Notice2026-04036
Notice of Inventory Completion: University of California, Santa Barbara, Repository for Archaeological and Ethnographic Collections, Santa Barbara, CA
Primary source
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Published
March 2, 2026
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentNational Park Service
Abstract
In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB), Repository for Archaeological and Ethnographic Collections 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
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 40 (Monday, March 2, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 40 (Monday, March 2, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10114-10115]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-04036]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[N6948; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0042086; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Inventory Completion: University of California, Santa
Barbara, Repository for Archaeological and Ethnographic Collections,
Santa Barbara, CA
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 California, Santa Barbara
(UCSB), Repository for Archaeological
[[Page 10115]]
and Ethnographic Collections 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 April 1, 2026.
ADDRESSES: Send written requests for repatriation of the human remains
and associated funerary objects in this notice to Hugh Radde,
University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, email
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#c08e818790928180b5a3b3a2eea5a4b5"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="abe5eaecfbf9eaebdec8d8c985cecfde">[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
UCSB Repository for Archaeological and Ethnographic Collections, 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 (Accession 823.Yaqui). The 31 associated funerary objects
are ceramic pottery fragments. The identity of the original collector
and the date of removal are unknown. The collection was previously held
by R.O. Browne, an individual known to have collected and looted
cultural materials from various regions, including Arizona. The
materials were reportedly stored in a private storage unit on his
property until his death. In 1995, portions of his collection were
donated posthumously to UC Santa Barbara. At the time of donation, the
collection had been labeled as ``Yaqui''. It is unknown whether the
individual and objects were treated with preservative or other
potentially hazardous substances.
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 and associated funerary objects described in
this notice.
Determinations
The UCSB Repository for Archaeological and Ethnographic Collections
has determined that:
<bullet> The human remains described in this notice represent the
physical remains of one individual of Native American ancestry.
<bullet> The 31 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 Pascua
Yaqui Tribe of Arizona.
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 April 1,
2026. If competing requests for repatriation are received, the UCSB
Repository for Archaeological and Ethnographic Collections 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 UCSB Repository for Archaeological and Ethnographic
Collections 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: February 20, 2026.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2026-04036 Filed 2-27-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
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