Notice2026-07392
Notice of Inventory Completion: Kansas State Historical Society, Topeka, KS
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 16, 2026
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentNational Park Service
Abstract
In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Kansas State Historical Society (KSHS) has completed an inventory of associated funerary objects and has determined that there is a cultural affiliation between the 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 73 (Thursday, April 16, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 73 (Thursday, April 16, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Page 20494]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-07392]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[N7090; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0042602; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Inventory Completion: Kansas State Historical Society,
Topeka, KS
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 Kansas State Historical Society (KSHS)
has completed an inventory of associated funerary objects and has
determined that there is a cultural affiliation between the associated
funerary objects and Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in
this notice.
DATES: Repatriation of the associated funerary objects in this notice
may occur on or after May 18, 2026.
ADDRESSES: Send written requests for repatriation of the associated
funerary objects in this notice to Dr. Nicole Klarmann, Kansas State
Historical Society, 6425 SW 6th Avenue, Topeka, KS 66615-1099, email
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#ec879f849fc2828d8b9c9e8dac879fc28b839a"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="84eff7ecf7aaeae5e3f4f6e5c4eff7aae3ebf2">[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
KSHS, 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
Associated funerary objects have been identified from Richardson
County, Nebraska (UBS 2001-03). The 457 objects include ceramics and
lithics. An amateur archeologist gave their collection to KSHS in 1925.
Human remains were incorrectly separated from the associated funerary
objects and this notice serves to repatriate the funerary objects the
donor removed from this site.
Associated funerary objects have been identified from northeastern
Kansas (UBS 1993-07). The 200 objects include lithics, ceramics, non-
human bone, and shell. An amateur archeologist gave their collection to
KSHS in 1981. Human remains were incorrectly separated from the
associated funerary objects and this notice serves to repatriate the
funerary objects the donor removed from this site.
Associated funerary objects have been identified from Doniphan
County, Kansas (UBS 2024-08). The 338 objects include ceramics, bone
and stone tools, shell, catlinite, hematite, beads, and historic items.
The Nebraska Historical Society gave their Kansas collections to KSHS
in 1987. Human remains were incorrectly separated from the associated
funerary objects and this notice serves to repatriate the funerary
objects that were removed from this site. An unspecified glue was used
to reconstruct some of the ceramic items.
Unless noted above, no known hazardous substances were used to
treat any of the 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 associated funerary objects
described in this notice.
Determinations
The KSHS has determined that:
<bullet> The 995 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 associated funerary
objects described in this notice and the Iowa Tribe of Kansas and
Nebraska; Kaw Nation, Oklahoma; and the Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma.
Requests for Repatriation
Written requests for repatriation of the 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 associated funerary objects described in this
notice to a requestor may occur on or after May 18, 2026. If competing
requests for repatriation are received, the KSHS must determine the
most appropriate requestor prior to repatriation. Requests for joint
repatriation of the associated funerary objects are considered a single
request and not competing requests. The KSHS 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: April 8, 2026.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2026-07392 Filed 4-15-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
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