Notice2026-04040
Notice of Inventory Completion: Cobb Institute of Archaeology and the Department of Anthropology and Middle Eastern Cultures, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS
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), Mississippi State University (MSU) 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 91 Issue 40 (Monday, March 2, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 40 (Monday, March 2, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Page 10112]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-04040]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[N6952; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0042089; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Inventory Completion: Cobb Institute of Archaeology and
the Department of Anthropology and Middle Eastern Cultures, Mississippi
State University, Mississippi State, MS
AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and
Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), Mississippi State University (MSU) 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 April 1, 2026.
ADDRESSES: Send written requests for repatriation of the human remains
in this notice to Tony Boudreaux, Cobb Institute of Archaeology and
Department of Anthropology and Middle Eastern Cultures, Mississippi
State University, 340 Lee Boulevard, Mississippi State, MS 39762, email
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#7613171442361b05050217021358131203"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="9df8fcffa9ddf0eeeee9fce9f8b3f8f9e8">[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 MSU,
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, 16 individuals have been
identified. No associated funerary objects are present. These
individuals are from four different collections curated by MSU. The Ben
Hilbun Jr. Collection was donated by him to MSU. The provenience
information for this collection is unknown, but it likely came from
Oktibbeha County, MS. It includes the partial remains of at least one
individual and no associated funerary items. The Robert C. Morris
Collection was donated by him to MSU. The provenience information for
this collection is unknown, but it likely came from Oktibbeha County,
MS. It includes the partial remains of at least one individual and no
associated funerary items. The W. W. Scales Collection was donated by
him to MSU. The provenience information for this collection is unknown,
but it likely came from Oktibbeha County, MS. It includes the partial
remains of at least one individual and no associated funerary items.
The fourth collections consists of Unprovenienced human remains for
which MSU has no collection or context information. It includes the
partial remains of at least 13 individual and no associated funerary
items. These materials likely have been pulled from the collections for
research or teaching at MSU in the past, and they likely are from
Oktibbeha County, Mississippi.
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 described in this
notice.
Determinations
MSU has determined that:
<bullet> The human remains described in this notice represent the
physical remains of 16 individuals of Native American ancestry.
<bullet> There is a connection between the human remains and the
Jena Band of Choctaw Indians; Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians; The
Chickasaw Nation; and The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma.
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 April 1, 2026. If competing requests
for repatriation are received, MSU 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. MSU 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. 2026-04040 Filed 2-27-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
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