410a0b1a">[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
WSWM, 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, 155 individuals have been
identified. The 76 associated funerary objects are 20 lots faunal, 11
lots lithic, six lots shell, one stone barrel-shaped bead, one bone
tool, one crinoid disc bead, one dog burial, one drill, two flakers, 25
lithic projectile points, one modified faunal bone, one perforated awl,
two pestles, and three scrapers. Site 15McL7, the Butterfield site, was
excavated from March to April 1939 by University of Kentucky
archaeologists under contract to the Works Progress Administration. No
known hazardous substances are present.
Human remains representing, at least, 68 individuals have been
identified. The 164 associated funerary objects are three lots ceramic,
25 lots charcoal, 39 lots faunal, 44 lots lithic, four lots shell, 39
lots soil samples, four bone awls, one fishhook, one flaker, two
modified lithics, one projectile point/knife and one uniface. Site
15McL12, the Kirkland site, was excavated from September to November
1938 by University of Kentucky archaeologists under contract to the
Works Progress Administration. No known hazardous substances are
present.
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.
Determinations
The WSWM has determined that:
<bullet> The human remains described in this notice represent the
physical remains of 223 individuals of Native American ancestry.
<bullet> The 240 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 Absentee-
Shawnee Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma; Cherokee Nation; Eastern Band of
Cherokee Indians; Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma; Shawnee Tribe; and
the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in 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 October
27, 2025. If competing requests for repatriation are received, the WSWM
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 WSWM 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: September 11, 2025.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2025-18570 Filed 9-24-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
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