Notice of Intended Repatriation: Arizona State University, School of Human Evolution and Social Change, Tempe, AZ

Issuing agencies

Abstract

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Arizona State University, Center for Archaeology and Society Repository (ASU CASR) acting in place of the Arizona State University School of Human Evolution and Social Change (ASU SHESC) intends to repatriate certain cultural items that meet the definition of sacred 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 167 (Monday, August 31, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 167 (Monday, August 31, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55903-55904]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-17697]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[N7449; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0043573; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Intended Repatriation: Arizona State University, School 
of Human Evolution and Social Change, Tempe, AZ

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 Arizona State University, Center for 
Archaeology and Society Repository (ASU CASR) acting in place of the 
Arizona State University School of Human Evolution and Social Change 
(ASU SHESC) intends to repatriate certain cultural items that meet the 
definition of sacred 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 September 30, 2026.

ADDRESSES: Send additional, written requests for repatriation of the 
cultural items in this notice to Allisen Dahlstedt, Head of 
Repatriation, School of Human Evolution and Social Change, Arizona 
State University, P.O. Box 872402, Tempe, AZ 85287-2402, email 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#23624f4f4a50464d0d67424b4f5057464757634250560d464756"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="3f7e5353564c5a51117b5e57534c4b5a5b4b7f5e4c4a115a5b4a">[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 
ASU CASR, 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 six cultural items have been requested for repatriation. 
The six sacred objects are four baskets, one bone awl, and a jar. The 
four baskets are ethnographic and affiliated with the O'odham culture. 
The bone awl was a Found In Collection item that was associated with an 
O'odham basket. The jar is prehistoric and in the style of Ancestral 
O'odham.
    There is a relationship of shared group identity that can be 
reasonably traced between the cultural items described in this notice 
and the Ak-Chin Indian Community; Gila River Indian Community of the 
Gila River Indian Reservation, Arizona; Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian 
Community of the Salt River Reservation, Arizona; Tohono O'odham Nation 
of Arizona. The Ak-Chin Indian Community; Gila River Indian Community 
of the Gila River Indian Reservation, Arizona; Salt River Pima-Maricopa 
Indian Community of the Salt River Reservation, Arizona; and the Tohono 
O'odham Nation of Arizona comprise one cultural group known as the 
O'odham. Cultural continuity between the prehistoric Hohokam 
archeological culture and present-day O'odham peoples is supported by 
continuities in settlement patterns, architectural technologies, 
basketry, textiles, ceramic technology, and ritual practices. Oral 
traditions that are documented for the Ak-Chin Indian Community; Gila 
River Indian Community of the Gila River Indian Reservation, Arizona; 
Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community of the Salt River 
Reservation, Arizona; and the Tohono O'odham Nation of Arizona support 
their cultural affiliation with Hohokam archeological sites in central 
and southern Arizona.
    ASU CASR is unaware of any documented treatment of the cultural 
items listed above with pesticides or other known hazardous substances. 
Non-destructive analytical testing detected elevated sulfur levels in 
the baskets; because sulfur may occur naturally in plant materials or 
may be associated with historical pesticide treatments, the source has 
not been determined, and the presence of pesticide residues has not 
been confirmed.

[[Page 55904]]

Determinations

    The ASU CASR has determined that:
    <bullet> The six sacred objects described in this notice are 
specific ceremonial objects needed by a traditional Native American 
religious leader for present-day adherents to practice traditional 
Native American religion, according to the Native American traditional 
knowledge of a lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian 
organization.
    <bullet> There is a connection between the cultural items described 
in this notice and the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community of the 
Salt River Reservation, Arizona.

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 September 30, 2026. If competing requests for 
repatriation are received, the ASU CASR 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 ASU CASR 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 20, 2026.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2026-17697 Filed 8-28-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P


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