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 California State University, Northridge (CSUN), 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, three individuals have been identified. No associated funerary objects are present. Notes with the human remains from the time of their excavation state the location as Native American earth mounds in Lawrence County, Ohio 1934-1935. Based on information available, these remains were excavated by an amateur archaeology enthusiast in the Ohio region during 1934-1935. It is unclear how this collection came to California State University, Northridge (CSUN) campus or when. No university files or records exist of this collection. These human remains consist of one neonate and two adult individuals in highly fragmented and incomplete condition. It is unknown if any potentially hazardous substances have been used to treat any of these human ( printed page 60400) remains before they arrived in the possession of CSUN.

Earth mounds in Ohio were used prehistorically for a number of functions, one of which were funerary or mortuary locations. Using ethnographic evidence and Traditional Knowledge, present-day descendants of the Peoria Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma and The Shawnee peoples have known the area of southern Ohio region as a part of their home land since time immemorial.

Cultural Affiliation

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

Determinations

The California State University, Northridge has determined that:

• The human remains described in this notice represent the physical remains of three individuals of Native American ancestry.
• There is a connection between the human remains described in this notice and the Peoria Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma and the Shawnee Tribe.

Requests for Repatriation

Written requests for repatriation of the human remains 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 described in this notice to a requestor may occur on or after October 23, 2026. If competing requests for repatriation are received, California State University, Northridge must determine the most appropriate requestor prior to repatriation. Requests for joint repatriation of the human remains are considered a single request and not competing requests. California State University, Northridge 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 60399