Notice2025-23047

Notice of Inventory Completion: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI

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 Michigan has completed an inventory of associated funerary objects and has determined that there is a cultural affiliation between the 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 58606-58607]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-23047]



[[Page 58606]]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[N6693; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0041433; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: University of Michigan, Ann 
Arbor, MI

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 Michigan has completed an 
inventory of associated funerary objects and has determined that there 
is a cultural affiliation between the associated funerary objects and 
Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice.

DATES: Repatriation of the associated funerary objects in this notice 
may occur on or after January 16, 2026.

ADDRESSES: Send written requests for repatriation of the associated 
funerary objects in this notice to Dr. Ben Secunda, NAGPRA Office 
Managing Director, University of Michigan, Office of Research, Suite 
G269, Lane Hall, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1274, email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#492b3a2c2a3c272d28093c24202a21672c2d3c"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="3e5c4d5b5d4b505a5f7e4b53575d56105b5a4b">[email&#160;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 Michigan, 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 information available, five associated funerary objects 
were removed from the Bedford site (11PK7) in Pike Co., Illinois on 
multiple dates by multiple individuals. The five associated funerary 
objects are two lots of earthenware sherds; one lot of unworked wood; 
one lot of lithic flakes; and one lot lithic. Through Consultation, 
dating for the site was determined to be the Middle to Late Woodland 
period.
    Based on the information available, 15 associated funerary objects 
were removed from the Blue Creek site (11PK5) in Pike Co., Illinois on 
multiple dates by multiple individuals. The 15 associated funerary 
objects are two lots of earthenware sherds; one lot of bone awls; one 
lot of shell; seven lots of lithics; one lot of animal bones; one lot 
of large lithic; one lot of flat piece of stone; and one lot of galena/
lead. Through Consultation, dating for the site was determined to be 
the Middle to Late Woodland period.
    Based on the information available, seven associated funerary 
objects were removed from the Montezuma site (11PK41) in Pike Co., 
Illinois prior to 1950. The seven associated funerary objects are two 
lots of earthenware sherds; one lot of lithic bannerstone; one lot of 
lithic projectile point; one lot of worked stone; one lot of worked 
flint flakes; and one lot of mammal bone fragments. Through 
Consultation, dating for the site was determined to be to the Middle to 
Late Woodland period.
    Based on information available, 47 associated funerary objects were 
removed from the Manker site (11PK3) in Pike Co., Illinois on multiple 
dates by multiple individuals. The 47 associated funerary objects are 
eight lots of earthenware sherds; one lot of bone awls; four lots of 
lithic bifaces; two lots of shell; one lot of lithic scrapers; one lot 
of projectile points and projectile point fragments; six lots of 
various stone tools; one lot of projectile point fragments; two lots of 
lithic blades and blade fragments; one lot of lithic drill; one lot of 
stone hoe; one lot of stone celt fragments; one lot of grooved stone 
axe; one lot of various archaeological materials; two lots of stone 
tools; one lot of stone celts; two lots of projectile points; one lot 
of lithic flakes; three lots of lithic blades; one lot of stone disc; 
one lot of unworked animal bone fragment; one lot of groundstone axes; 
one lot of grooved stone pendant; one lot of worked stone; one lot of 
unfired clay fragment; one lot of unworked stones. Through 
Consultation, dating for the site was determined to be to the Middle to 
Late Woodland period.
    The University of Michigan has no record of, nor do its officials 
have any knowledge of, any treatment of items with pesticides, 
preservatives, or other substances that represent a potential hazard to 
the collection(s) or to persons handling the collection(s).

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 associated funerary objects 
described in this notice.

Determinations

    The University of Michigan has determined that:
    <bullet> The 74 objects described in this notice are reasonably 
believed to have been placed intentionally with or near individual 
Ancestral remains at the time of death or later as part of the death 
rite or ceremony.
    <bullet> There is a connection between the 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 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 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 
Michigan must determine the most appropriate requestor prior to 
repatriation. Join requests for repatriation of the associated funerary 
objects are considered a single request and not competing requests. The 
University of Michigan 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.


[[Page 58607]]


    Dated: December 2, 2025.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2025-23047 Filed 12-16-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P


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Indexed from Federal Register on December 17, 2025.

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