Notice of Intended Repatriation: American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY

Issuing agencies

Abstract

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the American Museum of Natural History intends to repatriate a certain cultural item that meets the definition of an unassociated funerary object and that has 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 162 (Monday, August 24, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 162 (Monday, August 24, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54751-54752]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-17186]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[N7436; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0043539; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Intended Repatriation: American Museum of Natural 
History, New York, NY

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 American Museum of Natural History 
intends to repatriate a certain cultural item that meets the definition 
of an unassociated funerary object and that has a cultural affiliation 
with the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice.

DATES: Repatriation of the cultural item in this notice may occur on or 
after September 23, 2026.

ADDRESSES: Send additional, written requests for repatriation of the 
cultural items in this notice to Nell Murphy, American Museum of 
Natural History, 200 Central Park West, New York, NY 10024, email 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#0a64677f787a62734a6b6764622465786d"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="1a74776f686a72635a7b7774723475687d">[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 the 
American Museum of Natural History, 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

    One cultural item has been requested for repatriation. The one 
unassociated funerary object is a ceramic smoking pipe with a human 
face. The item was collected at Lake Champlain, Vermont. The human 
effigy pipe was donated to the Museum by Andrew Ellicott Douglass in 
1901 as part of a vast personal collection of up to 23,000 
archaeological items. Museum records indicate that Douglass purchased 
the item from M.F. Savage, a prominent antiquities dealer who worked 
for Tiffany & Co. in New York City in the late 19th and early 20th 
centuries. As such, the Museum was unable to find detailed provenience 
information for the pipe beyond ``Lake Champlain, VT.'' During 
consultation, the Stockbridge Munsee Community indicated that pipes of 
this kind are known to have been included in burials of Mohican 
ancestors. The longstanding connection between tobacco pipes and 
funerary rituals in the northeastern United States is well-documented 
archaeologically, beginning as early as the Late Archaic (ca. 3000-1000 
BC).
    While it no longer does so, in the past, the Museum applied 
potentially hazardous pesticides to items in the collections. Museum 
records do not list specific objects treated or which of several 
chemicals used were applied to a particular item. Therefore, those 
handling this material should follow the advice of industrial 
hygienists or medical personnel with specialized training in 
occupational health or with potentially hazardous substances.

Determinations

    The American Museum of Natural History has determined that:
    <bullet> The one unassociated funerary object described in this 
notice is reasonably believed to have been placed intentionally with or 
near human remains, and is 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 object has 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 reasonable connection between the cultural item 
described in this notice and the Stockbridge Munsee Community, 
Wisconsin.

Requests for Repatriation

    Additional, written requests for repatriation of the cultural item 
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.

[[Page 54752]]

    Repatriation of the cultural item in this notice to a requestor may 
occur on or after September 23, 2026. If competing requests for 
repatriation are received, the American Museum of Natural History must 
determine the most appropriate requestor prior to repatriation. 
Requests for joint repatriation of the cultural item are considered a 
single request and not competing requests. The American Museum of 
Natural History 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: August 17, 2026.
Mariah Soriano,
Acting Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2026-17186 Filed 8-21-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P


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