Mississippi Archives Completes Native American Item Inventory
Published Date: 12/16/2025
Notice
Summary
The Mississippi Department of Archives and History has finished checking and listing Native American human remains and related items from the Dugger Bluff site. These remains belong to at least eight individuals and are linked to Native tribes, with plans to return them starting January 15, 2026. This update adds new items not included in earlier returns, so tribes can now request repatriation.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Repatriation Requests Allowed Starting Jan 15
Tribes or lineal descendants may submit written requests to the Mississippi Department of Archives and History to repatriate the listed human remains and funerary objects starting on or after January 15, 2026. Requests may be submitted by any of the tribes named in the notice or by others who show, by a preponderance of the evidence, that they are lineal descendants or culturally affiliated.
22 Individuals Affiliated with Chickasaw Nation
The Mississippi Department of Archives and History determined the human remains representing 22 individuals and 39 lots of associated funerary objects described in this notice are culturally affiliated with The Chickasaw Nation. Those affiliated remains and objects are identified for potential repatriation under NAGPRA.
No Known Hazardous Treatments Noted
The notice states that, to the knowledge of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History, no known hazardous substances were used to treat any of the human remains or associated funerary objects. This information pertains to the safety of handling and repatriation.
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