Tonto Forest to Return Ancient Remains and Pots to Tribes
Published Date: 12/16/2025
Notice
Summary
The Tonto National Forest in Arizona has finished checking its collection and found human remains linked to Native American tribes. Starting January 15, 2026, these remains and some pottery can be returned to the tribes. This process respects Native American heritage and involves no costs or deadlines beyond that date.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Repatriation opens January 15, 2026
If you are one of the listed Indian Tribes or a lineal descendant, you may request repatriation of the human remains and funerary objects starting January 15, 2026. Send written requests to Neil Bosworth at Tonto National Forest, 2324 E McDowell Road, Phoenix, AZ 85006 or the email provided in the notice.
Inventory: 113 remains, 244 objects
The Tonto National Forest determined the inventory includes human remains representing 113 Native American individuals and 244 associated funerary objects. The Forest Service identified a cultural affiliation connecting these items to the Ak-Chin Indian Community; Gila River Indian Community; Hopi Tribe; Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community; Tohono O'odham Nation; and the Zuni Tribe.
Who may request and dispute rules
Repatriation requests may be submitted by any one or more of the tribes named in the notice or by a lineal descendant or tribe not named who proves cultural affiliation by a preponderance of the evidence. If competing requests are received, the Tonto National Forest must decide the most appropriate requestor; joint requests are considered a single request.
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