Notice2026-02694
Notice of Inventory Completion: University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
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 11, 2026
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentNational Park Service
Abstract
In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the University of Alabama at Birmingham 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 28 (Wednesday, February 11, 2026)</title>
</head>
<body><pre>
[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 28 (Wednesday, February 11, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6260-6261]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-02694]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[N6910; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0041981; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Inventory Completion: University of Alabama at
Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and
Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the University of Alabama at Birmingham 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 13, 2026.
ADDRESSES: Send written requests for repatriation of the human remains
and associated funerary objects in this notice to Dr. Lauren Downs,
University of Alabama at Birmingham, Department of Anthropology, UH
3165, 1720 2nd Avenue South, Birmingham, AL 35294, email
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#6e000f091e1c0f1d1a0f08082e1b0f0c400b0a1b"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="f997989e898b988a8d989f9fb98c989bd79c9d8c">[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
University of Alabama at Birmingham, 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, five individuals have been
identified. The 101 associated funerary objects are 46 lithic flakes;
19 undecorated pottery sherds; 11 miscellaneous stone; five chert
lithic fragments; four unmodified sandstone fragments; three soil
samples; two faunal bone fragments, species unknown; two fragments of
white clay; two lots of charcoal; two wood fragments; one quartz
projectile point; one soil and charred organics sample; one lot of
charred organics; one charred seed fragment; and one chert projectile
point. Site 1Sc245 is a large multi-component camp/village site
spanning 40-50 acres adjacent to Little Cahaba River in St. Clair
County, AL, near the modern town of Moody. The site was excavated
several times by different UAB-affiliated personnel. Dr. Roger Nance
and graduate student Chris McLauhlin visited the site in 1978 and 1987.
This work included survey and excavations associated with graduate
student research and a UAB-sponsored field school. Additionally, the
site was visited by Dr. Jack Bergstresser and staff in 1998 to conduct
test excavations as part of a contract archaeology project. Site use
dates from the Early Archaic to the Late Woodland/Early Mississippian
periods, and the ancestors and belongings date to the Late Woodland/
Early Mississippian period--likely to the West Jefferson phase (roughly
A.D. 900-1100). There is no record of potentially hazardous substances
being used to treat the ancestors or associated funerary objects.
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 University of Alabama at Birmingham has determined that:
<bullet> The human remains described in this notice represent the
physical remains of five individuals of Native American ancestry.
<bullet> The 101 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 Alabama-
Coushatta Tribe of Texas; Poarch Band of Creek Indians; Seminole Tribe
of Florida; The Muscogee (Creek) Nation; and the Thlopthlocco Tribal
Town.
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 13,
2026. If competing requests for repatriation are received, the
University of Alabama at Birmingham 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 University of Alabama at
Birmingham 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
[[Page 6261]]
U.S.C. 3003, and the implementing regulations, 43 CFR 10.10.
Dated: February 4, 2026.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2026-02694 Filed 2-10-26; 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 11, 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.