Document

Notice of Intended Repatriation: California State University, Sacramento, Sacramento, CA

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the California State University, Sacramento intends to repatriate certain cultural items ...

Department of the Interior
National Park Service
  1. [N6879; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0041867; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]

AGENCY:

National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the California State University, Sacramento intends to repatriate certain cultural items that meet the definition of unassociated funerary objects and that have a cultural affiliation with the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice.

DATES:

Repatriation of the cultural items in this notice may occur on or after February 17, 2026.

ADDRESSES:

Send additional, written requests for repatriation of the cultural items in this notice to Dr. Mark R. Wheeler, Senior Advisor to President Luke Wood, California State University, Sacramento, 6000 J Street Sacramento, CA 95819, email .

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 California State University, Sacramento, and additional information on the determinations in this notice, including the results of consultation, can be found in the summary or related records. The National Park Service is not responsible for the determinations in this notice.

Abstract of Information Available

A total of 72 cultural items have been requested for repatriation. The 72 unassociated funerary objects include modified stones and shells; unmodified stones; quartz crystals; faunal remains; charcoal pieces; soil/ash samples; and historic materials. The unassociated funerary objects were removed from several sites in western El Dorado County, CA, including CA-ELD-32 (acc. 81-362), CA-ELD-33 (acc. 81-CSUS-025), CA-ELD-35 (acc. 81-349), CA-ELD-433 (acc. 81-119), CA-ELD-447 (acc. 81-119), CA-ELD-450 (acc. 81-119), CA-ELD-Crystal Cosumnes Cave (acc. 81-CSUS-358), CA-ELD-1569 (acc. 81-193), CA-ELD-1828 (acc. 81-132), CA-ELD-Scott Creek (81-CSUS- ( printed page 2147) 313), CA-ELD-Garden Bar (acc. 81-69), and CA-ELD-Unknown (acc. 81-119, and 1974-31). The unassociated funerary objects primarily originate from California State University, Sacramento excavations and survey projects in the 1950s-1980s. An unknown number of unidentified cultural items may be missing from the collections, which may include other categories of items. The University is unaware of any treatment of the objects of cultural patrimony with pesticides, preservatives, or other substances that represent a potential hazard to the objects or to persons handling the objects.

Determinations

The California State University, Sacramento has determined that:

Requests for Repatriation

Additional, written requests for repatriation of the cultural items in this notice must be sent to the authorized representative identified in this notice under ADDRESSES . Requests for repatriation may be submitted by 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 a culturally affiliated Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization.

Repatriation of the cultural items in this notice to a requestor may occur on or after February 17, 2026. If competing requests for repatriation are received, the California State University, Sacramento must determine the most appropriate requestor prior to repatriation. Requests for joint repatriation of the cultural items are considered a single request and not competing requests. The California State University, Sacramento is responsible for sending a copy of this notice to the Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations identified in this notice and to any other consulting parties.

Authority: Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, 25 U.S.C. 3004 and the implementing regulations, 43 CFR 10.9.

Dated: January 9, 2026.

Melanie O'Brien,

Manager, National NAGPRA Program.

[FR Doc. 2026-00868 Filed 1-15-26; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4312-52-P

Legal Citation

Federal Register Citation

Use this for formal legal and research references to the published document.

91 FR 2146

Web Citation

Suggested Web Citation

Use this when citing the archival web version of the document.

“Notice of Intended Repatriation: California State University, Sacramento, Sacramento, CA,” thefederalregister.org (January 16, 2026), https://thefederalregister.org/documents/2026-00868/notice-of-intended-repatriation-california-state-university-sacramento-sacramento-ca.