Federal Register #2026-11709

Notice of Intended Repatriation of Native American Cultural Items by University of Kentucky Museum

This notice concerns the intended repatriation of Native American cultural items by the William S. Webb Museum of Anthropology at the University of Kentucky. - Government Buyer: - Department of the Interior, National Park Service, National NAGPRA Program - William S. Webb Museum of Anthropology, University of Kentucky - Cultural Items for Repatriation: - 91 unassociated funerary objects excavated from archaeological sites in Lee and Rowan Counties, Kentucky - Items include: axes (double grooved, granite grooved), bone handles, botanics, textiles, bone drift, net sinker, bone awl, shell spoons, bone awls, faunal remains, sherds, bifaces, drills, projectile points, lithic materials, scrapers, stone gorget fragment, stone pipe bowl fragment, modified antler, celt, antler flakers, hematite, modified bone, red ochre, groundstone pipe bowl fragment - Quantities range from single items to lots (e.g., 34 projectile points, 22 scrapers) - Affiliated Tribes: - Absentee-Shawnee Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma - Cherokee Nation - Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians - Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma - Shawnee Tribe - United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma - Notable Requirements: - No hazardous substances are present with these items - Repatriation process is open to lineal descendants or culturally affiliated tribes and organizations - Repatriation may occur after a specified waiting period - No OEMs, vendors, or commercial products/services are involved; this is not a procurement opportunity

Description

The William S. Webb Museum of Anthropology at the University of Kentucky intends to repatriate certain cultural items classified as unassociated funerary objects. These items have cultural affiliations with specific Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations. The repatriation includes a total of 91 unassociated funerary objects excavated from various sites in Kentucky. The repatriation may occur on or after July 13, 2026, and requests for repatriation can be submitted by lineal descendants or affiliated tribes or organizations.

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