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 CAR, 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, 191 individuals have been identified. The 484 associated funerary objects are projectile points, lithic tools, stone pipes, antler fragments, shark teeth, bone tools, marine and freshwater shells. These individual and associated funerary objects originated at a large mortuary site and precolonial campsite, spanning approximately 15 acres in Live Oak County, Texas. The site was used for mortuary treatment for approximately 300 years, although total site occupation extended from the Late Paleoindian period through the Late Prehistoric period. There were high densities of artifacts and over 400 cultural features including an isolated cache of lithic material dating to the Late Paleoindian or Early Archaic period. All materials and ancestral remains were first housed by the State Department of Highways and Public Transportation archaeology laboratory in Austin, TX after excavation. They were transferred in 1985 to CAR for long term housing. Sometime prior to their transfer, the ancestral remains were coated with Gelva, a clear-coated preservative.

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 CAR has determined that:

• The human remains described in this notice represent the physical remains of 191 individuals of Native American ancestry.
• The 484 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 Apache Tribe of Oklahoma; Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes, Oklahoma; Comanche Nation, Oklahoma; Kiowa Tribe (previously listed as Kiowa Indian Tribe of Oklahoma); Mescalero Apache Tribe of the Mescalero Reservation, New Mexico; and the Tonkawa Tribe of Indians 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 November 16, 2026. If competing requests for repatriation are received, the CAR 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 CAR 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.