Notice2025-22879
Notice of Inventory Completion: University of Florida, Florida Museum of Natural History, Gainesville, FL
Primary source
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Published
December 16, 2025
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentNational Park Service
Abstract
In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the University of Florida, Florida Museum of Natural History (FMNH) 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 239 (Tuesday, December 16, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 239 (Tuesday, December 16, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Page 58303]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-22879]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[N6602; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0041335; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Inventory Completion: University of Florida, Florida
Museum of Natural History, Gainesville, FL
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 Florida, Florida Museum of
Natural History (FMNH) 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 January 15, 2026.
ADDRESSES: Send written requests for repatriation of the human remains
and associated funerary objects in this notice to David Blackburn,
University of Florida, Florida Museum of Natural History, 1659 Museum
Road, Gainesville, FL 32611, email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#622c03051210032d04040b010722040e0d100b06030f171107170f4c17040e4c070617"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="743a15130406153b12121d17113412181b061d10151901071101195a0112185a111001">[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 FMNH,
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
Warm Mineral Springs (8SO19) dates to the late Pleistocene. It was
excavated by amateur and professional archaeologists between the 1950s-
1970s. Radiocarbon analysis of charcoal from this site provides the
date range 10,000-10,600 BP. The site is a large free flowing mineral
water collapsed cave, and the western edge of the spring forms Salt
Creek. In the 1960s, John Goggin retrieved Ancestors from the site.
There were also artifacts including long bone needles, an antler shaft
wrench, and a fossil shark tooth; these artifacts have never been
deposited with FLMNH. The Ancestors were sent to Arizona State
University (ASU) (not by FLMNH) and were later transferred to FLMNH as
part of a larger acquisition. Warm Mineral Springs was previously
reported in the 2003 inventory as culturally unaffiliated with an MNI
of two and did not report any associated funerary objects. This notice
provides an updated MNI of 39, AFO, and cultural affiliation for the
collection. Human remains representing, at least, 39 individuals have
been identified. The 81 associated funerary objects include pulverized
coral dust, coral, lithic material, plant material, and charred woods.
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 FMNH has determined that:
<bullet> The human remains described in this notice represent the
physical remains of 39 individuals of Native American ancestry.
<bullet> The 81 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 Miccosukee
Tribe of Indians and the Seminole Tribe of Florida.
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 January
15, 2026. If competing requests for repatriation are received, the FMNH
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 FMNH is responsible for sending a copy of this notice to
the Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations identified in this
notice.
Authority: Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act,
25 U.S.C. 3003, and the implementing regulations, 43 CFR 10.10.
Dated: November 17, 2025.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2025-22879 Filed 12-15-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
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