Document

Notice of Inventory Completion: Verde Valley Archaeology Center and Museum, Camp Verde, AZ

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Verde Valley Archaeology Center and Museum (VVAC) has completed an inventory of human...

Department of the Interior
National Park Service
  1. [N7617; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0044156; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]

AGENCY:

National Park Service.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Verde Valley Archaeology Center and Museum (VVAC) has completed an inventory of human remains and associated funerary objects and has determined that there is a cultural affiliation between the human remains and associated funerary objects and Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice.

DATES:

Repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects in this notice may occur on or after December 14, 2026.

( printed page 72902)

ADDRESSES:

Send written requests for repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects in this notice to Monica Buckle, Executive Director, Verde Valley Archaeology Center and Museum, 460 W Finnie Flat Road, Camp Verde, AZ 86322, email .

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 VVAC, 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, one individual, have been identified, plus one lock of human hair from the Dyck Cliff Dwelling. The 38 associated funerary objects are one woven item containing human hair, five ceramic vessels, 25 basket fragments, one gourd bowl, and six soil samples. The basket fragments have been sprayed with clear Krylon for preservation.

The Dyck Cliff Dwelling is on private land owned by Paul Dyck at the time of excavation, in Yavapai County, Arizona. The dwelling was excavated by the Southwest Museum between 1962 and 1972. The collection was housed at the Southwest Museum for analysis and preparation of a report. The collection was transferred to the Paul Dyck Foundation Research Institute of American Indian Culture in 1986 and stored on his land in Arizona. The Paul Dyck Foundation donated the collection to the VVAC in 2014.

Cultural Affiliation

Based on the information available and the results of consultation, cultural affiliation is clearly identified by the information available about the human remains and associated funerary objects described in this notice.

Determinations

The VVAC has determined that:

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 December 14, 2026. If competing requests for repatriation are received, the VVAC 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 VVAC 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.

Dated: October 29, 2026.

Melanie O'Brien,

Manager, National NAGPRA Program.

[FR Doc. 2026-22985 Filed 11-10-26; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4312-52-P

Legal Citation

Federal Register Citation

Use this for formal legal and research references to the published document.

91 FR 72901

Web Citation

Suggested Web Citation

Use this when citing the archival web version of the document.

“Notice of Inventory Completion: Verde Valley Archaeology Center and Museum, Camp Verde, AZ,” thefederalregister.org (November 12, 2026), https://thefederalregister.org/documents/2026-22985/notice-of-inventory-completion-verde-valley-archaeology-center-and-museum-camp-verde-az.