Notice2025-22998
Notice of Inventory Completion: Mississippi Department of Archives and History, Jackson, MS
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Published
December 17, 2025
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentNational Park Service
Abstract
In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Mississippi Department of Archives and History (MDAH) 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 240 (Wednesday, December 17, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 240 (Wednesday, December 17, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58575-58576]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-22998]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[N6653; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0041390; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Inventory Completion: Mississippi Department of
Archives and History, Jackson, MS
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 Mississippi Department of Archives and
History (MDAH) 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 16, 2026.
ADDRESSES: Send written requests for repatriation of the human remains
and associated funerary objects in this notice to Jaquelin Padilla,
Mississippi Department of Archives and History, 100 South State Street,
P.O. Box 571, Jackson, MS 39205, email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#c1abb1a0a5a8adada081aca5a0a9efacb2efa6aeb7"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="91fbe1f0f5f8fdfdf0d1fcf5f0f9bffce2bff6fee7">[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
Mississippi Department of Archives and History, 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
Based on the information available, in 2018 human remains from
22TU518 (Flowers #3) and 22TU519 (Norflett Mound) were listed in a
Notice of Inventory Completion, published in the Federal Register on 4/
13/18 (FR 2018-07699). Additional human remains and associated funerary
objects from 22TU518 (Flowers #3) and 22TU519 (Norflett Mounds) were
listed on a Notice of Inventory Completion, published on 1/22/21 (FR
2021-01340). These human remains and associated funerary objects were
repatriated to the Chickasaw Nation. In 2021, human remains and
associated funerary objects from 22TU513 (Beaverdam) and 22TU534
(Martin #2) were listed in a Notice of Inventory Completion, published
in the Federal Register on 9/20/21 (FR 2021-20264), and were
repatriated to the Chickasaw Nation. The current notice includes
additional human remains and associated funerary objects not included
in the previous repatriations by the Mississippi Department of Archives
and History.
Human remains representing, at least, one individual has been
identified from 22TU518 (Flowers #3). The seven lots of associated
funerary objects consist of one lot matrix, one lot finescreen, one lot
organic materials, one lot clay, one lot faunal remains, one lot
lithics, and one lot Native American ceramics. The human remains and
objects were removed during a salvage excavation by MDAH in 1974.
Human remains representing, at least, one individual has been
identified from 22TU534 (Martin #2). The four lots of associated
funerary objects are one lot lithics, one lot Native American ceramics,
one lot faunal remains, and one lot ochre. The human remains and
objects were likely removed during an excavation by MDAH in 1969 with
additional collections from excavations in 1996 and from an unknown
year.
No human remains are present, the remaining lot from 22TU519
(Norflett Mounds) is one lot consisting of Native American ceramic
(reconstructed vessel). The vessel was removed from the site by MDAH
personnel in 1969.
No human remains, are present, the remaining lots from 22TU513
(Beaverdam) are seven lots consisting of one lot lithics, one lot
Native American ceramics, one lot clay, one lot faunal remains, one lot
shell, one lot organic materials, and one lot matrix. Some of the
collection may have been removed by MDAH personnel in 1971. Another
collection was removed in 2010 however the history of the collection is
unknown. An additional collection was removed as part of the
Mississippi Mound Trail in 2013.
Human remains representing, at least, one individual has been
identified from 22TU536 (Martin #3). The three lots of associated
funerary objects are one lot Native American ceramics, one lot clay,
and one lot lithics. These human remains and objects were collected by
MDAH personnel in 1968, likely as part of a surface collection.
Human remains representing, at least, three individuals have been
identified from 22QU500 (Posey Mound). The six lots of associated
funerary objects are one faunal remains, one lot shell, one lot
lithics, one lot Native American ceramics, one lot clay, and one lot of
fine screen samples. 22QU500 was excavated in 1986 as part of a salvage
excavation. Most of this excavation took place around Mound B. There
was also a collection donated to the C.H. Nash Museum at Chucalissa in
1983 by private collector H. Osborn in 1983. These collection was later
transferred to MDAH from the Desoto County Museum in 2012.
Human remains representing, at least, one individual has been
identified from 22QU511 (Whiting). The seven lots of associated
funerary objects are one lot faunal remains, one lot Native American
ceramics, one lot clay, one lot organic materials, one lot shell, one
lot of fine screen sample, and one lot lithics. It is unknown what year
the lots of AFO were collected from 22QU511, but these were collected
through surface and pit excavations. Part of the human remains were
removed from the site prior to 1970 and was returned to MDAH in 2017.
Human remains representing, at least, eight individuals have been
identified from 22QU516 (Garmon/Sabino). The six lots of associated
funerary objects are one lot shell, one lot clay, one lot Native
American ceramics, one lot faunal remains, one lot lithics, and one lot
matrix. The site 22QU516 has a general surface collection with an
unknown history. Also, a collection donated to MDAH by Burt Jaeger at
an unknown date and with an unknown history.
