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 Cincinnati, 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

Based on the information available, human remains representing, at least, 22 individuals have been reasonably identified. The 16 associated funerary objects are seven lots of soil and fractions from flotation; three lots of burned faunal bone; two lots unburned faunal bone; one lot of unsorted faunal bone/stone; one lot of dog bone; one lot of faunal bone; and one lot of mixed (unsorted) materials. All Ancestral human remains and associated funerary objects reported here were recovered from three sites in Hamilton County in southwestern Ohio. These are the Early to Late Woodland Newtown Firehouse site (33Ha419), the Middle Woodland Turner site (33Ha26, 127[41]), and the Archaic/Woodland Wesley Butler site (33Ha63-4, 33Ha338-9 [63]). The University of Cincinnati has no records indicating that these Ancestral human remains or associated funerary objects were exposed to any hazardous substances while in the stewardship of the University.

Newtown Firehouse Site (33Ha419)

The Miami Purchase Association (now Cincinnati Museum Center) conducted limited salvage excavation at the Newtown Firehouse site in 1980 in association with construction of a hose tower. In the same year, the Hamilton County Coroner's Office transferred the recovered human remains and associated cultural objects to former University of Cincinnati faculty member Anthony Perzigian for assistance with identifications. Recent review of materials from backdirt and trenches identified the remains of, at minimum, 18 Ancestors, an increase from the 1995 reported minimum of 10 Ancestors. There are 14 associated funerary objects, including seven lots of soil and fractions from flotation, three lots of burned animal bone, two lots of unburned animal bone, one lot of animal bone/stone, and one lot of dog bones. This is a split collection and additional Ancestral remains from this site were reported in a Notice of Inventory Completion published in the Federal Register by the Cincinnati Museum Center (formerly the Miami Purchase Association) on May 14, 2025 (90 FR 20491).

Wesley Butler (33Ha63-4, 33 Ha 338-9 [63])

Ancestral remains from a minimum of three individuals and two associated funerary objects including one lot of faunal bone and one lot of mixed (unsorted) materials were found from the Wesley Butler site. As reported in a 1980 letter from Robert Genheimer (then with the Miami Purchase Association) that was found in the box with the Ancestral remains, private landowner John Douglas made accidental discoveries of the human remains and associated funerary objects at the Wesley Butler site during field plowing. Douglas turned over the Ancestral remains and all cultural materials to the Miami Purchase Association, which were later transferred to the University on an unknown date, likely in 1980. Genheimer's letter indicates that the site is predominately Late Archaic, although several mounds were reported in the vicinity. Genheimer further noted that the Late Archaic component was characterized by several diminutive knives or “bird points,” to the exclusion of most other Late Archaic point types. The Ohio Historical Society (now Ohio History Collection) also held materials from this site at the time the letter was written.

Turner site (33Ha26, 127[41])

In 2007, a former University of Cincinnati faculty member conducted limited excavation at the Turner site and recovered materials from a “midden trench” in an unknown location. During collections review, Ancestral remains from a minimum of one individual was identified in the collection, likely dating between 500 BC to A.D. 500. No associated funerary objects are present.

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 Cincinnati has determined that:

• The human remains described in this notice represent the physical remains of 22 individuals of Native American ancestry.
• The 16 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 Miami Tribe of Oklahoma; Shawnee Tribe; The Osage Nation; and the Wyandotte Nation.

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 August 21, 2026. If competing requests for repatriation are received, the University of Cincinnati 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 Cincinnati 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.

91 FR 46140