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 Louisiana Division of Archaeology, 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 nine individuals have been identified ( printed page 48408) from site 16JA21, Quarles Lake, in Jackson Parish, LA. At minimum, one lot of potentially associated funerary objects are present including ceramics and lithics. In 1971, Richard Franz, Allen Tuten, and several other avocational archaeologists began excavating 16JA21, making several trips to the site over the year. Franz moved out of the state soon after and took all site materials with him. In 2022, the family of Richard Franz reached out to the LDOA about Richard's collections, now stored in Wyoming. In late 2022, LDOA staff travelled to Wyoming to pick up Louisiana collections, including 16JA21, and brought them back to Baton Rouge. In 2024, the family donated the collections to LDOA. The same year, LSU began analysis to determine MNI, completed in late 2025. In 2025, Allen Tuten donated his collection from 16JA21.

Human remains representing at least 15 individuals have been identified from unknown archaeological sites from northern Louisiana and southern Arkansas including Lincoln, Union, Madison, Tensas, Union, and West Carroll Parishes in Louisiana. At minimum, five lots of potentially associated funerary objects are present including ceramics and lithics. From the 1950s to 1970s, Richard Franz visited and excavated numerous sites around southern Arkansas and northern Louisiana. Franz moved out of the state soon after and took all site materials with him. In 2022, the family of Richard Franz reached out to the LDOA about Richard's collections, now stored in Wyoming. In late 2022, LDOA staff travelled to Wyoming to pick up these collections, including 16JA21, and brought them back to Baton Rouge. In 2024, the family donated the collections to LDOA.

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 Louisiana Division of Archaeology has determined that:

• The human remains described in this notice represent the physical remains of 24 individuals of Native American ancestry.
• The six lots of 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 Caddo Nation of Oklahoma.

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 31, 2026. If competing requests for repatriation are received, the Louisiana Division of Archaeology 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 Louisiana Division of Archaeology 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.

91 FR 48407