Notice2026-06344
Notice of Inventory Completion: Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, and The Rockwell Museum, Corning, NY
Primary source
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Published
April 2, 2026
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentNational Park Service
Abstract
In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, Harvard University (PMAE) and The Rockwell Museum have completed inventories of human remains and associated funerary objects and have 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 63 (Thursday, April 2, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 63 (Thursday, April 2, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16736-16737]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-06344]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[N7036; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0042500; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Inventory Completion: Peabody Museum of Archaeology and
Ethnology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, and The Rockwell Museum,
Corning, NY
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 Peabody Museum of Archaeology and
Ethnology, Harvard University (PMAE) and The Rockwell Museum have
completed inventories of human remains and associated funerary objects
and have 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 May 4, 2026.
ADDRESSES: Send written requests for repatriation of the human remains
and associated funerary objects in this notice to Jane Pickering,
Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, Harvard University, 11
Divinity Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138, email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#8fe5ffe6ece4eafde6e1e8cfe9eefca1e7eefdf9eefdeba1eaebfa"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="d0baa0b9b3bbb5a2b9beb790b6b1a3feb8b1a2a6b1a2b4feb5b4a5">[email protected]</span></a>
and Emily Smith, The Rockwell Museum, 111 Cedar Street, Corning, NY
14830, email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#fa8997938e929fba889599918d9f9696978f899f8f97d495889d"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="17647a7e637f72576578747c60727b7b7a626472627a39786570">[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
PMAE and The Rockwell Museum, and additional information on the
determinations in this notice, including the results of consultation,
can be found in their inventories 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. The three associated funerary objects are one lot of a
ceramic effigy pipe in the shape of a human face, one lot of a
hammerstone, and one lot of a projectile point. The human remains were
previously in the possession of the PMAE but are currently not located.
The one lot of a hammerstone and one lot of
[[Page 16737]]
a projectile point are in the possession of the PMAE; the one lot of a
ceramic effigy pipe is in the possession of The Rockwell Museum. The
human remains and associated funerary objects were removed from a grave
in Port Dickinson, Broome County, NY around 1900 by J.H. Woods.
Theodore N. Vail acquired Woods's collection prior to 1913, with the
assistance of Warren King Moorehead. Vail's daughter, Katherine Vail
Marsters, donated Vail's collection to the PMAE in 1922. In 1965, the
one lot of a ceramic effigy pipe was stolen from the PMAE and was
eventually located at The Rockwell Museum in 2023.
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 PMAE and The Rockwell Museum have determined that:
<bullet> The human remains described in this notice represent the
physical remains of one individual of Native American ancestry.
<bullet> The three 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 Oneida
Indian Nation and the Oneida Nation.
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 May 4,
2026. If competing requests for repatriation are received, the PMAE and
The Rockwell Museum 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 PMAE and The Rockwell Museum are 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: March 24, 2026.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2026-06344 Filed 4-1-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
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