Notice2025-23149
Notice of Inventory Completion: Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
Primary source
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Published
December 18, 2025
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentNational Park Service
Abstract
In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, Harvard University (PMAE) 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 241 (Thursday, December 18, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 241 (Thursday, December 18, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59180-59181]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-23149]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[N6720; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0041466; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Inventory Completion: Peabody Museum of Archaeology and
Ethnology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
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 Peabody Museum of Archaeology and
Ethnology, Harvard University (PMAE) 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 20, 2026.
ADDRESSES: Send written requests for repatriation of the human remains
and associated funerary objects in this notice to Jane Pickering,
Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, Harvard University, 11
Divinity Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138, email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#0268726b616967706b6c65426463712c6a6370746370662c676677"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="abc1dbc2c8c0ced9c2c5ccebcdcad885c3cad9ddcad9cf85cecfde">[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
PMAE, and additional information on the determinations in this notice,
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, 53 individuals have been
identified from sites in Greene, Jefferson, Knox, and unknown counties
in Eastern Tennessee as collected by Rev. E.O. Dunning as part of PMAE
Expeditions between 1869 and 1871. The 236 associated funerary objects
are 236 lots consisting of ceramic items, lithic or stone items, shell
or shell items, faunal remains or faunal items, pigments, and other
natural materials. The sites represented include ``Devil's Gap Cave
Tombs''; ``Mound, Eastern Area''; Lick Creek Mound or Cooper Mound
(40Gn2); McBee Mound or Loy Site (40Je10); and Brakebill Mound
(40Kn55).
Human remains representing at least one individual have been
identified from the ``French Broad River, above Knoxville'' in Knox
County, Tennessee, as collected by F.A. Stratton and purchased from
Stratton by the PMAE in or around 1876. No associated funerary objects
are present.
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 PMAE has determined that:
<bullet> The human remains described in this notice represent the
physical remains of 54 individuals of Native American ancestry.
<bullet> The 236 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 Cherokee
Nation; Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians; The Muscogee (Creek) 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 a culturally affiliated Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian
organization.
Repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects
in this
[[Page 59181]]
notice to a requestor may occur on or after January 20, 2026. If
competing requests for repatriation are received, the PMAE 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 PMAE 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 25, 2025.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2025-23149 Filed 12-17-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
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