Notice of Inventory Completion: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Norfolk District, Norfolk, VA

Issuing agencies

Abstract

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Norfolk District, 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 167 (Monday, August 31, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 167 (Monday, August 31, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55894-55895]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-17709]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[N7468; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0043596; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 
Norfolk District, Norfolk, VA

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 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Norfolk 
District, 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 30, 2026.

ADDRESSES: Send written requests for repatriation of the human remains 
and associated funerary objects in this notice to Ms. Sara Bahnson, 
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Norfolk District, 803 Front Street, 
Norfolk, VA 23510, email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#4f1c2e3d2e610a610d2e27213c20210f3a3c2e2c2a612e3d223661222623"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="42112330236c076c00232a2c312d2c0237312321276c23302f3b6c2f2b2e">[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 
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Norfolk District, 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, 10 individuals have been 
identified from three archaeological sites in Bath County, Virginia. 
Archaeological sites 44BA3 (Perkins Point), 44BA5 (Huffman), and 44BA15 
(Noah's Ark) were investigated as part of archaeological studies 
conducted for the construction of the Gathright Dam and Lake Moomaw 
Project. Field investigations were conducted by the James Madison 
University Archaeological Research Center under the direction of 
Clarence R. Geier and colleagues between 1978 and 1982. The 357 lots of 
associated funerary objects are one lot copper beads, three lots copper 
bead fragments, one lot bifaces, 126 lots of lithic flakes, 10 lots of 
lithic tool fragments, 54 lots of ceramic sherds, 140 lots of botanical 
material, two lots of faunal, one lot of red ochre, one possible bead, 
and 18 lots of unmodified stone. No hazardous substances have been used 
to treat any of the human remains or associated funerary objects to the 
knowledge of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

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

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Norfolk District, has determined 
that:
    <bullet> The human remains described in this notice represent the 
physical remains of 10 individuals of Native American ancestry.
    <bullet> The 357 lots 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 Monacan 
Indian Nation.

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,

[[Page 55895]]

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, the U.S. 
Army Corps of Engineers, Norfolk District, 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. The U.S. Army 
Corps of Engineers, Norfolk District, 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. 2026-17709 Filed 8-28-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P


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