Notice of Intended Repatriation: University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA
In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the University of California, Berkeley intends to repatriate certain cultural items that ...
In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the University of California, Berkeley intends to repatriate certain cultural items that meet the definition of unassociated funerary objects and that have a known lineal descendant.
DATES:
Repatriation of the cultural items in this notice may occur on or after December 14, 2026.
ADDRESSES:
Send additional, written requests for repatriation of the cultural items in this notice to Alexandra Lucas, Government and Community Relations, Office of the Chancellor. University of California, Berkeley, 200 California Hall, Berkeley, CA 94720, email
nagpra-ucb@berkeley.edu.
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 University of California, Berkeley, and additional information on the determinations in this notice, including the results of consultation, can be found in the summary or related records. The National Park Service is not responsible for the determinations in this notice.
Abstract of Information Available
A total of 57 cultural items have been requested for repatriation. The 57 unassociated funerary belongings were removed from a family cemetery in Alameda County between 1950 and 1951 by Arnold Pilling, Cherie N. Gregoire, Michael Sitnik, Gordon L. Grosscup, and Mary Elizabeth Jane Hal and subsequently accessioned into the University of California Museum of Anthropology (Phoebe A. Hearst Museum of Anthropology). The 57 unassociated funerary belongings are beads (three missing), a cross (grave marker), fastener, faunal remains, iron, marble, nail, pendant, porcelain fragments, potsherds, shells (three missing), and tiles.
Collections and collection spaces at the Phoebe A Hearst Museum of Anthropology were treated with substances for preservation and pest control, some potentially hazardous. No records have been found to date at the Museum to indicate whether or not chemicals or natural substances were used prior to 1960.
Determinations
The University of California, Berkeley has determined that:
The 57 unassociated funerary objects described in this notice are reasonably believed to have been placed intentionally with or near human remains, and are connected, either at the time of death or later as part of the death rite or ceremony of a Native American culture according to the Native American traditional knowledge of a lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization. The unassociated funerary objects have been identified by a preponderance of the evidence as related to human remains, specific individuals, or families, or removed from a specific burial site or burial area of an individual or individuals with cultural affiliation to an Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization.
Known lineal descendants (names withheld per request) are connected to the cultural items described in this notice.
Requests for Repatriation
Additional, written requests for repatriation of the cultural items in this notice must be sent to the authorized representative identified in this notice under
ADDRESSES
. Requests for repatriation may be submitted by 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 a culturally affiliated Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization.
Repatriation of the cultural items in this notice to a requestor may occur on or after December 14, 2026. If competing requests for repatriation are received, the University of California, Berkeley must determine the most appropriate requestor prior to repatriation. Requests for joint repatriation of the cultural items are considered a single request and not competing requests. The University of California, Berkeley is responsible for sending a copy of this notice to all requestors and any other consulting parties.
Authority:
Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, 25 U.S.C. 3004 and the implementing regulations, 43 CFR 10.9.
Use this for formal legal and research references to the published document.
91 FR 72892
Web Citation
Suggested Web Citation
Use this when citing the archival web version of the document.
“Notice of Intended Repatriation: University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA,” thefederalregister.org (November 12, 2026), https://thefederalregister.org/documents/2026-22974/notice-of-intended-repatriation-university-of-california-berkeley-berkeley-ca.