Notice of Inventory Completion: University of Texas at Austin, Texas Archeological Research Laboratory, Austin, TX

Issuing agencies

Abstract

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the University of Texas at Austin, Texas Archeological Research Laboratory (TARL) 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 162 (Monday, August 24, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 162 (Monday, August 24, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54752-54753]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-17175]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[N7441; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0043544; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: University of Texas at Austin, 
Texas Archeological Research Laboratory, Austin, TX

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 Texas at Austin, Texas 
Archeological Research Laboratory (TARL) 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 September 23, 2026.

ADDRESSES: Send written requests for repatriation of the human remains 
and associated funerary objects in this notice to Jessica Ulmer, The 
University of Texas at Austin Texas Archaeological Research Laboratory, 
1 University Station, R7500, Austin, TX 78712, email 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#38525d4b4b515b59164d54555d4a78594d4b4c5156164d4c5d40594b165d5c4d"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="73191600001a10125d061f1e160133120600071a1d5d0607160b12005d161706">[email&#160;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 TARL, 
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 119 individuals have been 
identified. The 18,934 associated funerary objects include lithic 
tools, ceramic sherds, ceramic vessels, modified shell, glass and shell 
beads, faunal bone, ochre, copper covered wooden earspools, charcoal 
samples, soil samples, and historic materials.
    Of the total individuals and materials, 11 individuals and 3,025 
associated funerary objects are from archaeological site 41LR1 in Lamar 
County. Multiple archaeological projects conducted between 1929 and 
1964 led to Native American human remains and associated funerary 
objects being removed from site. Between 1929 and 1995, the above human 
remains and associated funerary objects came to be held at TARL from 
excavations, surveys, and donations. The site has historically been 
associated with the Caddo Nation of Oklahoma.
    Human remains representing at least 105 individuals and 15,826 
associated funerary objects are housed at TARL from site 41LR2 in Lamar 
County. Multiple archaeological projects conducted between 1929 and 
1961 led to Native American human remains and associated funerary 
objects being removed from site. Between 1929 and 1995, the human 
remains and associated funerary objects came to be held at TARL from 
excavations, surveys, and donations. The site has long been associated 
with the Caddo Nation of Oklahoma.
    At least one individual and 81 associated funerary objects are from 
archaeological site 41LR3 in Lamar County. Several private collections 
made in 1934 and 1935 led to Native American human remains and 
associated funerary objects being removed from site. In 1934 and 1936 
the above human remains and associated funerary objects came to be held 
at TARL. The site has historically been associated with the Caddo 
Nation of Oklahoma.
    Private collections also resulted in Native American human remains 
and associated funerary objects being removed from an archaeological 
site in Lamar County referred to as the E.E. Sturdevant Farm. Lacking a 
trinomial designation, the site is listed as 41LR-. A total of two 
ancestors and two associated funerary objects were removed from this 
site. In 1936, the human remains and associated funerary objects from 
this collection came to be held at TARL. This area has historically 
been associated with the Caddo Nation of Oklahoma.

Cultural Affiliation

    Based on the information available and the results of consultation, 
cultural affiliation is clearly identified by the information available 
about the human remains and associated funerary objects described in 
this notice.

Determinations

    TARL has determined that:
    <bullet> The human remains described in this notice represent the 
physical remains of 119 individuals of Native American ancestry.
    <bullet> The 18,934 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 Caddo 
Nation of Oklahoma and the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes (Wichita, 
Keechi, Waco, & Tawakonie), Oklahoma.

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 September 
23, 2026. If competing requests for repatriation are received, TARL 
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

[[Page 54753]]

competing requests. TARL 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: August 17, 2026.
Mariah Soriano,
Acting Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2026-17175 Filed 8-21-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P


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