Notice2026-01542
Notice of Inventory Completion: University of Tennessee, Office of Repatriation, Knoxville, TN
Primary source
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Published
January 27, 2026
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentNational Park Service
Abstract
In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Office of Repatriation (UTK), 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 91 Issue 17 (Tuesday, January 27, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 17 (Tuesday, January 27, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3529-3530]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-01542]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[N6895; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0041892; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Inventory Completion: University of Tennessee, Office
of Repatriation, 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,
Office of Repatriation (UTK), 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 February 26, 2026.
ADDRESSES: Send written requests for repatriation of the associated
funerary objects in this notice to Dr. Ellen Lofaro, University of
Tennessee (UTK), Office of Repatriation, 5723 Middlebrook Pike,
Knoxville, TN 37996, email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#016f60667173604174756a2f646574"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="a4cac5c3d4d6c5e4d1d0cf8ac1c0d1">[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
The five lots of associated funerary objects are five lots of
objects found with or near Ancestors. These objects were recovered from
the Wright's Bend site (40RE69) in Roane County, TN, by UTK's
Archaeological Research Lab
[[Page 3530]]
under supervision of Michael Angst in June 2003 and housed at UTK since
recovery. This site dates to the Middle Woodland to Late Mississippian
periods, 1200-1400 C.E. To our knowledge, no potentially hazardous
substances have been used to treat any of the associated funerary
objects.
Cultural Affiliation
Based on the information available and the results of consultation,
cultural affiliation is clearly identified by the information available
about the associated funerary objects described in this notice.
Determinations
UTK has determined that:
<bullet> The five lots of 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 associated funerary
objects described in this notice and the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of
Texas; Cherokee Nation; Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians; The Muscogee
(Creek) Nation; Thlopthlocco Tribal Town; and the United Keetoowah Band
of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma.
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 February 26, 2026. If
competing requests for repatriation are received, UTK must determine
the most appropriate requestor prior to repatriation. Requests for
joint repatriation of the associated funerary objects are considered a
single request and not competing requests. UTK are 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: January 15, 2026.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2026-01542 Filed 1-26-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on January 27, 2026.
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