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 Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, 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

No human remains have been identified. The three associated funerary objects are three ceramic vessels. One vessel is identified as Ripley Engraved and two are identified as Taylor Engraved. The vessels were removed from Caddo Mounds State Historic Site (41CE19) in Cherokee County, Texas, a site formerly operated by TPWD. The site has historically been associated with the Caddo Nation of Oklahoma.

Sometime in 1982 or earlier, the vessels were placed in an exhibit at Goliad State Park. At a later date, the vessels were removed from the Goliad exhibit and moved to the TPWD curation facility in Austin, where they remained housed with the Goliad collection. Accession records clearly state that the vessels are from Caddo Mounds.

Cultural Affiliation

Based on the information available and the results of consultation, cultural affiliation is reasonably identified by the geographical location of the associated funerary objects described in this notice.

Determinations

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has determined that:

• The three 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 Caddo 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: ( printed page 57375)

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 October 9, 2026. If competing requests for repatriation are received, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department 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 Texas Parks and Wildlife Department 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 57374