Notice of Inventory Completion: The University of Arkansas Museum, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR

Issuing agencies

Abstract

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the University of Arkansas Museum 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 203 (Thursday, October 22, 2026)</title>
</head>
<body><pre>
[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 203 (Thursday, October 22, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66720-66721]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-21531]



[[Page 66720]]

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

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[N7572; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0044025; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: The University of Arkansas 
Museum, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and 
Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the University of Arkansas Museum 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 23, 2026.

ADDRESSES: Send written requests for repatriation of the human remains 
and associated funerary objects in this notice to Dr. Mary Suter, 
Curator of Collections, The University of Arkansas Museum, University 
of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701, email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#335e404647564173465241581d565746"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="563b2523223324162337243d78333223">[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 
University of Arkansas Museum, 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

    In 1962, Charles McGimsey of the University of Arkansas undertook 
archaeological research at the Mineral Springs site (3HO1) on the 
Millwood Reservoir, Howard County, AR. Artifacts indicate a Fourche 
Maline phase with a Caddoan Mississippian occupation of the site from 
500 BC to the Contact Period. Burials were excavated during legally 
authorized excavations by the University of Arkansas Museum. The 
collection is located at the University of Arkansas Museum, University 
of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR. There are no known hazardous substances 
used to treat any of the human remains or associated funerary objects. 
The 15 associated funerary objects are two pieces of glass, five pieces 
of clay, and eight flakes.
    In 1961, Michael P. Hoffman of the University of Arkansas undertook 
archaeological research at the Bell site (3HO11) on the Millwood 
Reservoir, Howard County, AR. Artifacts indicate a late Fourche Maline 
phase with a Caddoan Mississippian occupation of the site from 500 BC 
to the Contact Period. Burials were excavated during legally authorized 
excavations by the University of Arkansas Museum. The collection is 
located at the University of Arkansas Museum, University of Arkansas, 
Fayetteville, AR. Human remains representing, at least, six individuals 
have been identified. No known individuals were identified. There are 
no known hazardous substances used to treat any of the human remains or 
associated funerary objects. The 194 associated funerary objects are 47 
bones, four charcoal, 10 daub, two flakes, one pipe stem, 30 shells, 
and 100 sherds.
    In the early 1960s, under the direction of James Scholtz, the 
University of Arkansas undertook archaeological research at the White 
Cliffs site (3LR12) on the Millwood Reservoir, Little River County, AR. 
Artifacts indicate an early Caddoan Mississippian occupation of the 
site from A.D. 900 to 1200. Burials were excavated during legally 
authorized excavations by the University of Arkansas Museum. The 
collection is located at the University of Arkansas Museum, University 
of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR. There are no known hazardous substances 
used to treat any of the human remains or associated funerary objects. 
The 2,215 associated funerary objects are 37 bones, 656 flakes, 305 
lithic samples, three shells, one shell casing (ammunition), and 1,213 
sherds.
    In the early 1960s, under the direction of Charles McGimsey, the 
University of Arkansas Museum undertook archaeological research at the 
Old Martin Place site (3LR49) on the Millwood Reservoir, Little River 
County, AR. Artifacts indicate a Fourche Maline phase with a Caddoan 
Mississippian occupation of the site from 500 to the Contact Period. 
Burials were excavated during legally authorized excavations by the 
University of Arkansas Museum. The collection is located at the 
University of Arkansas Museum, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, 
AR. There are no known hazardous substances used to treat any of the 
human remains or associated funerary objects. The 804 associated 
funerary objects are nine antlers, five antler artifacts, 10 bone awls, 
639 bones, two daub, one fish hook, 12 shells, 112 sherds, 13 stones, 
and one wood.
    In the early 1960s, Michael P. Hoffman of the University of 
Arkansas Museum undertook archaeological research at the Millers 
Crossing site (3SV10) on the Millwood Reservoir, Sevier County, AR. 
Artifacts indicate an early Caddoan Mississippian occupation of the 
site from A.D. 900 to 1200. Burials were excavated during legally 
authorized excavations by the University of Arkansas Museum. The 
collection is located at the University of Arkansas Museum, University 
of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR. There are no known hazardous substances 
used to treat any of the human remains or associated funerary objects. 
The seven associated funerary objects are one pigment, two metal, one 
galena, two jars, and one bowl.
    In the early 1980s, human remains representing, at minimum, one 
individual were removed from the Millers Crossing site (3SV10) on 
Millwood Reservoir, Sevier County, AR. The human remains and associated 
funerary object were donated to the University of Arkansas by a private 
donor. Artifacts indicate an early Caddoan Mississippian occupation of 
the site from A.D. 900 to 1200. The collection is located at the 
University of Arkansas Museum, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, 
AR. There are no known hazardous substances used to treat any of the 
human remains or associated funerary objects. No known individuals were 
identified. The one associated funerary object is one sherd.
    In the early 1960s, Michael P. Hoffman of the University of 
Arkansas undertook archaeological research at the Graves Chapel site 
(3SV15) on the Millwood Reservoir, Sevier Co., AR. Artifacts indicate a 
late Archaic period (3000-650 BC) and Late Woodland (A.D. 500-900) to 
Early Caddoan Mississippian (A.D. 900-1200) components of the site. 
Burials were excavated during legally authorized excavations by the 
University of Arkansas Museum. The collection is located at the 
University of Arkansas Museum, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, 
AR. There are no known hazardous substances used to treat any of the 
human remains or associated funerary objects. The 154 associated 
funerary objects are 18 flakes, 96 bones, 27 shells, two ground stones, 
three cores, and eight sherds.
    In the early 1960s, human remains representing, at minimum, one 
individual were removed from the Hutt

[[Page 66721]]

site (3HE3) on Millwood Reservoir, Hempstead County, AR. Burials were 
excavated during legally authorized excavations by the University of 
Arkansas Museum. Artifacts indicate an early Caddoan Mississippian 
occupation of the site from A.D. 900 to 1200. The collection is located 
at the University of Arkansas Museum, University of Arkansas, 
Fayetteville, AR. There are no known hazardous substances used to treat 
any of the human remains or associated funerary objects. No known 
individuals were identified. There are no associated funerary objects.

Cultural Affiliation

    Based on the information available and the results of consultation, 
cultural affiliation with the Caddo Nation of Oklahoma is clearly 
identified by the information available about the associated funerary 
objects described in this notice.

Determinations

    The University of Arkansas Museum has determined that:
    <bullet> The human remains described in this notice represent the 
physical remains of eight individuals of Native American ancestry.
    <bullet> The 3,390 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 Caddo 
Nation 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 
23, 2026. If competing requests for repatriation are received, the 
University of Arkansas Museum 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 University of Arkansas Museum 
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 15, 2026.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2026-21531 Filed 10-21-26; 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>