Notice2026-07965
Notice of Inventory Completion: University of Nebraska State Museum, Lincoln, NE
Primary source
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Published
April 23, 2026
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentNational Park Service
Abstract
In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the University of Nebraska State Museum 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 78 (Thursday, April 23, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 78 (Thursday, April 23, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21843-21844]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-07965]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[N7074; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0042658; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Inventory Completion: University of Nebraska State
Museum, Lincoln, NE
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 University of Nebraska State Museum 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 May 26, 2026.
ADDRESSES: Send written requests for repatriation of the human remains
in this notice to Taylor Ronquillo, University of Nebraska State
Museum, 645 N 14th Street, Lincoln, NE 68588, email
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#1b4f6974756a6e72777774295b6e7577357e7f6e"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="7d290f12130c08141111124f3d08131153181908">[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
University of Nebraska State Museum, 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 two individuals have been
identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
Human remains that represent two MNI were removed from the valley
of the Salt River near Mesa in Maricopa County, AZ by E.H. Murdock. In
2003, these remains were discovered on the front steps of Morrill Hall
when staff opened the museum. With the remains was found two labels
that said, ``These items found while emptying house'' and ``Prehistoric
Hohokam Culture bones. Age 8-to-15 centuries. Grave between 3\1/2\ and
4 feet deep. Evacuated by E.H. Murdock, Phoenix''. The bone pieces were
wired into five picture frames with no glass. The two MNI consist of
two adult individuals of unknown sex. The human remains include: one
mandible, two patella's, three fibulas, one sternum, 17 vertebrae, 65
hand elements, 21-foot elements, three ribs, one sacrum. There were no
associated funerary objects found with the bones.
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
The University of Nebraska State Museum has determined that:
<bullet> The human remains described in this notice represent the
physical remains of two individuals of Native American ancestry.
<bullet> There is a connection between the human remains described
in this notice and the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community of the
Salt River Reservation, Arizona.
[[Page 21844]]
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 May 26, 2026. If competing requests for
repatriation are received, the University of Nebraska State Museum must
determine the most appropriate requestor prior to repatriation.
Requests for joint repatriation of the human remains are considered a
single request and not competing requests. The University of Nebraska
State Museum 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 21, 2026.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2026-07965 Filed 4-22-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on April 23, 2026.
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