Notice2026-05041
Notice of Intended Repatriation: Arizona State Museum, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
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
March 16, 2026
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentNational Park Service
Abstract
In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Arizona State Museum, University of Arizona, intends to repatriate certain cultural items that meet the definition of unassociated funerary objects and that have a cultural affiliation with the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice.
Full Text
<html>
<head>
<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 50 (Monday, March 16, 2026)</title>
</head>
<body><pre>
[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 50 (Monday, March 16, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12608-12609]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-05041]
[[Page 12608]]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[N6982; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0042303; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Intended Repatriation: Arizona State Museum, University
of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and
Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Arizona State Museum, University of
Arizona, intends to repatriate certain cultural items that meet the
definition of unassociated funerary objects and that have a cultural
affiliation with the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in
this notice.
DATES: Repatriation of the cultural items in this notice may occur on
or after April 15, 2026.
ADDRESSES: Send additional, written requests for repatriation of the
cultural items in this notice to Cristin Lucas, Repatriation
Coordinator, Arizona State Museum, 1013 East University Boulevard,
Tucson, AZ 85721-0026, telephone (520) 626-0320, email
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#670b12040614042706150e1d08090649020312"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="402c3523213323002132293a2f2e216e252435">[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
Arizona State Museum, University of Arizona, and additional information
on the determinations in this notice, including the results of
consultation, can be found in the summary or related records. The
National Park Service is not responsible for the determinations in this
notice.
Abstract of Information Available
A total of 15 cultural items have been requested for repatriation.
The 15 unassociated funerary objects are ceramic pitchers and ceramic
bowls. In March 1937, Byron Cummings, Professor of Archaeology at the
University of Arizona and Director of the Arizona State Museum (ASM),
excavated a site in the vicinity of Brooklyn Mine and Cordes, Yavapai
County, Arizona. Cummings made no formal recording of the site, which
he referred to as Brookline Ruin (also designated in collections as AZ
O:13:--), but catalog cards indicate the items were removed from
funerary features. The cultural items are identified as Hohokam. There
are no documented applications of hazardous substances for the items in
this collection.
A total of two cultural items have been requested for repatriation.
The two unassociated funerary objects are a ceramic jar-bowl and a
ceramic bowl. In September 1929, John Hughes and George Dennis
excavated AZ O:15:61(ASM) for the Gila Pueblo Archaeological Foundation
(Gila Pueblo). The site, located at Hickcox 71 Ranch in Round Valley,
Gila County, Arizona, was described as a habitation area featuring a
pueblo of at least 50 rooms. In October 1929, Gila Pueblo purchased the
collection of cultural items removed from AZ O:15:61(ASM). These
collections represent Hohokam and Sinagua archaeological traditions. On
December 16, 1950, all collections previously held by Gila Pueblo that
had not yet been dispositioned, including cultural items from this
site, were donated to the Arizona State Museum upon the Foundation's
closure. There are no documented applications of hazardous substances
for the items in this collection.
A total of 35 cultural items have been requested for repatriation.
The 35 unassociated funerary objects are a ceramic canteen, ceramic
bowls, ceramic jars, ceramic mugs, ceramic pitchers, shell rings, shell
bracelets, an awl, pendants, a needle, and a projectile point. Prior to
October 1929, John Hughes and George Dennis excavated AZ O:15:62(ASM)
for the Gila Pueblo Archaeological Foundation (Gila Pueblo). The site
was located at Booth Ranch, west of Tonto Creek and south of the Gisela
schoolhouse in Gila County, Arizona. AZ O:15:62(ASM) is described in
records as a Salado habitation site featuring a 100-room compound
pueblo. In October 1929, Gila Pueblo purchased the collections removed
from AZ O:15:62(ASM) by Hughes and Dennis. On December 16, 1950, all
collections previously held by Gila Pueblo that had not yet been
dispositioned, including cultural items from this site, were donated to
the Arizona State Museum upon the Foundation's closure. There are no
documented applications of hazardous substances for the items in this
collection.
A total of 37 cultural items have been requested for repatriation.
The 37 unassociated funerary objects are ceramic bowls, ceramic jars,
ceramic pitchers, unworked shell, shell bracelets, a stone drill, a
stone projectile point, and a stone bead. On October 12, 1929, John
Hughes and George Dennis excavated AZ O:15:63(ASM). The site location
is recorded as Armer Ranch, south of the Gisela schoolhouse and west of
Tonto Creek in Gila County, Arizona. AZ O:15:63(ASM) was described as a
Hohokam and Salado habitation area featuring a 50-room pueblo and a
possible compound wall. In October 1929, Gila Pueblo purchased the
collections removed from AZ O:15:63(ASM) by Hughes and Dennis. On
December 16, 1950, all collections previously held by Gila Pueblo that
had not yet been dispositioned, including cultural items from this
site, were donated to the Arizona State Museum upon the Foundation's
closure. There are no documented applications of hazardous substances
for the items in this collection.
A total of one cultural item has been requested for repatriation.
The one unassociated funerary object is a shell bracelet. On a date
prior to November 17, 1967, a site (designated in collections as AZ
U:8:--[ASM] Blades) was encountered in Gila or Maricopa County,
Arizona, by a private citizen. The site was described as a Hohokam or
Salado cliff dwelling in the Tonto National Forest area. On November
17, 1967, the private citizen donated the collected cultural item to
the Arizona State Museum. There are no documented applications of
hazardous substances for the item in this collection.
