Alabama University Prepares to Repatriate Native American Remains and Items
Published Date: 11/18/2025
Notice
Summary
The University of Alabama at Birmingham has finished checking and listing Native American human remains and artifacts found at an old site in Alabama. These items are linked to specific Native tribes, and they can be returned to those tribes starting December 18, 2025. If you want to request the return, you need to contact the university’s anthropology department by then.
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Tribes Can Request Repatriation Dec 18, 2025
The University of Alabama at Birmingham completed an inventory of one Native American individual and 27 associated funerary objects from site 1Ms471 and determined these remain culturally affiliated with specific Tribes. Repatriation may occur on or after December 18, 2025, and written requests may be sent to Dr. Lauren Downs, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Department of Anthropology, UH 3165 1720 2nd Avenue South, Birmingham, AL 35294, email [email protected]. The notice names the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas; Poarch Band of Creek Indians; Seminole Tribe of Florida; The Muscogee (Creek) Nation; and Thlopthlocco Tribal Town as affiliated, and requests may also be submitted by other lineal descendants or Tribes who show cultural affiliation.
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Previous: 2025-20104, Notice of Inventory Completion: The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
The University of Alabama at Birmingham has finished checking and listing Native American human remains and related items found at an old village site in Alabama. These remains and objects will be returned to the right Native tribes starting December 18, 2025. This important step helps honor Native American heritage and follows federal law, with no costs or deadlines for the public to worry about.
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California State University, Dominguez Hills plans to return three boxes of important Native American cultural items to the Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation. These items, like ancient tools and points found in California, hold special meaning for the tribe. The repatriation can start on or after December 18, 2025, with no costs mentioned for anyone involved.