Notice2026-02031
Notice of Inventory Completion: University of Florida, Florida Museum of Natural History, Gainesville, FL
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
February 2, 2026
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentNational Park Service
Abstract
In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the University of Florida, Florida Museum of Natural History (FLMNH), 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
<html>
<head>
<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 21 (Monday, February 2, 2026)</title>
</head>
<body><pre>
[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 21 (Monday, February 2, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4599-4600]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-02031]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[N6894; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0041934; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Inventory Completion: University of Florida, Florida
Museum of Natural History, Gainesville, FL
AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and
Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the University of Florida, Florida Museum of
Natural History (FLMNH), 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 March 4, 2026.
ADDRESSES: Send written requests for repatriation of the human remains
and associated funerary objects in this notice to David Blackburn,
University of Florida, Florida Museum of Natural History, 1659 Museum
Road, Gainesville, FL 32611, email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#4e002f293e3c2f012828272d2b0e2822213c272a2f233b3d2b3b23603b2822602b2a3b"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="165877716664775970707f757356707a79647f72777b636573637b3863707a38737263">[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
FLMNH, 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 has been
identified from Cape Sable 2 (8MO38). The 940 associated funerary
objects are faunal bone, pumice, pottery, and shell. The collection of
human remains and artifacts were transferred to FLMNH from the
Department of Anthropology at the University of Florida in 1977 (Acc.
80-1). Some of the faunal remains were subsequently separated and
curated in the Environmental Archaeology Program (EAP) for
identification and analysis (EAP 0344). The Ancestral remains were
identified within the faunal samples in EAP. The site was described by
John Goggin in 1944 as a midden site, in a mangrove swamp east of the
long tongue of prairie running north behind middle to northwest cape.
He noted that at the time it was a virtually untouched hammock mound
with mangroves around a possible burial mound. The excavation consists
of a trench (Trench 1), excavated in 6'' intervals to a depth of 36''.
There is a well-established relationship between John Goggin and the
University of Florida, Department of Anthropology, so
[[Page 4600]]
it is possible that the remains were collected during this
investigation.
Human remains representing at least one individual has been
identified from Pavillion Key (8MO107). There are no associated
funerary objects. There is no information relating to the excavation of
this burial, although the geographic region is generally associated
with the Glades Period (1000 B.C.-A.D. 1700). The Ancestor was
presented to the FLMNH in January 1953 by Mr. Orin G. Fogle from
Pavillion Key. There are no known hazardous or potentially hazardous
substances.
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 and associated
funerary objects described in this notice.
Determinations
The FLMNH has determined that:
<bullet> The human remains described in this notice represent the
physical remains of two individuals of Native American ancestry.
<bullet> The 940 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 Miccosukee
Tribe of Indians; Seminole Tribe of Florida; and The Seminole Nation of
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 an Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization with
cultural affiliation.
Repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects
described in this notice to a requestor may occur on or after March 4,
2026. If competing requests for repatriation are received, the FLMNH
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 FLMNH 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: January 22, 2026.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2026-02031 Filed 1-30-26; 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 February 2, 2026.
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.