Tonto Forest Prepares to Return Native Remains and Pottery
Published Date: 3/17/2025
Notice
Summary
The Tonto National Forest in Arizona plans to return human remains and cultural items found in Apache Canyon to Native American tribes or descendants starting April 16, 2025. If no one claims them by March 17, 2026, these items will be considered unclaimed. This affects tribes connected to the area and involves important artifacts like stone tools and pottery.
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Claim Deadline and Unclaimed Status
Claims to receive the human remains or cultural items must be submitted before March 17, 2026; disposition may begin on or after April 16, 2025. If no claim is received by March 17, 2026, the items will be officially designated as unclaimed human remains or cultural items.
Sacred Objects Identified for Religious Use
Six items have been identified as sacred objects/objects of cultural patrimony that are 'needed by a traditional Native American religious leader' for present-day practice, and are being treated as such for disposition under this notice.
Repatriation of 81 Native Remains
The Tonto National Forest has identified human remains representing at least 81 Native American individuals and intends to return them to lineal descendants, Indian Tribes, or Native Hawaiian organizations. The remains are associated with 178 associated funerary objects, 61 unassociated funerary objects, and 6 sacred objects/objects of cultural patrimony.
Tribes Named With Disposition Priority
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 have priority for disposition of the human remains and cultural items described in this notice.
Claims Allowed From Non‑Listed Tribes
Tribes, lineal descendants, or Native Hawaiian organizations not named in the notice may submit written claims for disposition if they show by a preponderance of the evidence that they have priority for disposition.
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Key Dates
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The Tonto National Forest in Phoenix, AZ, plans to return human remains and cultural items found during road work to Native American tribes or descendants starting April 16, 2025. If no one claims them by March 17, 2026, these items will be considered unclaimed. This affects tribes connected to the area and involves important artifacts like stone tools and pottery.