Notice of Inventory Completion: University of Texas at San Antonio Center for Archaeological Research, San Antonio, TX

Issuing agencies

Abstract

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the University of Texas at San Antonio Center for Archaeological Research (CAR), 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 199 (Friday, October 16, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 199 (Friday, October 16, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Page 65763]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-21115]



[[Page 65763]]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[N7564; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0043937; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: University of Texas at San 
Antonio Center for Archaeological Research, San Antonio, TX

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 Texas at San Antonio 
Center for Archaeological Research (CAR), 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 November 16, 2026.

ADDRESSES: Send written requests for repatriation of the human remains 
and associated funerary objects in this notice to Emily Moes, Center 
for Archaeological Research, One UTSA Circle, San Antonio, TX 78249, 
email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#6401090d081d4a090b011724111017054a010011"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="ed8880848194c38082889ead98999e8cc3888998">[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 
CAR, 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, 19 individuals have been 
identified. The 1,111 associated funerary objects are lithic debitage, 
projectile points, faunal bones, clay nodules, pot sherds, marine 
shells, and soil matrix. These individuals and associated funerary 
objects originated at four sites in Wharton County, Texas: 41WH14, 
41WH17, 41WH19, 41WH21. The sites were seasonal occupation areas 
spanning the precolonial periods, approximately 11,000 BCE-1500 CE. The 
sites were excavated by the Houston Archaeological Society between 
1978-1995, after which the individuals and objects were housed by the 
Houston Archaeological Society prior to being transferred to UTSA-CAR 
in 2019.

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 CAR has determined that:
    <bullet> The human remains described in this notice represent the 
physical remains of 19 individuals of Native American ancestry.
    <bullet> The 1,111 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 Apache 
Tribe of Oklahoma; Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes, Oklahoma; Comanche 
Nation, Oklahoma; Kiowa Tribe (previously listed as Kiowa Indian Tribe 
of Oklahoma); Mescalero Apache Tribe of the Mescalero Reservation, New 
Mexico; Tonkawa Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma; and the Tunica-Biloxi 
Indian Tribe.

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 November 
16, 2026. If competing requests for repatriation are received, the CAR 
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 CAR 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: October 7, 2026.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2026-21115 Filed 10-15-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P


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