[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 157 (Monday, August 18, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40081-40082]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-15669]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[N6453; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0040862; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: The University of Kansas, 
Lawrence, 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 University of Kansas has completed an 
inventory of associated funerary objects and has determined that there 
is a cultural affiliation between the associated funerary objects and 
Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice.

DATES: Repatriation of the associated funerary objects in this notice 
may occur on or after September 17, 2025.

ADDRESSES: Send written requests for repatriation of the associated 
funerary objects in this notice to Dr. Thomas Torma, Repatriation 
Program Manager, The University of Kansas, Office of Audit, Risk, and 
Compliance, 1450 Jayhawk Boulevard, 351 Strong Hall, Lawrence, KS 
66045, email [email protected].

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 Kansas, 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

    Objects associated with human remains previously listed in a Notice 
of Inventory Completion published in the

[[Page 40082]]

Federal Register on April 30, 2025 (90 FR 17958) have been identified. 
The one associated funerary object includes one lot of artifacts. The 
items come from the Pawnee Indian Village Site, also known as the 
Kansas Monument Site (14RP1), which was occupied by the Kitkahahki Band 
of Pawnee from at least 1770 to 1830. Multiple excavations have taken 
place from 1926 to 2018, the items in this notice were excavated by 
Carlyle Smith in 1949. In 1971, the human remains associated with these 
funerary objects were brought to the University of Tennessee, Knoxville 
by Bill Bass.
    To our knowledge, no potentially hazardous substances were used to 
treat any of these 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 associated funerary objects 
described in this notice.

Determinations

    The University of Kansas has determined that:
     The one lot of objects described in this notice is 
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.
     There is a connection between associated funerary objects 
described in this notice and the Kaw Nation, Oklahoma and the Pawnee 
Nation of Oklahoma.

Requests for Repatriation

    Written requests for repatriation of the 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 associated funerary objects described in this 
notice to a requestor may occur on or after September 17, 2025. If 
competing requests for repatriation are received, the University of 
Kansas must determine the most appropriate requestor prior to 
repatriation. Requests for joint repatriation of the associated 
funerary objects are considered a single request and not competing 
requests. The University of Kansas 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: August 6, 2025.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2025-15669 Filed 8-15-25; 8:45 am]
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