Notice2025-20103
Notice of Inventory Completion: The University of Tennessee, Department of Anthropology, Knoxville, TN
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
November 18, 2025
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentNational Park Service
Abstract
In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the University of Tennessee, Department of Anthropology, Knoxville, TN (UTK) 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 220 (Tuesday, November 18, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 220 (Tuesday, November 18, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51784-51785]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-20103]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[N6585; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0041294; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Inventory Completion: The University of Tennessee,
Department of Anthropology, Knoxville, TN
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 University of Tennessee, Department of
Anthropology, Knoxville, TN (UTK) 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 December 18, 2025.
ADDRESSES: Send written requests for repatriation of the human remains
and associated funerary objects in this notice to Dr. Ellen Lofaro,
University of Tennessee, Office of Repatriation, 5723 Middlebrook Pike,
Knoxville, TN 37996, email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#b5dbd4d2c5c7d4f5c0c1de9bd0d1c0"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="3856595f484a59784d4c53165d5c4d">[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 UTK,
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 two lots of associated funerary objects identified from the
Roden/Craig Plant site (34MC215) are one lot of faunal material and one
lot of objects placed with or near human remains. These objects were
removed by Gregory Perino of the Museum of the Red River in Idabel, OK,
likely between 1976 and 1978 when Perino removed a minimum of 47
individuals from the site. The human remains are not present at UTK.
The Roden/Craig Plant site dates to the Late Caddo McCurtain Phase (c.
1300-1650 CE). Records indicate that the faunal remains were sent to
Paul Parmalee of UTK by Perino some time after these excavations and
that the faunal remains and objects were associated with human remains
when originally removed from the site.
Human remains representing, at least, 21 individuals have been
identified. The eight lots of associated funerary objects are lithics;
faunal material; ceramics; and objects placed with or near human
remains. These individuals and objects were removed from the Bud Wright
site (34MC216) in McCurtain County, OK, in 1979 and 1985 by Gregory
Perino of the Museum of the Red River in Idabel, OK. This site is
located in southeastern OK, and ceramic assemblages suggest it has a
Fourche Maline/Early Caddo Phase (c. 800-1200 CE) component and a
possible Late Caddo McCurtain Phase (c. 1300-1650 CE) component. Based
on records, it is likely that Perino sent these individuals to William
Bass of UTK for examination along with others from nearby sites in Red
River County, TX.
Human remains representing, at least, 32 individuals have been
identified. The 15 lots of associated funerary objects are ceramics;
lithics; faunal material; beads; and objects placed with or near human
remains. These individuals and objects were removed from the Dan
Holdeman site (41RR11) in Red River County, TX, in 1983 by Gregory
Perino. This site is located along the Red River in northeastern Texas,
and based on the presence of Mounds and archaeological assessments, the
site has Formative Caddo, Middle Caddo, and Late Caddo McCurtain Phase
components (c. 800-
[[Page 51785]]
1650 CE). Based on records describing the transport of individuals from
nearby sites, it is likely that Perino sent these individuals to Bass
at UTK for examination.
Human remains representing, at least, 90 individuals have been
identified. The 48 lots of associated funerary objects are beads;
botanical material; ceramics; faunal material; shell; and objects
placed with or near human remains. These individuals and objects were
removed from the Kaufman-Williams site, (41RR16) in Red River County,
TX, between 1977 and 1979 by Gregory Perino and associates. It is a
Mound site located along the Red River in northeastern Texas and has
Early/Late Caddo McCurtain Phase and Historic components (c. 1100-1800
CE). Correspondence between Perino and Bass indicates that Perino sent
these individuals to Bass at UTK for examination between 1977 and 1979.
Human remains representing, at least, one individual have been
identified. No associated funerary objects are present. This individual
was removed from the Bentsen Clark site (41RR41 in Red River County,
TX, at an unknown date by an unknown individual. Salvage excavations
were undertaken at the site in 1969 by the McCurtain County
Anthropological Society (MCAS) but records do not identify whether this
individual was removed by MCAS. Ceramic assemblages suggest the site
dates to the Early and Middle Caddo Phases (c. 1000-1400 CE). This
individual was sent from New Mexico to the Museum of the Red River at
an unknown date. Based on a pattern of past practice, it is likely that
Perino transferred them to Bass at UTK for examination with other
individuals from nearby sites.
Human remains representing, at least, 39 individuals have been
identified. The 13 lots of associated funerary objects are ceramics;
lithics; and objects placed with or near human remains. These
individuals and objects were removed from the Rowland Clark site
(41RR77) in Red River County, TX, by Gregory Perino between April and
May, 1981. The site likely dates to the Late Caddo McCurtain Phase (c.
1300-1650 CE) and may also have a later (post-1650 CE) component. Based
on records describing the transport of individuals from nearby sites
from Perino to UTK, it is likely that Perino sent these individuals to
Bass at UTK for examination.
To the best of our knowledge, no potentially hazardous substances
were used to treat any of the remains or objects listed in this notice.
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
UTK has determined that:
<bullet> The human remains described in this notice represent the
physical remains of 183 individuals of Native American ancestry.
<bullet> The 86 lots of 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 Caddo
Nation of 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 December
18, 2025. If competing requests for repatriation are received, UTK 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. UTK 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 30, 2025.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2025-20103 Filed 11-17-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
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