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 65765]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-21116]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[N7565; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0043938; 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#5d3830343124733032382e1d28292e3c73383928"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="43262e2a2f3a6d2e2c263003363730226d262736">[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, 191 individuals have been 
identified. The 484 associated funerary objects are projectile points, 
lithic tools, stone pipes, antler fragments, shark teeth, bone tools, 
marine and freshwater shells. These individual and associated funerary 
objects originated at a large mortuary site and precolonial campsite, 
spanning approximately 15 acres in Live Oak County, Texas. The site was 
used for mortuary treatment for approximately 300 years, although total 
site occupation extended from the Late Paleoindian period through the 
Late Prehistoric period. There were high densities of artifacts and 
over 400 cultural features including an isolated cache of lithic 
material dating to the Late Paleoindian or Early Archaic period. All 
materials and ancestral remains were first housed by the State 
Department of Highways and Public Transportation archaeology laboratory 
in Austin, TX after excavation. They were transferred in 1985 to CAR 
for long term housing. Sometime prior to their transfer, the ancestral 
remains were coated with Gelva, a clear-coated preservative.

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 191 individuals of Native American ancestry.
    <bullet> The 484 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; and the Tonkawa Tribe of Indians of 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 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. 2026-21116 Filed 10-15-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P


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