[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 157 (Monday, August 18, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40077-40078]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-15670]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[N6447; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0040857; 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 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 September 17, 2025.

ADDRESSES: Send written requests for repatriation of the human remains 
and 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

    Human remains representing, at least, four individuals have been 
identified from four sites in Platte County, Missouri. The four 
associated funerary objects include lots of artifacts.
    The Aker Site (23PL43) is located in Platte County, Missouri. Human 
remains representing, at least, one individual has been identified. The 
one associated funerary object includes a lot of artifacts. Collections 
from this site were donated to the University of Kansas by the Aker 
Family in 1988, 2022, and 2024. Records indicate a Kansas City Hopewell 
affiliation (1 to 500 CE).
    The Humphrey Mound Site (23PL45) is located in Platte County, 
Missouri. Human remains representing, at least, one individual has been 
identified. The one associated funerary object includes a lot of 
artifacts. Collections from this site were donated to the University of 
Kansas by the Aker Family in 1988, 2022, and 2024. Records indicate a 
time period of 900 to 1250 CE based on ceramics analysis.
    The Sugar Creek Ossuary Site (23PL58) is located in Platte County, 
Missouri. Human remains representing, at least, one individual has been 
identified. The one associated funerary object includes a lot of 
artifacts. Collections from this site were donated to the University of 
Kansas by the Aker Family in 1988 and 2022. Records indicate a Steed-
Kisker affiliation (900 to 1250 CE).
    The Walker Ridge Site (23PL303) is located in Platte County, 
Missouri. Human remains representing, at least, one individual has been 
identified. The one associated funerary object includes a lot of 
artifacts. This site was excavated by R.B. Aker in 1929, who donated 
his collection to the University of Kansas in 1988. Additional 
collections from this site were donated by the Aker Family in 2022 and 
2024. Records indicate a time period of 900 to 1250 CE based on 
ceramics analysis.
    No hazardous substances are known to have been used on these items.

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 University of Kansas has determined that:
     The human remains described in this notice represent the 
physical remains of four individuals of Native American ancestry.
     The four 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.
     There is a connection between the human remains and 
associated funerary objects described in this notice and the Iowa Tribe 
of Kansas and Nebraska; Kaw Nation, Oklahoma; and the Pawnee Nation of 
Oklahoma.

[[Page 40078]]

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 September 
17, 2025. If competing requests for repatriation are received, the the 
University of Kansas 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 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. 2025-15670 Filed 8-15-25; 8:45 am]
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