Notice2026-19464
Notice of Inventory Completion: The University of Tennessee, Department of Anthropology, Knoxville, TN, and the Frank H. McClung Museum of Natural History & Culture, Knoxville, TN
Primary source
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Published
September 23, 2026
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentNational Park Service
Abstract
In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the University of Tennessee, Department of Anthropology and the Frank H. McClung Museum of Natural History & Culture (UTK) 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 183 (Wednesday, September 23, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 183 (Wednesday, September 23, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60402-60403]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-19464]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[N7501; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0043795; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Inventory Completion: The University of Tennessee,
Department of Anthropology, Knoxville, TN, and the Frank H. McClung
Museum of Natural History & Culture, Knoxville, TN
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 Tennessee, Department of
Anthropology and the Frank H. McClung Museum of Natural History &
Culture (UTK) 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 October 23, 2026.
ADDRESSES: Send written requests for repatriation of the human remains
and associated funerary objects in this notice to Dr. Ellen Lofaro,
University of Tennessee, Office of Repatriation, Knoxville, TN 37996,
email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#056b64627577644570716e2b606170"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="2d434c4a5d5f4c6d58594603484958">[email 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 UTK,
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, five individuals have been
identified. The 22 associated funerary objects are four lots of
ceramics, four lots of faunal material, five lots of lithics, five lots
of shell, three lots of botanical material, and one lot of objects
placed with or near human remains. The human remains and associated
funerary objects were removed from the Harkrader site in Smyth County,
VA. The site dates to between c. 1200 and 1600 CE.
[[Page 60403]]
Human remains representing, at least, one individual have been
identified. The four associated funerary objects are one lot of
ceramics, one lot of lithics, one lot of faunal remains, and one lot of
objects placed with or near human remains. The human remains and
associated funerary objects were removed from an unnamed archaeological
site in Smyth County, VA. Information about this site is minimal, but
it is likely multicomponent (c. 1200 BCE and c. 1000-1600 CE.)
Human remains representing, at least, one individual have been
identified. The three associated funerary objects are one lot of
ceramics, one lot of lithics, and one lot of objects placed with or
near human remains. The human remains and associated funerary objects
were removed from an unnamed rockshelter site in Wise County, VA. The
site dates to between c. 1000 and 1600 CE.
All the human remains and associated funerary objects described
above were removed by a collector named Russell Frost at unknown dates
prior to his death in 1983. Frost's parents brought these individuals
and associated funerary objects to William Bass, UTK Anthropology, in
1983, and to the UTK McClung Museum in 1986. Some of the remains have
been ``repaired'' using adhesive, but UTK has no records suggesting the
presence of potentially hazardous materials.
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
UTK has determined that:
<bullet> The human remains described in this notice represent the
physical remains of seven individuals of Native American ancestry.
<bullet> The 29 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 Cherokee
Nation; Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians; Eastern Shawnee Tribe of
Oklahoma; Monacan Indian Nation; and the United Keetoowah Band of
Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma.
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 October
23, 2026. If competing requests for repatriation are received, UTK 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. UTK 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: September 17, 2026.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2026-19464 Filed 9-22-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
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