Notice of Inventory Completion: Kansas State Historical Society, Topeka, KS

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Published

September 30, 2026

Issuing agencies

Interior DepartmentNational Park Service

Abstract

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Kansas State Historical Society (KSHS) 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 188 (Wednesday, September 30, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 188 (Wednesday, September 30, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Page 61870]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-20002]

[[Page 61870]]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[N7541; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0043901; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]

Notice of Inventory Completion: Kansas State Historical Society,
Topeka, 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 Kansas State Historical Society (KSHS)
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 30, 2026.

ADDRESSES: Send written requests for repatriation of the human remains
and associated funerary objects in this notice to Dr. Nicole Klarmann,
Kansas State Historical Society, 6425 SW 6th Avenue, Topeka, KS 66615-
1099, email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#f8938b908bd696999f888a99b8938bd69f978e"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="f79c849f84d9999690878596b79c84d9909881">[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
KSHS, 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 from Lyon County, KS (UBS 1997-04). The one associated
funerary object is a catlinite pipestone gorget fragment. Human remains
were exposed by chisel plowing and removed by the landowner. They were
then transferred to KSHS on March 11, 1997. An unspecified glue is
present on the bone fragments.
Human remains representing, at least, one individual have been
identified from Barton County, KS (UBS 2025-07). The 161 associated
funerary objects include animal bone, chipped stone, ceramics, and
burned earth. A human tooth was found in the donated items from an
excavation that took place in 1962 by Orrie Graves and Robert Button.
The collection was transferred from Kansas State University to KSHS in
2025.
Human remains representing, at least, one individual have been
identified from Rice County, KS (UBS 2026-03). The 5,554 associated
funerary objects include a bison skull, shell, modified shell, modified
bone tools, and faunal remains. A human tooth was found in this site
collection during review by the KSHS lab director. The items found near
the tooth in a bell-shaped storage pit were determined to be associated
funerary objects.
Unless noted, and to the best of our knowledge, no 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

The KSHS has determined that:
<bullet> The human remains described in this notice represent the
physical remains of four individuals of Native American ancestry.
<bullet> The 5,716 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 Kaw
Nation, Oklahoma and the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes (Wichita,
Keechi, Waco, & Tawakonie), 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
30, 2026. If competing requests for repatriation are received, the KSHS
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 KSHS 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 24, 2026.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2026-20002 Filed 9-29-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P

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