Notice2026-11709
Notice of Intended Repatriation: William S. Webb Museum of Anthropology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY
Primary source
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Published
June 11, 2026
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentNational Park Service
Abstract
In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the William S. Webb Museum of Anthropology, University of Kentucky (WSWM) intends to repatriate certain cultural items that meet the definition of unassociated funerary objects and that have a cultural affiliation with the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 112 (Thursday, June 11, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 112 (Thursday, June 11, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Page 35553]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-11709]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[N7229; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0042980; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Intended Repatriation: William S. Webb Museum of
Anthropology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY
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 William S. Webb Museum of Anthropology,
University of Kentucky (WSWM) intends to repatriate certain cultural
items that meet the definition of unassociated funerary objects and
that have a cultural affiliation with the Indian Tribes or Native
Hawaiian organizations in this notice.
DATES: Repatriation of the cultural items in this notice may occur on
or after July 13, 2026.
ADDRESSES: Send additional, written requests for repatriation of the
cultural items in this notice to Dr. Celise Chilcote-Fricker, William
S. Webb Museum of Anthropology, University of Kentucky, 1020 Export
Street, Lexington, KY 40504, email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#442721282d37216a22362d272f213604312f3d6a212031"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="b2d1d7dedbc1d79cd4c0dbd1d9d7c0f2c7d9cb9cd7d6c7">[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
WSWM, and additional information on the determinations in this notice,
including the results of consultation, can be found in the summary or
related records. The National Park Service is not responsible for the
determinations in this notice.
Abstract of Information Available
A total of eight cultural items have been requested for
repatriation. The eight unassociated funerary objects are one double
grooved axe, one bone handle, one lot botanics, two lots textiles, one
bone drift, one net sinker and one bone awl. Site 15LE1, Red Eye Hollow
in Lee County, Kentucky was excavated in 1929 by Webb and Funkhouser
from the University of Kentucky. No known hazardous substances are
present.
A total of three cultural items have been requested for
repatriation. The three unassociated funerary objects are two shell
spoons and one bone handle. Site 15LE2, Little Ash Cave in Lee County,
Kentucky was excavated in 1929 by Webb and Funkhouser from the
University of Kentucky. No known hazardous substances are present.
A total of 71 cultural items have been requested for repatriation.
The 71 unassociated funerary objects are one lot bone awls, one lot
faunal, one lot sherds, six bifaces, three drills, 34 projectile
points, one lot lithic, 22 scrapers, one stone gorget fragment and one
stone pipe bowl fragment. Site 15LE139, Ox Barn Hollow Rockshelter in
Lee County, Kentucky was excavated in 1968 by a private collector who
donated to the WSWM in 1991. No known hazardous substances are present.
A total of nine cultural items have been requested for
repatriation. The nine unassociated funerary objects are one modified
antler, one lot bone awls, one granite grooved axe, one limestone celt,
one lot antler flakers, one lot hematite, one lot modified bone, one
piece red ochre and one groundstone pipe bowl fragment. Site 15RO34,
Deep Rockshelter in Rowan County, Kentucky was excavated in 1969 by the
University of Kentucky Museum of Anthropology following a survey of
vandalized rockshelters in Rowan County. No known hazardous substances
are present.
Determinations
The WSWM has determined that:
<bullet> The 91 unassociated funerary objects described in this
notice are reasonably believed to have been placed intentionally with
or near human remains, and are connected, either at the time of death
or later as part of the death rite or ceremony of a Native American
culture according to the Native American traditional knowledge of a
lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization. The
unassociated funerary objects have been identified by a preponderance
of the evidence as related to human remains, specific individuals, or
families, or removed from a specific burial site or burial area of an
individual or individuals with cultural affiliation to an Indian Tribe
or Native Hawaiian organization.
<bullet> There is a connection between the cultural items described
in this notice and the Absentee-Shawnee Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma;
Cherokee Nation; Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians; Eastern Shawnee
Tribe of Oklahoma; Shawnee Tribe; and the United Keetoowah Band of
Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma.
Requests for Repatriation
Additional, written requests for repatriation of the cultural items
in this notice must be sent to the authorized representative identified
in this notice under ADDRESSES. Requests for repatriation may be
submitted by 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 a culturally affiliated Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian
organization.
Repatriation of the cultural items in this notice to a requestor
may occur on or after July 13, 2026. If competing requests for
repatriation are received, the WSWM must determine the most appropriate
requestor prior to repatriation. Requests for joint repatriation of the
cultural items are considered a single request and not competing
requests. The WSWM is responsible for sending a copy of this notice to
the Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations identified in this
notice and to any other consulting parties.
Authority: Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act,
25 U.S.C. 3004 and the implementing regulations, 43 CFR 10.9.
Dated: June 5, 2026.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2026-11709 Filed 6-10-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
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