Notice2025-18587
Notice of Intended Repatriation: Robert S. Peabody Institute of Archaeology, Andover, MA
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 Robert S. Peabody Institute of Archaeology 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
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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 46245-46246]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-18587]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[N6554; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0041143; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Intended Repatriation: 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 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 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#a9dbdec1ccccc5ccdbe9c8c7cdc6dfccdb87cccddc"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="2755504f42424b4255674649434851425509424352">[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
Robert S. Peabody Institute of Archaeology, 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 24 cultural items have been requested for repatriation.
The 24 unassociated funerary objects include ceramic vessels and
sherds; mineral/mica; chipped and ground stone tools; shell cups, tools
and ornaments; and modified animal bone. In 1901, Clarence B. Moore
removed the cultural items from the following sites on what is now
Tyndall Air Force Base, Bay County, Florida: Mound near Davis Point
(8BY7); Mound near Pearl Bayou, St. Andrew's Bay (8BY25); Mound near
Strange's Landing, St. Andrew's Bay (8BY26); Larger Mound in Hare
Hammock (8BY30); Smaller Mound in Hare Hammock (8BY31); locality in
Calhoun County, Florida, which may be Baker's Landing (8BY29). Moore
transferred the cultural items to the Robert S. Peabody Institute of
Archaeology (then called the Department of Archaeology) in the early
twentieth century, where they were cataloged with the following
numbers: 38969; 38983; 39033; 39055; 39066; 39068; 39070; 39071; 39074;
39077; 39112; 39122; 39134; 39153; 39171; 39185; 39193; 39258; 39286;
39287; 39295; 39337; 39371; and 40376. A summary produced by the RSPI
in December 2024 acknowledged affiliation of these cultural items with
the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas, Jena Band of Choctaw Indians,
Miccosukee Tribe of Indians, Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians,
Poarch Band of Creek Indians, Seminole Tribe of Florida, The Choctaw
Nation of Oklahoma, The Muscogee (Creek) Nation, The Seminole Nation of
Oklahoma, Thlopthlocco Tribal Town, and other Muskogean Tribes. There
is no known presence of any potentially hazardous substances.
[[Page 46246]]
Determinations
The Robert S. Peabody Institute of Archaeology has determined that:
<bullet> The 24 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 Seminole Tribe of Florida.
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 Robert S. Peabody Institute of
Archaeology 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 Robert S.
Peabody Institute of Archaeology 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. 2025-18587 Filed 9-24-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
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