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 Denver Art Museum, 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

The 10 associated funerary objects are sherds. These 10 sherds were gifted to the Denver Art Museum (DAM) in 1934. Prior to DAM, the sherds were donated to the University of Michigan from Fain King, property owner and amateur collector, who excavated on his property on multiple occasions. According to records at the Denver Art Museum, these sherds came from the Wickliffe site in Ballard County, Kentucky. There is little additional information at the Denver Art Museum, however, information provided by the University of Michigan Museum of Anthropological Archaeology Research Museums Center (UMMAA) indicated the set of sherds at DAM was split from an original collection of associated funerary objects and human remains housed at UMMAA (see 84 FR 50066). UMMAA archaeologists' research concluded that the Wickliffe Mounds site (15BA4) is culturally affiliated to Dhegians based on linguistic, archaeological, and ethnohistorical evidence. There are no known hazardous substances used to treat 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 Denver Art Museum has determined that:

• The 10 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 Quapaw Nation.

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 August 31, 2026. If competing requests for repatriation are received, the Denver Art Museum 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 Denver Art Museum 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 48413