Notice2025-23206
Notice of Inventory Completion: Haffenreffer Museum of Anthropology, Brown University, Bristol, RI
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 18, 2025
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentNational Park Service
Abstract
In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Haffenreffer Museum of Anthropology, Brown University (HMA) has completed an inventory of human remains and has determined that there is a cultural affiliation between the human remains and Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice.
Full Text
<html>
<head>
<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 241 (Thursday, December 18, 2025)</title>
</head>
<body><pre>
[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 241 (Thursday, December 18, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Page 59172]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-23206]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[N6761; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0041525; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Inventory Completion: Haffenreffer Museum of
Anthropology, Brown University, Bristol, RI
AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and
Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Haffenreffer Museum of Anthropology,
Brown University (HMA) has completed an inventory of human remains and
has determined that there is a cultural affiliation between the human
remains and Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this
notice.
DATES: Repatriation of the human remains in this notice may occur on or
after January 20, 2026.
ADDRESSES: Send written requests for repatriation of the human remains
in this notice to Kellie Bowers, Brown University, Haffenreffer Museum
of Anthropology, 300 Tower Street, Bristol, RI 02889, email
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#274c424b4b4e427845485042555467455548504909424352"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="dab1bfb6b6b3bf85b8b5adbfa8a99ab8a8b5adb4f4bfbeaf">[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
HMA, 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 six individuals have been
identified from the Seekonk Poor Farm in Seekonk, Massachusetts. No
associated funerary objects are present. In 1962, human remains were
discovered during earth removal operations and Maurice Robbins, of the
Massachusetts Archaeological Society, was notified. Robbins then
contacted Alex Ricciardelli, Acting Director of the HMA. Robbins
removed three individuals from unmarked graves and Ricciardelli and a
team of Brown University students removed three more.
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 described in this
notice.
Determinations
The HMA has determined that:
<bullet> The human remains described in this notice represent the
physical remains of six individuals of Native American ancestry.
<bullet> There is a connection between the human remains described
in this notice and the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe and the Wampanoag Tribe
of Gay Head (Aquinnah).
Requests for Repatriation
Written requests for repatriation of the human remains 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 described in this notice to a
requestor may occur on or after January 20, 2026. If competing requests
for repatriation are received, the HMA must determine the most
appropriate requestor prior to repatriation. Requests for joint
repatriation of the human remains are considered a single request and
not competing requests. The HMA 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: December 3, 2025.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2025-23206 Filed 12-17-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
</pre><script data-cfasync="false" src="/cdn-cgi/scripts/5c5dd728/cloudflare-static/email-decode.min.js"></script></body>
</html>Indexed from Federal Register on December 18, 2025.
This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.