Rev War Native Remains Head Back to Tribes
Published Date: 4/4/2025
Notice
Summary
The Historic Camden Foundation in South Carolina has finished checking human remains found at a Revolutionary War battlefield and confirmed they belong to Native American ancestors. These remains are linked to several tribes, including the Catawba and Cherokee Nations. Starting May 5, 2025, the remains can be returned to these tribes, honoring their heritage with no costs involved.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Remains found to be Native American
The Historic Camden Foundation identified human remains representing at least one individual as Native American and determined a cultural affiliation with the Catawba Indian Nation; Cherokee Nation; Delaware Tribe of Indians; Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians; and the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma.
Repatriation available beginning May 5, 2025
The notice states that repatriation of the human remains described may occur on or after May 5, 2025. The remains were recovered in 2022 from the Revolutionary War battlefield of Camden (38KE1003), represent at least one individual, and have no associated funerary objects.
Who may request repatriation and dispute rules
Repatriation requests may be submitted by any one or more of the Tribes named in the notice, or by any lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization not named that proves by a preponderance of the evidence it is a lineal descendant or culturally affiliated. Joint requests count as a single request, and if competing requests are received, the Historic Camden Foundation must determine the most appropriate requestor before repatriation.
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