Notice2025-22916
Notice of Inventory Completion: Gilcrease Museum, Tulsa, OK
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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 Gilcrease Museum 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]
[Pages 58285-58287]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-22916]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[N6636; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0041368; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Inventory Completion: Gilcrease Museum, Tulsa, OK
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 Gilcrease Museum 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 Laura Bryant,
Gilcrease Museum, 800 S Tucker Drive, Tulsa, OK 74104, email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#4c202d393e2d612e3e352d22380c393839203f2d62292839"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="7915180c0b18541b0b0018170d390c0d0c150a18571c1d0c">[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
Gilcrease Museum, and additional information on the determinations in
this notice,
[[Page 58286]]
including the results of consultation, can be found in the inventory or
related records. The National Park Service is not responsible for the
determinations in this notice.
Abstract of Information Available
Human remains representing, at least, 22 individuals have been
reasonably identified. The 390 associated funerary objects are four
lots of stones, 21 lots of lithic tools, one lot of sherds, eight lots
of faunal remains, 32 lots of bone tools, 15 lots of shell, eight lots
of shell beads, 11 shell spoons, six lots of worked copper, three lots
of earspools, seven lots of pipe bowls, 11 lots of soil, four lots of
ceramic vessels and sherds, five lots of pearl beads, 10 lots of worked
faunal teeth, 228 lots of wood, four lots of mica, one amber bead, nine
lots of daub, one lot of charcoal, and one lot of fossils. Bedford
Mounds (11PK7) is located in Pike County, Illinois. Between 1955 and
1956, avocational archaeologist Gregory Perino excavated at Bedford
Mound under the auspices of the Thomas Gilcrease Foundation.
Human remains representing, at least, four individuals have been
reasonably identified. The 10 associated funerary objects are one lot
of shell, one lot of pipe bowls, four lots of shell beads, two lots of
ceramic vessels and sherds, and two lots of lithic tools. The Helm site
(11PK1234) is located in Pike County, Illinois. In 1955, avocational
archaeologist Gregory Perino excavated at the Helm Site under the
auspices of the Thomas Gilcrease Foundation.
The 115 associated funerary objects are 39 lots of ceramic vessels
and sherds, one lot of pipe bowls, one lot of chunkey stones, 68 lots
of lithic tools, two lots of shell, one lot of charcoal, and three lots
of faunal remains and antlers. The Homer Adams site is located in Pike
County, Illinois. In 1970, avocational archaeologist Gregory Perino
excavated the Homer Adams site under the auspices of the Thomas
Gilcrease Foundation.
The 44 associated funerary objects are two lots of mica; three lots
of faunal remains; five lots of shell beads, spoons, and fragments; 10
lots of ceramic vessels and sherds; 21 lots of lithic tools; one lot of
charcoal; one lot of pipe bowls; and one lot of chunkey stones. The Joe
Gay site (11PK1573) is located in Pike County, Illinois. In 1970,
avocational archaeologist Gregory Perino excavated the Joe Gay Site
under the auspices of the Thomas Gilcrease Foundation.
The 73 associated funerary objects are one lot of textile
fragments, one lot of wood, two lots of ceramic sherds, two lots of
pigment, 39 lots of lithic tools, 16 lots of bone tools, one lot of
ceramic beads, four lots of pipe bowls, two lots of worked copper,
three lots of faunal remains, one lot of worked faunal teeth, and one
large engraved bone with a bird figure. The Lawrence Gay site is
located in Pike County, Illinois, near the Joe Gay site above. In 1970,
avocational archaeologist Gregory Perino excavated the Joe Gay Site
under the auspices of the Thomas Gilcrease Foundation.
Human remains representing, at least, on individual has been
reasonably identified. The 35 associated funerary objects are three
lots of faunal remains, 16 lots of lithic tools, one lot of worked
copper, one lot of mica, one lot of feces (species unknown), one lot of
shell, one lot of pipe bowls, seven lots of bone tools, and three lots
of sherds. The Montezuma site (11PK1245) is located in Pike County,
Illinois. In 1956, avocational archaeologist Gregory Perino excavated
the Montezuma Site under the auspices of the Thomas Gilcrease
Foundation.
Human remains representing, at least, four individuals have been
reasonably identified. The 199 associated funerary objects are two lots
of shell beads, three lots of faunal remains, one cartridge, two lots
of pearl beads, one lot of pipes, 188 lots of lithic tools, one lot of
shell, and one lot of worked faunal teeth. The Pilot Peak site
(11PK1404) is located in Pike County, Illinois. In 1956, avocational
archaeologist Gregory Perino excavated the Pilot Peak Site under the
auspices of the Thomas Gilcrease Foundation.
