Notice2025-18582
Notice of Intended Repatriation: William S. Webb Museum of Anthropology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY
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 William S. Webb Museum of Anthropology, University of Kentucky (WSWM) intends to repatriate certain cultural items that meet the definition of unassociated funerary objects and that have a cultural affiliation with the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice.
Full Text
<html>
<head>
<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 184 (Thursday, September 25, 2025)</title>
</head>
<body><pre>
[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 184 (Thursday, September 25, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46249-46250]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-18582]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[N6542; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0041130; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Intended Repatriation: William S. Webb Museum of
Anthropology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY
AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and
[[Page 46250]]
Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the William S. Webb Museum of Anthropology,
University of Kentucky (WSWM) intends to repatriate certain cultural
items that meet the definition of unassociated funerary objects and
that have a cultural affiliation with the Indian Tribes or Native
Hawaiian organizations in this notice.
DATES: Repatriation of the cultural items in this notice may occur on
or after October 27, 2025.
ADDRESSES: Send additional, written requests for repatriation of the
cultural items 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#92f1f7fefbe1f7bcf4e0fbf1f9f7e0d2e7f9ebbcf7f6e7"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="6102040d0812044f071308020a041321140a184f040514">[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 the summary or
related records. The National Park Service is not responsible for the
determinations in this notice.
Abstract of Information Available
A total of 50 cultural items have been requested for repatriation.
The 13 unassociated funerary objects are 11 dog burials and two
antler bannerstones. Site 15McL04, the Barrett site, was excavated from
November 1938 to July 1939 by University of Kentucky archaeologists
under contract to the Works Progress Administration. No known hazardous
substances are present.
A total of six cultural items have been requested for repatriation.
The six unassociated funerary objects are one bone awl, one sherd, one
sandstone tablet, one ceramic effigy pipe, one bi-conoidal pipe and one
turtle shell pendant. Site 15McL19, the Kirtley site, was excavated in
1940 by University of Kentucky Museum of Anthropology staff under
contract to the Works Progress Administration. No known hazardous
substances are present.
A total of seven cultural items have been requested for
repatriation. The seven unassociated funerary objects are six dog
burials and one lithic pendant. 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.
A total of 24 cultural items have been requested for repatriation.
The 24 unassociated funerary objects are three lots charcoal, eight
soil samples, 11 dog burials, one projectile point/knife and one stone
pestle. 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.
Determinations
The WSWM has determined that:
<bullet> The 50 unassociated funerary objects described in this
notice are reasonably believed to have been placed intentionally with
or near human remains, and are connected, either at the time of death
or later as part of the death rite or ceremony of a Native American
culture according to the Native American traditional knowledge of a
lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization. The
unassociated funerary objects have been identified by a preponderance
of the evidence as related to human remains, specific individuals, or
families, or removed from a specific burial site or burial area of an
individual or individuals with cultural affiliation to an Indian Tribe
or Native Hawaiian organization.
<bullet> There is a connection between the cultural items 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
Additional, written requests for repatriation of the cultural items
in this notice must be sent to the authorized representative identified
in this notice under ADDRESSES. Requests for repatriation may be
submitted by 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 a culturally affiliated Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian
organization.
Repatriation of the cultural items 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
cultural items 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 to any other consulting parties.
Authority: Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act,
25 U.S.C. 3004 and the implementing regulations, 43 CFR 10.9.
Dated: September 11, 2025.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2025-18582 Filed 9-24-25; 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 September 25, 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.