Tennessee Uni Preps Return of Kansas Mound Ancestors
Published Date: 4/18/2025
Notice
Summary
The University of Tennessee’s Anthropology Department has finished checking its collection of Native American human remains from ancient mound sites in Kansas. They’ve confirmed these remains belong to specific tribes and are ready to return them starting May 19, 2025. This means Native communities can soon reclaim their ancestors, with no costs or delays expected.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
16 Native American Remains Identified
The University of Tennessee identified the physical remains of 16 Native American individuals recovered from mound sites in Clay and Geary Counties, Kansas. The remains are culturally affiliated with the Kaw Nation, Oklahoma and the Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma, and repatriation may occur on or after May 19, 2025.
Who Can Request Repatriation
Repatriation requests may be submitted by the Kaw Nation and the Pawnee Nation named in the notice, or by any lineal descendant or other tribe that shows by a preponderance of the evidence that it is culturally affiliated. If competing requests are received, the University of Tennessee must determine the most appropriate requestor; joint requests are treated as a single request.
No Funerary Objects Included
The notice states that no associated funerary objects are present with the human remains described. That means only the 16 individuals' remains are part of this repatriation notice.
No Known Hazardous Treatment
The notice states that, to the university's knowledge, the human remains were not treated with any potentially hazardous substances. This information pertains to safety considerations for handling and repatriation.
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