Notice of Inventory Completion: Atchison County Historical Society; Atchison, KS

Issuing agencies

Abstract

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Atchison County Historical Society has completed an inventory of human remains and has determined that there is a cultural affiliation between the human remains 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]
[Page 55908]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-17707]



[[Page 55908]]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[N7458; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0043591; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: Atchison County Historical 
Society; Atchison, KS

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 Atchison County Historical Society has 
completed an inventory of human remains and has determined that there 
is a cultural affiliation between the human remains and Indian Tribes 
or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice.

DATES: Repatriation of the human remains in this notice may occur on or 
after September 30, 2026.

ADDRESSES: Send written requests for repatriation of the human remains 
in this notice to Stephen W Caplinger, Atchison County Historical 
Society, 200 S 10th Street, Atchison, KS 66002, email 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#56313921332522676e636216313b373f3a7835393b"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="21464e564452551019141561464c40484d0f424e4c">[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 
Atchison County Historical Society, 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, two individuals have been 
identified. No associated funerary objects are present. Partial remains 
were found in 2025 in a box at the Atchison County Historical Society. 
Writing on the box said `2 Skulls, 1 skull from 14DP2 at KS Historical 
Society (Arch. Dept.) for measurement. November 1985 . . . Marshal 
Warner (son of Clyde, aka Claude) found this skull.' In 1985, one skull 
(noted as being from 14DP2) was given to the Kansas Historical Society 
and repatriated in 2016. Provenience for the second skull is 
technically unknown but potentially from Doniphan County, KS as well. A 
shiny surface is noticed on the larger of the remains which would 
indicate someone has coated it with a varnish like material.

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 described in this 
notice.

Determinations

    The Atchison County Historical Society has determined that:
    <bullet> The human remains described in this notice represent the 
physical remains of two individuals of Native American ancestry.
    <bullet> There is a connection between the human remains described 
in this notice and the Kaw Nation, Oklahoma.

Requests for Repatriation

    Written requests for repatriation of the human remains 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 described in this notice to a 
requestor may occur on or after September 30, 2026. If competing 
requests for repatriation are received, the Atchison County Historical 
Society must determine the most appropriate requestor prior to 
repatriation. Requests for joint repatriation of the human remains are 
considered a single request and not competing requests. The Atchison 
County Historical Society 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 26, 2026.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2026-17707 Filed 8-28-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P


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