Notice of Inventory Completion: The University of Texas at Austin, Texas Archeological Research Laboratory, Austin, TX, and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, 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), and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) have completed an inventory of human remains and associated funerary objects and have 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 167 (Monday, August 31, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 167 (Monday, August 31, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55905-55906]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-17699]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[N7451; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0043583; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: The University of Texas at 
Austin, Texas Archeological Research Laboratory, Austin, TX, and Texas 
Parks and Wildlife Department, 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), and Texas Parks and Wildlife 
Department (TPWD) have completed an inventory of human remains and 
associated funerary objects and have 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 30, 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#53393620203a30327d263f3e362113322620273a3d7d2627362b32207d363726"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="345e5147475d57551a415859514674554147405d5a1a4140514c55471a515041">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>, or Aina Dodge, Texas Parks and 
Wildlife Department, 4200 Smith School Road, Austin, TX 78744, email 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#35745c5b541b715a51525075414542511b41504d54461b525a43"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="b2f3dbdcd39cf6ddd6d5d7f2c6c2c5d69cc6d7cad3c19cd5ddc4">[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 TPWD, 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

    TARL houses human remains and materials from multiple sites in 
Nueces County, all associated with the Rockport material culture 
associated with the Texas Central Gulf Coast region.

Mustang Island State Park, Nueces County, TX

    In 1995, a park visitor identified one Native American individual 
within the Mustang Island State Park. The human remains were turned 
over to TPWD. No associated funerary objects were identified with the 
individual.

Webb Island (41NU1)

    From 1929-1955, human remains representing, at least, two Native 
American individuals were removed from site 41NU1 in Nueces County, 
Texas. No associated funerary objects were recorded from site 41NU1.

Oso Bay (41NU2)

    From 1900-2004, human remains representing, at least, 161 Native 
American individuals and 1,299 associated funerary objects were removed 
from site 41NU2 in Nueces County, Texas. The 1,299 associated funerary 
objects represent asphaltum clumps, faunal bones, bone tool, charcoal 
samples, soil samples, daub, debitage, marine shells, modified shell, 
and ochre.

Bill Jenkins Farm (41NU3)

    In 1936, human remains representing, at least, two Native American 
individual was removed from site 41NU3 in Nueces County, Texas. No 
associated funerary objects were recorded from site 41NU3.

Jesse Hunter Farm (41NU8)

    In 1936, human remains representing, at least, two Native American 
individual was removed from site 41NU8 in Nueces County, Texas. No 
associated funerary objects were recorded from site 41NU8.

41NU23

    From 1967-1973, two Native American individuals were removed from 
site 41NU23 in Nueces County, Texas. No associated funerary objects 
were recorded from site 41NU23.

Erving Phillips Farm; W.E. (Buck) Richardson Farm (41NU71)

    From 1931-1932, human remains representing, at least, 13 Native 
American individuals were removed from site 41NU71 (also referred to as 
41NU74) in Nueces County, Texas. No associated funerary objects were 
recorded from site 41NU71.

Hog Island (41NU298)

    From 2004-2005, human remains representing, at least, one Native 
American individual and 19 associated funerary objects were removed 
from site 41NU298 in Nueces County, Texas. The 19 associated funerary 
objects are represented by unmodified faunal bones.

Unknown Nueces County, Texas (41NU)

    Human remains representing, at least, nine Native American 
individuals and two shells were identified associated with Nueces 
County. The remains are associated with ``Rincon Point,'' a location 
within Nueces County, but have no site identification, nor are they 
associated with any records with further information currently 
available at TARL. The two associated funerary objects are two shells.
    TARL has no knowledge or record of any potentially hazardous 
substances being used to treat the human remains or associated funerary 
objects within this notice. However, wooden dowels, glue residue, metal 
wires, ink, and shellac have been noted in and on human remains and 
associated funerary objects.

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 and associated 
funerary objects described in this notice.

Determinations

    TARL and TPWD have determined that:
    <bullet> The human remains described in this notice represent the 
physical remains of 193 individuals of Native American ancestry.
    <bullet> The 1,320 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 Alabama-
Coushatta Tribes of Texas; Apache Tribe of Oklahoma; Cheyenne and 
Arapaho Tribes, Oklahoma; Comanche Nation, Oklahoma; Kickapoo 
Traditional Tribe of Texas; Kiowa Tribe (previously listed as Kiowa 
Indian Tribe of Oklahoma); Mescalero Apache Tribe of the Mescalero 
Reservation, New Mexico; Thlopthlocco Tribal Town; Tonkawa Tribe of 
Indians of Oklahoma; and the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes (Wichita, 
Keechi, Waco, & Tawakonie), Oklahoma.

[[Page 55906]]

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 
30, 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 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 20, 2026.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2026-17699 Filed 8-28-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P


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