A total of two cultural items have been requested for repatriation.
The two unassociated funerary objects are turquoise pendants. Prior to
February 1927, Lyndon Hargrave excavated a site (designated in
collections as AZ U:8:--[ASM] Roosevelt Lake District) in the Roosevelt
Lake district of Gila or Maricopa County, Arizona. In February 1927,
the Arizona State Museum (ASM) purchased the cultural items, which were
described by Hargrave as funerary belongings. No additional site
information could be located within archival records housed at ASM, but
the cultural items are designated as Hohokam/Salado on catalog cards.
There are no documented applications of hazardous substances for the
items in this collection.
A total of three cultural items have been requested for
repatriation. The three unassociated funerary objects are a shell bead
necklace, a stone bead necklace, and shell tinklers.
On a date prior to June 1927, a site (designated in collections as
AZ U:8:--Welker) was encountered by Harry Welker near Roosevelt, Gila
County, Arizona. Welker removed cultural items from the site and later
sold them to the Arizona State Museum in June 1927. The cultural items,
stated to have come from funerary features, represent Hohokam and
Salado archaeological
[[Page 12609]]
traditions. There are no documented applications of hazardous
substances for the items in this collection.
A total of four cultural items have been requested for
repatriation. The four unassociated funerary objects are a ceramic
figurine, a lithic drill fragment, and lithic projectile points. On an
unknown date prior to November 1930, Ventry Steward excavated a site
(designated in collections as AZ V:1:--[ASM]/AZ C:1:68[GP]) for the
Gila Pueblo Archaeological Foundation (Gila Pueblo). The site was
described as a collapsed pueblo located west of McFadden Horse Mountain
at Circle Ranch in Gila County, Arizona. In November 1930, Steward sold
the cultural items removed from the site to Gila Pueblo. The items were
later cataloged as Mogollon. On December 16, 1950, all collections
previously held by Gila Pueblo that had not been previously
dispositioned, including cultural items from this site, were donated to
the Arizona State Museum upon the Foundation's closure. There are no
documented applications of hazardous substances for the items in this
collection.
A total of two cultural items have been requested for repatriation.
The two unassociated funerary objects are ceramic bowls. On an unknown
date prior to February 1927, Lyndon Hargrave excavated a site
designated as Ruin 10 (Hargrave) in Gila or Maricopa County, Arizona.
Catalog cards list the site location as Dillinger Ranch in the
Roosevelt Lake district, though a more specific location could not be
determined. In February 1927, Hargrave sold the cultural items removed
from the site to the Arizona State Museum. The cultural items represent
the Salado archaeological tradition. There are no documented
applications of hazardous substances for the items in this collection.
A total of four cultural items have been requested for
repatriation. The four unassociated funerary objects are ceramic jars.
On an unknown date prior to February 1927, Lyndon Hargrave excavated a
site designated as Ruin 15 (Hargrave) in an unknown location on the
east side of Trough Wash in the Roosevelt Lake District, Gila or
Maricopa County, Arizona. In February 1927, Hargrave sold the cultural
items removed from the site to the Arizona State Museum. The collection
represents Hohokam and Salado archaeological traditions. There are no
documented applications of hazardous substances for the items in this
collection.
A total of three cultural items have been requested for
repatriation. The three unassociated funerary objects are a ceramic
bowl, a ceramic jar, and a ceramic scoop. On an unknown date prior to
February 1927, Lyndon Hargrave excavated a site designated as Ruin 4
(Hargrave) in an unknown location in either Gila or Maricopa County,
Arizona. Catalog cards list the site location as the east side of
Trough Wash in the Roosevelt Lake District. In February 1927, Hargrave
sold the cultural items removed from the site to the Arizona State
Museum. The collection represents Hohokam and Salado archaeological
traditions. There are no documented applications of hazardous
substances for the items in this collection.
Determinations
The Arizona State Museum, University of Arizona, has determined
that:
<bullet> The 108 unassociated funerary objects described in this
notice are reasonably believed to have been placed intentionally with
or near human remains, and are connected, either at the time of death
or later as part of the death rite or ceremony of a Native American
culture according to the Native American traditional knowledge of a
lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization. The
unassociated funerary objects have been identified by a preponderance
of the evidence as related to human remains, specific individuals, or
families, or removed from a specific burial site or burial area of an
individual or individuals with cultural affiliation to an Indian Tribe
or Native Hawaiian organization.
<bullet> There is a reasonable connection between the cultural
items described in this notice and the Hopi Tribe of Arizona and the
Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community of the Salt River
Reservation, Arizona.
Requests for Repatriation
Additional, written requests for repatriation of the cultural items
in this notice must be sent to the authorized representative identified
in this notice under ADDRESSES. Requests for repatriation may be
submitted by 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 a culturally affiliated Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian
organization.
Repatriation of the cultural items in this notice to a requestor
may occur on or after April 15, 2026. If competing requests for
repatriation are received, the Arizona State Museum, University of
Arizona, must determine the most appropriate requestor prior to
repatriation. Requests for joint repatriation of the cultural items are
considered a single request and not competing requests. The Arizona
State Museum, University of Arizona, is responsible for sending a copy
of this notice to the Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations
identified in this notice and to any other consulting parties.
Authority: Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act,
25 U.S.C. 3004 and the implementing regulations, 43 CFR 10.9.
Dated: March 5, 2026.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2026-05041 Filed 3-13-26; 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 March 16, 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.