Notice2025-23349
Notice of Inventory Completion: The University of Tennessee, Department of Anthropology, Knoxville, TN
Primary source
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Published
December 19, 2025
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentNational Park Service
Abstract
In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Department of Anthropology (UTK) 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
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 242 (Friday, December 19, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 242 (Friday, December 19, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59548-59549]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-23349]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[N6778; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0041543; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Inventory Completion: The University of Tennessee,
Department of Anthropology, Knoxville, TN
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 Tennessee, Knoxville,
Department of Anthropology (UTK) 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.
[[Page 59549]]
ADDRESSES: Send written requests for repatriation of the human remains
in this notice to Dr. Ellen Lofaro, University of Tennessee, Office of
Repatriation, 5723 Middlebrook Pike, Knoxville, TN 37996, email
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#2f414e485f5d4e6f5a5b44014a4b5a"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="9df3fcfaedeffcdde8e9f6b3f8f9e8">[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 UTK,
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. No associated funerary objects are present. This individual
was removed from an unnamed archaeological site, (14LY304), located
along the Verdigris River in Lyon County, eastern KS. 14LY304 was
excavated in June of 1965 after Tom Witty, Kansas State Historical
Society (KSHS) reported the Mound on the site was endangered by a flood
control project and plans for dam construction in the Upper Verdigris
Watershed area. Excavations were funded by the University of Kansas
(KU) and field records note that the Mound was constructed from layers
of limestone fragments and slabs. The 1965 excavations noted
significant evidence of looting in the center of the Mound, and the
only objects encountered were historic materials. The age of the
14LY304 site is currently not determined, likely due to extensive
looting at the Mound. The human remains were examined by William Bass
at the University of Kansas (KU) Museum of Natural History between 1965
and 1966. Bass likely retained this individual and brought them to UTK
in 1971. To our knowledge, no hazardous substances were used to treat
any of the remains.
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 described in this notice.
Determinations
UTK 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 Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes, Oklahoma; Kaw
Nation, Oklahoma; Omaha Tribe of Nebraska; Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma;
Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation; and The Osage Nation.
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, UTK 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. UTK 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: December 4, 2025.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2025-23349 Filed 12-18-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
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