Notice2025-18579
Notice of Inventory Completion: Robert S. Peabody Institute of Archaeology, Andover, MA
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
September 25, 2025
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentNational Park Service
Abstract
In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Robert S. Peabody Institute of Archaeology (RSPI) 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]
[Pages 46236-46237]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-18579]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[N6552; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0041141; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Inventory Completion: Robert S. Peabody Institute of
Archaeology, Andover, MA
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 Robert S. Peabody Institute of
Archaeology (RSPI) 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 Ryan J. Wheeler,
Robert S. Peabody Institute of Archaeology, Phillips Academy, 180 Main
Street, Andover, MA 01810, email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#3042475855555c554270515e545f4655421e555445"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="d8aaafb0bdbdb4bdaa98b9b6bcb7aebdaaf6bdbcad">[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
RSPI, 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. The 36 associated funerary objects are one bone awl; one
ceramic vessel; one lot ceramic sherd; 24 lots chipped stone tools; six
lots ground stone tools; three lots lithics. Highland Creek is located
in Union County, Kentucky (records also indicate Webster County,
Kentucky) and was disturbed by Warren K. Moorehead in 1898 on behalf of
Robert S. Peabody. The locality is called both Highland Creek and
Village Site, Mouth of Highland Creek in RSPI records. The human
remains and funerary objects were transferred to the RSPI (then known
as the Department of Archaeology) when it was founded in 1901.
Archaeologists in 1991 and 1999 investigated a site recorded as 15Un127
near the mouth of Highland Creek in Union County, describing a late
Middle Archaic/early Late Archaic, and Late Woodland village site with
dense midden deposits and burials--it seems likely that the individual
and funerary items held at RSPI originated from 15Un127.
There is no known presence of any potentially hazardous substances.
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 RSPI has determined that:
<bullet> The human remains described in this notice represent the
physical remains of one individual of Native American ancestry.
<bullet> The 36 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 Eastern
Band of Cherokee Indians.
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
[[Page 46237]]
are received, the RSPI 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 RSPI 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. 2025-18579 Filed 9-24-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
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