The 11 associated funerary objects are one ceramic vessel, four
lots of sherds, and six lots of lithics. The Shaffner site is located
in Pike County, Illinois. In 1968, avocational archaeologist Gregory
Perino excavated Shaffner Site under the auspices of the Thomas
Gilcrease Foundation.
The two associated funerary objects are one lot of sherds and one
vessel. The Stilwell II site (11PK1044) is located in Pike County,
Illinois. Between 1961 and 1962, avocational archaeologist Gregory
Perino excavated at the Stilwell II Site.
Human remains representing, at least, five individuals have been
reasonably identified. The 51 associated funerary objects are 24 lots
of lithic tools, one lot of stones, one lot of wood, one lot of shell,
17 lots of faunal remains, five lots of sherds, one limestone disc, and
one lot of chunkey stones. Swartz Mound #1 (11PK1394) is located in
Pike County, Illinois. In 1956, avocational archaeologist Gregory
Perino excavated Swartz Mound #1 under the auspices of the Thomas
Gilcrease Foundation.
For each of the sites above, most of the ancestral remains and
funerary objects came directly to Thomas Gilcrease following
excavation, though Gregory Perino did keep some in personal collection.
Perino's collection was purchased by the Gilcrease Foundation in the
1960s. Thomas Gilcrease transferred his collection to the City of Tulsa
in 1955 and 1963-64 to form Gilcrease Museum. To our knowledge, no
known hazardous substances were used to treat any of the remains or
associated funerary objects.
The three associated funerary objects are three lots of lithic
tools. The Harshman site is located in Pike County, Illinois. Gilcrease
Museum likely acquired these in the 1960s or 1970s.
The two associated funerary objects are one lot of sherds and one
lot of mica fragments. The Manker site is located in Pike County,
Illinois near Swartz Mound (11PK1394). Likely in the 1950s, avocational
archaeologist Gregory Perino excavated at Manker site. These funerary
objects may have come directly to Gilcrease Museum after excavation or
may have been kept by Gregory Perino and later purchased from him by
Gilcrease Museum.
The three associated funerary objects are one lot of lithic tools,
one plummet, and one lot of ceramic sherds. The Sand Ridge site is
located near Florence in Pike County, Illinois. The funerary objects
were removed in 1960 and likely were acquired by Gilcrease Museum in
the 1960s.
The two associated funerary objects are two lots of lithic tools.
The Stilwell site is located in Pike County, Illinois near the Stilwell
II site (11PK1044). The funerary objects were collected by Hugh Young,
whose collection, including these items, was partially purchased by
Thomas Gilcrease in 1960.
The 96 associated funerary objects are 86 lots of lithic tools, two
lots of sherds, five chunkey stones, one metate, two lots of worked
copper. These funerary objects were removed from unknown sites in Pike
County, Illinois likely in the early to mid-20th century. Though most
lack provenance information, some came to Gilcrease Museum in the 1960s
from Gregory Perino's collection and from Hugh Young's collection.
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
Gilcrease Museum has determined that:
<bullet> The human remains described in this notice represent the
physical
[[Page 58287]]
remains of 36 individuals of Native American ancestry.
<bullet> The 1,036 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 reasonable connection between the human remains
and associated funerary objects described in this notice and the
Citizen Potawatomi Nation, Oklahoma; Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma;
Forest County Potawatomi Community, Wisconsin; Iowa Tribe of Kansas and
Nebraska; Kaw Nation, Oklahoma; Match-e-be-nash-she-wish Band of
Pottawatomi Indians of Michigan; Miami Tribe of Oklahoma; Omaha Tribe
of Nebraska; Otoe-Missouria Tribe of Indians, Oklahoma; Peoria Tribe of
Indians of Oklahoma; Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians, Michigan and
Indiana; Ponca Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma; Ponca Tribe of Nebraska;
Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation; Quapaw Nation; Sac & Fox Nation,
Oklahoma; Sac & Fox Tribe of the Mississippi in Iowa; Shawnee Tribe;
and the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska.
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 a culturally affiliated Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian
organization.
Repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects
in this notice to a requestor may occur on or after January 15, 2026.
If competing requests for repatriation are received, the Gilcrease
Museum 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 Gilcrease Museum 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 19, 2025.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2025-22916 Filed 12-15-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
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