Notice2026-09411
Notice of Inventory Completion: University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, CO
Primary source
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Published
May 12, 2026
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentNational Park Service
Abstract
In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the University of Northern Colorado (UNC) 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 91 (Tuesday, May 12, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 91 (Tuesday, May 12, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25917-25918]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-09411]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[N7143; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0042760; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Inventory Completion: University of Northern Colorado,
Greeley, CO
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 Northern Colorado (UNC)
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.
[[Page 25918]]
DATES: Repatriation of the human remains in this notice may occur on or
after June 11, 2026.
ADDRESSES: Send written requests for repatriation of the human remains
in this notice to Dr. Andy Creekmore, University of Northern Colorado,
Department of Anthropology, 501 20th Street, Campus Box 90, Greeley CO
80639, email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#206e616770726160554e434f0e454455"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="4a040b0d1a180b0a3f242925642f2e3f">[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
UNC, 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, seven individuals have been
identified. No associated funerary objects are present. These
individuals, UNC catalog numbers 374, 375, 379, 385, SK-009, 107, 108,
and 109, are represented by seven adult skulls, one left femur, and
various post-cranial skeletal elements representing a minimum of one
individual. The skulls indicate that three individuals were probable
male, three probable female, and one of indeterminate sex. A total of
20 ``Cliff Dweller'' skulls are recorded as donated to the UNC in 1910
by Prof. Edgar Lee Hewett, who may have sent additional remains that
were not officially recorded. Around that time Prof. Hewett excavated
numerous burials from sites around the Pajarito Plateau in New Mexico.
Based on the characteristics of the remains, which indicate an
archaeological origin and features consistent with members of that
population, as well as markings and labels added to the bones that are
consistent with markings on unrelated ceramics donated to UNC by
Hewett, we believe that these seven partial individuals are from the
original group of 20, and that we may reasonably associate them with
the Pajarito Plateau due to Hewett's work there around the time of the
donation. San Ildefonso Pueblo is the consulting Tribe located nearest
to the Pajarito Plateau and the expected geographical location from
which the remains were likely removed.
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 UNC has determined that:
<bullet> The human remains described in this notice represent the
physical remains of seven individuals of Native American ancestry.
<bullet> There is a connection between the human remains described
in this notice and the Pueblo of San Ildefonso, New Mexico.
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 June 11, 2026. If competing requests
for repatriation are received, the UNC 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 UNC 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: May 5, 2026.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2026-09411 Filed 5-11-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
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