Skip to main content
Notice2026-19478

Notice of Inventory Completion: Auburn University at Montgomery, Montgomery, AL

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), Auburn University at Montgomery 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

<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]
[Page 60408]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-19478]



[[Page 60408]]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[N7515; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0043820; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: Auburn University at Montgomery, 
Montgomery, AL

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and 
Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), Auburn University at Montgomery 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 October 23, 2026.

ADDRESSES: Send written requests for repatriation of the human remains 
and associated funerary objects in this notice to Kimberly Pyszka, 
Auburn University at Montgomery, P.O. Box 244023, Montgomery, AL 36124, 
email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#741a1513040615341501195a111001"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="325c53554240537253475f1c575647">[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 Auburn 
University at Montgomery, 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. The 268 associated funerary objects are 182 pottery sherds, 
43 lithics, two lots of faunal bone, 40 charred seeds, and one daub. 
1BK7, Union Springs, is located off US Highway 82 in Bullock County, 
AL. The site was excavated by David Chase in 1983 in response to the 
development of a recreational park in the county. During these 
excavations, human remains and associated funerary objects were removed 
from the site. These human remains and associated funerary objects were 
then housed in the AUM Archaeology Laboratory. No known hazardous 
substances were used to treat any of the human remains or 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

    Auburn University at Montgomery has determined that:
    <bullet> The human remains described in this notice represent the 
physical remains of two individuals of Native American ancestry.
    <bullet> The 268 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 Absentee 
Shawnee Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma; Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas; 
Alabama-Quassarte Tribal Town; Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana; Eastern 
Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma; Jena Band of Choctaw Indians; Kialegee 
Tribal Town; Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians; Poarch Band of Creek 
Indians; Seminole Tribe of Florida; The Muscogee (Creek) Nation; The 
Seminole Nation of Oklahoma; and the Thlopthlocco Tribal Town.

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, Auburn 
University at Montgomery 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. Auburn University at Montgomery 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. 2026-19478 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.