Notice2026-06354
Notice of Inventory Completion: Auburn University at Montgomery, Montgomery, 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
April 2, 2026
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentNational Park Service
Abstract
In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), Auburn University at Montgomery 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 63 (Thursday, April 2, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 63 (Thursday, April 2, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16723-16724]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-06354]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[N7029; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0042494; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Inventory Completion: Auburn University at Montgomery,
Montgomery, AL
AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and
Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), Auburn University at Montgomery 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 May 4, 2026.
ADDRESSES: Send written requests for repatriation of the human remains
and associated funerary objects in this notice to Megan LeBlanc, Auburn
University at Montgomery, P.O. Box 244023, Montgomery, AL 36124, email
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#503d3c35323c313e331031253d7e353425"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="5b36373e39373a35381b3a2e36753e3f2e">[email protected]</span></a> and <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#a2ccc3c5d2d0c3e2c3d7cf8cc7c6d7"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="365857514644577657435b18535243">[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 Auburn
University at Montgomery, 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
1MT3
Human remains representing, at least, five individuals have been
identified. The 801 associated funerary objects include 241 pottery
sherds, 447 and two lots of lithics, 32 and two lots of faunal bone,
seven and six lots of plant remains, eight shell, 43 and five lots of
daub, one glass shard, and seven lots of unprocessed soil samples.
1MT3, Kolomi, is located in Montgomery County, AL along the Tallapoosa
River. This site was excavated by Auburn University at Montgomery (AUM)
field school students in 1983 and 1984 under the direction of Dr. Craig
Sheldon. During these excavations, human remains and associated
funerary objects were removed from the site. These human remains and
associated funerary objects were then housed in the AUM Archaeology
Laboratory. No known hazardous substances were used to treat any of the
human remains or associated funerary objects.
1MT7
Human remains representing, at least, six individuals have been
identified. The 146 associated funerary objects include 98 pottery
sherds, 19 lithics, eight and three lots of faunal bone, seven and one
lot of shells, nine plant remains, and one plaster fragment. 1MT7, 30
Acre Field, is located in Montgomery County, AL, along the Alabama
River. This site was excavated by David Chase in 1967, during which
time the human remains and associated funerary objects were removed.
These human remains and associated funerary objects were then housed at
the Auburn University at Montgomery Archaeology Laboratory at an
unknown time. No known hazardous substances were used to treat any of
the human remains or associated funerary objects.
1MT9
Human remains representing, at least, eight individuals have been
identified. The 487 associated funerary objects include 120 pottery
sherds, 334 lithics, nine and one lot of faunal bone, two charcoal, 12
daub, four metal (nails and metal buttons), and five glass shards.
1MT9, Shine Site North, is located in Montgomery County, AL, along the
Tallapoosa River. This site was excavated by David Chase in 1974 and
1977, during which time the human remains and associated funerary
objects were removed. These human remains and associated funerary
objects were then housed at the Auburn University at Montgomery
Archaeology Laboratory at an unknown time. No known hazardous
substances were used to treat any of the human remains or associated
funerary objects.
1MT10
Human remains representing, at least, two individuals have been
identified. The 689 associated funerary objects include 620 pottery
sherds, 54 lithics, four and two lots of faunal bone, three and one lot
of shell (including shell hoes), one lot of charred plants and seeds,
three daub, and one lot of unprocessed soil sample. 1MT10, Muklasa, is
located in Montgomery County, AL, along the Tallapoosa River. This site
was excavated by David Chase in 1972 and 1976 with students from Auburn
University at Montgomery (AUM). The human remains and associated
funerary objects were removed during the 1976 excavations. These human
remains and associated funerary objects were then housed at the AUM
Archaeology Laboratory at an unknown time. No known hazardous
substances were used to treat any of the human remains or associated
funerary objects.
1MT19
Human remains representing, at least, one individual has been
identified. The five associated funerary objects include five pottery
sherds. 1MT19, the Anderson Site, is in Montgomery County, AL. This
site was excavated by David Chase in 1963 and 1979. It is unclear which
excavation was associated with the removal of the human remains and
associated funerary objects. These human remains and associated
funerary objects were then housed in the Auburn University at
Montgomery Archaeology Laboratory. No known hazardous substances were
used to treat any of the human remains or associated funerary objects.
