Notice of Inventory Completion: Kansas State Historical Society, Topeka, KS

[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 73 (Thursday, April 16, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Page 20494]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2026-07392]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[N7090; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0042602; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: Kansas State Historical Society, 
Topeka, 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 Kansas State Historical Society (KSHS) 
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 May 18, 2026.

ADDRESSES: Send written requests for repatriation of the associated 
funerary objects in this notice to Dr. Nicole Klarmann, Kansas State 
Historical Society, 6425 SW 6th Avenue, Topeka, KS 66615-1099, email 
kshs.nagpra@ks.gov.

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 
KSHS, 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

    Associated funerary objects have been identified from Richardson 
County, Nebraska (UBS 2001-03). The 457 objects include ceramics and 
lithics. An amateur archeologist gave their collection to KSHS in 1925. 
Human remains were incorrectly separated from the associated funerary 
objects and this notice serves to repatriate the funerary objects the 
donor removed from this site.
    Associated funerary objects have been identified from northeastern 
Kansas (UBS 1993-07). The 200 objects include lithics, ceramics, non-
human bone, and shell. An amateur archeologist gave their collection to 
KSHS in 1981. Human remains were incorrectly separated from the 
associated funerary objects and this notice serves to repatriate the 
funerary objects the donor removed from this site.
    Associated funerary objects have been identified from Doniphan 
County, Kansas (UBS 2024-08). The 338 objects include ceramics, bone 
and stone tools, shell, catlinite, hematite, beads, and historic items. 
The Nebraska Historical Society gave their Kansas collections to KSHS 
in 1987. Human remains were incorrectly separated from the associated 
funerary objects and this notice serves to repatriate the funerary 
objects that were removed from this site. An unspecified glue was used 
to reconstruct some of the ceramic items.
    Unless noted above, no known hazardous substances were used to 
treat any of the 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 KSHS has determined that:
    •  The 995 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 associated funerary 
objects described in this notice and the Iowa Tribe of Kansas and 
Nebraska; 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 May 18, 2026. If competing 
requests for repatriation are received, the KSHS 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 KSHS 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: April 8, 2026.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2026-07392 Filed 4-15-26; 8:45 am]
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