Notice2025-23001
Notice of Inventory Completion: Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY
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
December 17, 2025
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentNational Park Service
Abstract
In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Western Kentucky University 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 58589-58590]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-23001]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[N6656; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0041393; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Inventory Completion: Western Kentucky University,
Bowling Green, KY
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 Western Kentucky University 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 Nikki A. Wilcox,
Western Kentucky University, 1906 College Heights Blvd., Bowling Green,
KY 42101, <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#caa4a3a1a1a3e4bda3a6a9a5b28abda1bfe4afaebf"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="a0cec9cbcbc98ed7c9ccc3cfd8e0d7cbd58ec5c4d5">[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
Western Kentucky University, 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
Human remains representing at least one individual have been
identified on the campus of Western Kentucky University. No associated
funerary objects are present.
One Ancestor was identified in the summer of 2025 by a faculty
member of the Department of Society, Culture, Crime, and Justice
Studies, on the first floor of a building on campus.
While sorting through a filing cabinet, one human skull was
identified in the back of a filing cabinet, tucked behind a row of
documents. These documents were various archaeological essays and
reports. The remains are described as still having a layer of dirt
covering the surface.
There is no further provenience information for this individual,
however due to the context information it is more than likely that the
Ancestor is from the area. This is further supported by the fact that
there was an active archaeologist who used to operate out of the
building, and who excavated nearly exclusively within the state of
Kentucky.
There is no known exposure to hazardous substances.
Cultural Affiliation
Based on the information available and the results of consultation,
cultural
[[Page 58590]]
affiliation is reasonably identified by the geographical location of
the human remains described in this notice.
Determinations
Western Kentucky University has determined that:
<bullet> The human remains described in this notice represent the
physical remains of one individual of Native American ancestry.
<bullet> There is a connection between the human remains described
in this notice and the Cherokee Nation; Eastern Band of Cherokee
Indians; The Chickasaw Nation; and the United Keetoowah Band of
Cherokee Indians in 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 January
16, 2026. If competing requests for repatriation are received, Western
Kentucky University 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. Western Kentucky University 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. 2025-23001 Filed 12-16-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
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