Notice2025-23026
Notice of Inventory Completion: University of Alabama Museums, Tuscaloosa, AL
Primary source
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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 University of Alabama Museums 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 58598-58599]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-23026]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[N6674; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0041414; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Inventory Completion: University of Alabama Museums,
Tuscaloosa, AL
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 Alabama Museums 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 William Bomar,
University of Alabama Museums, Box 870340, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487, email
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#375555585a564577425619525342"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="1b797974767a695b6e7a357e7f6e">[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
University of Alabama Museums, 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, 213 individuals have been
identified. The 1,658 lots of associated funerary objects are ceramic
vessels, ceramic sherds, rock, shell, celts, faunal bone, beads,
lithics, axes, discoidal, debitage, daub, hairpin, and pigment.
In 1932, human remains representing, at minimum, 84 individuals,
were removed from site 3Ms3/3Ms4, Nodena Site. This collection was
obtained during limited excavations at Middle Nodena, 3MS3, and more
extensive excavations at Upper Nodena, 3MS4, in Mississippi County,
Arkansas by the Alabama Museum of Natural History. A total of 799
burials were excavated, nearly half of these coming from a small area
at Upper Nodena Mound C. Artifacts from the excavations were assigned a
field specimen number with the prefix NOD followed by a number. The 875
lots of associated funerary objects include ceramic vessels, ceramic
sherds, rock, shell, celts, faunal bone, beads, lithics, axes,
discoidal, debitage, daub, hairpin, and pigment.
In 1931, human remains representing, at minimum, 75 individuals,
were removed from site 3Ms2, Walnut Mound Site. This collection was
obtained during excavations conducted by the Alabama Museum of Natural
History in 1931 along with excavations at the Nodena site. Limited
investigations were conducted at a number of sites. Materials from the
excavations were catalogued as field specimens with the prefix WAL
followed by a number. The great majority of specimens are complete
pottery vessels, partial vessels, or sherd lots. Chipped stone points,
polished stone celts, axes, and discoidals, are included as are a
number of bone, shell, and antler artifacts. The 525 lots of associated
funerary objects include ceramic vessels, ceramic sherds, rock, shell,
celts, faunal bone, beads, lithics, axes, discoidal, debitage, daub,
hairpin, and pigment.
In 1933, human remains representing, at minimum, 15 individuals,
were removed from site 3Ms71, Higginbotham Farm Site. This collection
was obtained during excavations conducted by the Alabama Museum of
Natural History in 1933. This was one of several excavations conducted
along with more major work at the Nodena site and Walnut Mound. The
materials from the excavations include field specimens with the prefix
HI followed by a number. Most of the artifacts are pottery vessels.
There are seven boxes of specimens in this collection. The 63 lots of
associated funerary objects include ceramic vessels, ceramic sherds,
rock, shell, celt, and faunal bone.
In 1933, human remains representing, at minimum, 39 individuals,
were removed from site 3Po23, Potter's Farm Site. This collection was
obtained during excavations conducted by the Alabama Museum of Natural
History in 1933. This was one of several excavations conducted along
with more major work at the Nodena site and the Walnut Mound. The
materials from the excavations include field specimens
[[Page 58599]]
with the prefix PO followed by a number. Most of the artifacts are
pottery vessels, along with various chipped and ground stone tools,
bone awls and needles, and other materials. The 195 lots of associated
funerary objects include ceramic vessels, ceramic sherds, shell, faunal
bone, ground stone, lithic, beads, and charcoal.
Cultural Affiliation
Based on the information available and the results of consultation,
cultural affiliation is reasonably identified by the geographical
location or acquisition history of the human remains and associated
funerary objects described in this notice.
Determinations
The University of Alabama Museums has determined that:
<bullet> The human remains described in this notice represent the
physical remains of 213 individuals of Native American ancestry.
<bullet> The 1,658 lots of associated funerary 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 Quapaw
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
University of Alabama Museums 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 University of Alabama Museums
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 24, 2025.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2025-23026 Filed 12-16-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
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