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 FMNH, 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

Warm Mineral Springs (8SO19) dates to the late Pleistocene. It was excavated by amateur and professional archaeologists between the 1950s-1970s. Radiocarbon analysis of charcoal from this site provides the date range 10,000-10,600 BP. The site is a large free flowing mineral water collapsed cave, and the western edge of the spring forms Salt Creek. In the 1960s, John Goggin retrieved Ancestors from the site. There were also artifacts including long bone needles, an antler shaft wrench, and a fossil shark tooth; these artifacts have never been deposited with FLMNH. The Ancestors were sent to Arizona State University (ASU) (not by FLMNH) and were later transferred to FLMNH as part of a larger acquisition. Warm Mineral Springs was previously reported in the 2003 inventory as culturally unaffiliated with an MNI of two and did not report any associated funerary objects. This notice provides an updated MNI of 39, AFO, and cultural affiliation for the collection. Human remains representing, at least, 39 individuals have been identified. The 81 associated funerary objects include pulverized coral dust, coral, lithic material, plant material, and charred woods.

Cultural Affiliation

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

Determinations

The FMNH has determined that:

• The human remains described in this notice represent the physical remains of 39 individuals of Native American ancestry.
• The 81 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 Miccosukee Tribe of Indians and the Seminole Tribe of Florida.

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 January 15, 2026. If competing requests for repatriation are received, the FMNH 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 FMNH is responsible for sending a copy of this notice to the Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations identified in this notice.

Authority: Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, 25 U.S.C. 3003, and the implementing regulations, 43 CFR 10.10.

90 FR 58303