1MT45
Human remains representing, at least, two individuals have been
identified. The 61 associated funerary objects include 45 pottery
sherds, 15 lithics, and one lot of shell. 1MT45 is located in
Montgomery County, AL along the northern bank of the Alabama River.
According to the Alabama Archaeological Site File, an unknown informant
recovered a burial that was disturbed by a bulldozer at an unknown
date. These human remains and associated funerary objects were then
housed in the Auburn University at Montgomery Archaeology Laboratory.
[[Page 16724]]
No known hazardous substances were used to treat any of the human
remains or associated funerary objects.
1MT66
Human remains representing, at least, one individual has been
identified. The 16 associated funerary objects include eight pottery
sherds and eight plaster pieces that appear to be from a previously
reconstructed vessel. 1MT66 is located in Montgomery County, AL along
an old river terrace near the Tallapoosa River. The human remains and
associated funerary objects are believed to be associated with
excavations conducted by David Chase in March 1975. These human remains
and associated funerary objects were donated to Auburn University at
Montgomery Archaeology Laboratory at an unknown time. No known
hazardous substances were used to treat any of the human remains or
associated funerary objects.
1MT76
Human remains representing, at least, one individual has been
identified. The 63 associated funerary objects include 45 pottery
sherds, and 18 lithics. 1MT76 is located in Montgomery County, AL along
a meander of the Alabama River. This site was excavated by David Chase
in 1967 and a possible unknown other date. It is unclear when the human
remains and associated funerary objects were removed from the site.
These human remains and associated funerary objects were then housed in
the Auburn University at Montgomery Archaeology Laboratory. No known
hazardous substances were used to treat any of the human remains or
associated funerary objects.
1MT82
Human remains representing, at least, two individuals have been
identified. The 1,181 associated funerary objects include 871 pottery
sherds, 153 lithics, 150 and two lots of faunal bone, and five shells.
1MT82 is located in Montgomery County, AL in the flood plain of the
Alabama River. This site was excavated by David Chase in 1967 and 1970.
The human remains and associated funerary objects were removed from a
household refuge context. These human remains and associated funerary
objects were then housed in the Auburn University at Montgomery
Archaeology Laboratory. No known hazardous substances were used to
treat any of the human remains or associated funerary objects.
1MT111
Human remains representing, at least, two individuals have been
identified. The 278 associated funerary objects include 209 pottery
sherds, 57 lithics, six faunal bone, five and one lot of shells.
1MT111, the Farrior Site, is located in Montgomery County, AL along the
south bank of Catoma Creek. This site was excavated by David Chase in
1969 and 1970, during which time the human remains and associated
funerary objects were removed. These human remains and associated
funerary objects were then housed at the Auburn University at
Montgomery Archaeology Laboratory at an unknown time. No known
hazardous substances were used to treat any of the human remains or
associated funerary objects.
1MT231
Human remains representing, at least, 19 individuals have been
identified. The 6,704 associated funerary objects include three dog
burials, 2,868 pottery sherds, 1,425 and one lot of lithics, 1,548 and
three lots of faunal bone, 724 and two lots of shells, 14 and one lot
of charcoal, and 115 daub. 1MT231, the Harrington Site, is located in
Montgomery County, AL near Catoma Creek. This site was excavated by
David Chase in 1977 and 1978, during which time the human remains and
associated funerary objects were removed. These human remains and
associated funerary objects were then housed at the Auburn University
at Montgomery Archaeology Laboratory at an unknown time. No known
hazardous substances were used to treat any of the human remains 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
Auburn University at Montgomery has determined that:
<bullet> The human remains described in this notice represent the
physical remains of 49 individuals of Native American ancestry.
<bullet> The 10,431 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; Alabama-Quassarte Tribal Town; Coushatta
Tribe of Louisiana; Jena Band of Choctaw Indians; Kialegee Tribal Town;
Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians; Poarch Band of Creek Indians;
Seminole Tribe of Florida; The Muscogee (Creek) Nation; The Seminole
Nation of Oklahoma; 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 May 4,
2026. If competing requests for repatriation are received, Auburn
University at Montgomery 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. Auburn University at Montgomery 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: March 24, 2026.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2026-06354 Filed 4-1-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
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