Notice2026-19474
Notice of Intended Repatriation: California State University, Stanislaus, Turlock, CA
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
September 23, 2026
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentNational Park Service
Abstract
In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the California State University, Stanislaus intends to repatriate certain cultural items that meet the definition of unassociated funerary objects or objects of cultural patrimony and that have a cultural affiliation with the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice.
Full Text
<html>
<head>
<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 183 (Wednesday, September 23, 2026)</title>
</head>
<body><pre>
[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 183 (Wednesday, September 23, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60411-60412]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-19474]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[N7511; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0043809; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Intended Repatriation: California State University,
Stanislaus, Turlock, CA
AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and
Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the California State University, Stanislaus
intends to repatriate certain cultural items that meet the definition
of unassociated funerary objects or objects of cultural patrimony 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 October 23, 2026.
ADDRESSES: Send additional, written requests for repatriation of the
cultural items in this notice to Jake Malsbury, NAGPRA/CalNAGPRA
Repatriation Coordinator, Office of the President, California State
University, Stanislaus, One University Circle, Turlock, CA 95382, email
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#c8a2a5a9a4bbaabdbab188abbbbdbbbca9a6e6adacbd"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="3b51565a5748594e49427b58484e484f5a55155e5f4e">[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 the
California State University, Stanislaus, 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 1,251 cultural items have been requested for
repatriation.
In 1993-1996, archaeologists associated with the California State
University, Stanislaus removed cultural items from the site CA-CAL-55
in Calaveras County, CA. The three objects of cultural patrimony
consist of the following individual lots: faunal remains; flaked
stones; and unmodified stones.
In 1979, archaeologists associated with the California State
University, Stanislaus removed cultural items from the site CA-CAL-661
in Calaveras County, CA. The 155 objects of cultural patrimony include
faunal and floral remains, thermally altered rocks, quartz crystal,
flaked and unmodified stones, soil samples, and ground stone objects.
In 1985, archaeologists associated with the California State
University, Stanislaus removed cultural items from the site CA-CAL-973/
H in Calaveras County, CA. The 904 objects of cultural patrimony
include flaked and unmodified stones, thermally altered rocks, faunal
and floral remains, historic materials, quartz crystal, and ground
stone objects.
In 1985-1986, archaeologists associated with the California State
University, Stanislaus removed cultural items from the site CA-CAL-
1010/H in Calaveras County, CA. The 10 objects of cultural patrimony
consist of the following individual lots: flaked stones; unmodified
stones; thermally altered rocks; faunal remains; charcoal pieces; soil
samples; projectile points; quartz crystal; historic materials; and
ground stone objects.
In 2008 and 2012, archaeologists associated with the California
State University, Stanislaus removed cultural items from the site CA-
CAL-1659/H in Calaveras County, CA. The two objects of cultural
patrimony consist of the following individual lots: ground stone and
historic materials.
In the 1970's and 1980's, archaeologists associated with the
California State University, Stanislaus removed cultural items from
several unknown sites in Calaveras County, CA. The four objects of
cultural patrimony consist of the following individual lots: flaked
stones; unmodified stones; quartz crystal; and ground stone objects.
At an unknown date, 173 cultural items were removed from an unknown
cave site in Calaveras County, CA. The 173 unassociated funerary
objects include shell beads, shell fragments, and faunal bone.
The University is unaware of any treatment of the cultural items
listed above with pesticides, preservatives, or other substances that
represent a potential hazard to the objects or to persons handling the
objects. An unknown number of unidentified cultural items may be
missing from the above collections, which may include other categories
of items.
Determinations
The California State University, Stanislaus has determined that:
<bullet> The 1,078 objects of cultural patrimony described in this
notice have ongoing historical, traditional, or cultural importance
central to the Native American group, including any constituent sub-
group (such as a band, clan, lineage, ceremonial society, or other
subdivision), according to the Native American traditional knowledge of
an Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization.
<bullet> The 173 unassociated funerary objects described in this
notice are reasonably believed to have been placed intentionally with
or near human remains, and are connected, either at the time of death
or later as part of the death rite or ceremony of a Native American
culture according to the Native American traditional knowledge of a
lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization. The
unassociated funerary objects have been identified by a preponderance
of the evidence as related to human remains, specific individuals, or
families, or removed from a specific burial site or burial area of an
individual or individuals with cultural affiliation to an Indian Tribe
or Native Hawaiian organization.
<bullet> There is a connection between the cultural items described
in this notice and the California Valley Miwok Tribe, California;
Chicken Ranch Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians of California; Ione Band of
Miwok Indians of California; and the Tuolumne Band of Me-Wuk Indians of
the Tuolumne Rancheria of California.
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 October 23, 2026. If competing requests for
repatriation are received, the California State University, Stanislaus
must determine the most appropriate requestor prior to repatriation.
Requests for joint repatriation of the cultural items are considered a
single request and not
[[Page 60412]]
competing requests. The California State University, Stanislaus 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: September 17, 2026.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2026-19474 Filed 9-22-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
</pre><script data-cfasync="false" src="/cdn-cgi/scripts/5c5dd728/cloudflare-static/email-decode.min.js"></script></body>
</html>Indexed from Federal Register on September 23, 2026.
This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.