Human remains representing, at least, three individuals have been
identified from 22QU518 (Norman). The 11 lots of associated funerary
objects are one lot Native American ceramics, one lot beads, one lot
pendants, one lot gorgets, one lot lithics, one lot faunal remains, one
lot clay, one lot shell, one lot fine
[[Page 58576]]
screen, one lot ochre, and one lot organic materials. The site 22QU518
has been collected by several different individuals and groups over an
unknown period of years. MDAH has a collection from a 1981 survey
conducted by the institution. A collection from Ruth Cheirs was donated
to MDAH by Dr. Burnham in 2003. Dr. Burnham also had his own personal
collection from the site that was collected in the late 1970s and early
1980s that was donated to MDAH. Burt Jaegar also collected artifacts
from the site in the 1980s which were donated to MDAH. Other
individuals donated their collections from this site with most lacking
provenience information. These individual collectors include Tom Davis,
Ralph Baltzer, June Williams, Jas Mims; L.B. Jones, Larson, J.C.
Mullins, C. Taylor, Robert Stancill, Billy Henderson, and Fair Hays Jr.
An unprovenienced collection from the Museum of the Mississippi Delta
was transferred to MDAH in 2015. Lastly, there is also a collection
from a surface survey conducted by the Mississippi Department of
Transportation (MDOT) personnel in the 1970s or 1980s. This collection
was transferred from MDOT to MDAH in 2025.
Human remains representing, at least, three individuals have been
identified from 22QU523 (Longstreet). The eight lots of associated
funerary objects are one lot Native American ceramics, one lot lithics,
one lot matrix, one lot clay, one lot faunal remains, one lot shell,
one lot organic material, and one lot ochre. The site 22QU523 was
excavated twice by MDAH as a survey in 1972 and a salvage excavation in
1975. Most of the human remains were excavated as part of these two
excavations. Objects were also taken from this site by collectors R.
Baltzer, Dr. Burnham and Robert Stancill at unknown dates. MDAH also
has a surface collection conducted by University of Memphis in 1972
that was donated to the C.H. Nash Museum at Chucalissa and transferred
to MDAH in 2019 by way of the Desoto County Museum.
In 2021, human remains and AFO from 22QU525 (Shady Grove) were
listed in a Notice of Inventory Completion, published in the Federal
Register on 1/22/2021 (FR 2021-01340). These human remains and
associated funerary objects were repatriated to the Chickasaw Nation.
The current notice includes additional human remains and associated
funerary objects not included in the previous repatriations by the
Mississippi Department of Archives and History. Human remains
representing, at least, 16 individuals have been identified at 22QU525
(Shady Grove). The 11 lots of associated funerary objects are one lot
Native American ceramics, one lot faunal remains, one lot lithics, one
lot fine screen, one lot shell, one lot clay, one lot soil sample, one
lot organic materials, one lot matrix, one lot ochre, and one lot
ceramic effigy. Some of the objects came from a 1972 surface
collection. In 1975, MDAH personnel excavated test pits and a burial on
a level mound at 22QU525. The human remains from a bundle burial and
associated funerary objects from this excavation were curated at MDAH.
Between 2007 through 2010, the University of Southern Mississippi and
MDAH personnel returned to 22QU525 and performed a surface collection
and excavation and located additional burials. The human remains from
the burial and associated funerary objects from this excavation were
curated at MDAH. A collection was donated by J. Buster at an unknown
date with an unknown history. A surface collection by Memphis State
University and from a private collector H. Osborn was transferred to
the Desoto County Museum in 2013 and 2015 and then to MDAH in 2019.
Human remains representing, at least, one individual has been
identified from 22QU568 (Opossum Bend). The six lots of associated
funerary objects are one lot shell, one lot faunal remains, one lot
clay, one lot lithics, one lot ochre and one lot Native American
ceramics. 22QU568 consists of a surface collection.
Human remains representing, at least, six individuals have been
identified from 22QU569 (Drew Smith). The six lots of associated
funerary objects are one lot Native American ceramics, one lot lithics,
one lot faunal remains, one lot shell, one lot bead, and one lot clay.
The majority of 22QU569 comes from a collection with an unknown
history. Additional unprovenienced collections were donated to MDAH by
two collectors Burt Jaeger in 2009 and Dr. Burnham.
Through Tribal consultation, these 44 individuals and 83 lots of
associated funerary objects were identified as culturally affiliated
with the Chickasaw Nation. To our knowledge, no potentially hazardous
substances were used to treat any of the human remains or associated
funerary objects.
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 Mississippi Department of Archives and History has determined
that:
<bullet> The human remains described in this notice represent the
physical remains of 44 individuals of Native American ancestry.
<bullet> The 83 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 Chickasaw
Nation.
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
16, 2026. If competing requests for repatriation are received, the
Mississippi Department of Archives and History 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 Mississippi
Department of Archives and History 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: November 21, 2025.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2025-22998 Filed 12-16-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
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