Notice2025-19959

Notice of Inventory Completion: Museum of Us, San Diego, CA

Primary source

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Published
November 17, 2025

Issuing agencies

Interior DepartmentNational Park Service

Abstract

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Museum of Us has completed an inventory of associated funerary objects and has determined that there is a cultural affiliation between the 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 219 (Monday, November 17, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 219 (Monday, November 17, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Page 51394]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-19959]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[N6563; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0041187; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: Museum of Us, San Diego, CA

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 Museum of Us has completed an inventory 
of associated funerary objects and has determined that there is a 
cultural affiliation between the associated funerary objects and Indian 
Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice.

DATES: Repatriation of the associated funerary objects in this notice 
may occur on or after December 17, 2025.

ADDRESSES: Send written requests for repatriation of the associated 
funerary objects in this notice to Carmen Mosley, NAGPRA Repatriation 
Manager, Museum of Us, 1350 El Prado, Balboa Park, San Diego, CA 92101, 
email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#92f1fffde1fef7ebd2ffe7e1f7e7fffdf4e7e1bcfde0f5"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="12717f7d617e776b527f676177677f7d7467613c7d6075">[email&#160;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 
Museum of Us, 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

    The 16 associated funerary objects are from two archeological 
sites. The eight associated funerary objects removed from Nicholas 
Mound (CV-2) in Sutter County, CA, include one lot of carbonized 
textile and basketry material, one lot of miscellaneous burial 
material, one lot of carbonized plant material, one lot modified shell, 
two lots of modified stone, one lot of clay objects, and one lot of 
modified faunal bone. The eight associated funerary objects removed 
from Lincoln Mound (CV-22) in Placer County, CA, include two lots of 
modified faunal bone, one lot of modified shell, four lots of modified 
stone, and one lot of historic material. No CHRIS Trinomials are being 
used because the exact location of these sites is not known. There were 
several sites named Nicholas Mound and Lincoln Mound.
    Between 1930 and 1936, the 16 associated funerary objects were 
obtained by a private collector and looter who amassed an extensive 
archeological collection over the course of his life. In 1968, this 
individual's archeological collection was acquired by the San Diego 
Museum of Man (now Museum of Us) through a purchase/donation 
transaction with the individual's widow.

Cultural Affiliation

    Based on the information available and the results of consultation, 
cultural affiliation is clearly identified by the information available 
about the associated funerary objects described in this notice.

Determinations

    The Museum of Us has determined that:
    <bullet> The 16 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 United 
Auburn Indian Community of the Auburn Rancheria of California.

Requests for Repatriation

    Written requests for repatriation of the 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 associated funerary objects described in this 
notice to a requestor may occur on or after December 17, 2025. If 
competing requests for repatriation are received, the Museum of Us must 
determine the most appropriate requestor prior to repatriation. 
Requests for joint repatriation of the associated funerary objects are 
considered a single request and not competing requests. The Museum of 
Us 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 18, 2025.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2025-19959 Filed 11-14-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P


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Indexed from Federal Register on November 17, 2025.

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