Iowa Archaeologists Catalog Remains for Tribal Return
Published Date: 12/19/2025
Notice
Summary
The University of Iowa’s Office of the State Archaeologist has finished checking out some old human remains linked to Native American tribes. Starting January 20, 2026, these remains can be returned to the tribes who are connected to them. This is a respectful step to honor Native American heritage, with no costs or risks involved.
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 5 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Repatriation Available Starting January 20, 2026
You can request return of the human remains described in this notice beginning on January 20, 2026. The Office of the State Archaeologist Bioarchaeology Program (OSA BP) will accept written repatriation requests sent to Dr. Lara Noldner, Office of the State Archaeologist Bioarchaeology Program, University of Iowa, 700 S Clinton Street, Iowa City, IA 52242, email [email protected].
Twelve Native American Individuals Identified
The OSA BP determined the human remains represent the physical remains of 12 Native American individuals. The inventory reports no associated funerary objects and notes ages and sexes for several individuals (including two juveniles aged about 8–12 and 12–15 years).
Cultural Affiliation Linked to Specific Tribes
The OSA BP determined there is a reasonable cultural affiliation between the human remains and a set of named Indian Tribes, including (but not limited to) the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe; Citizen Potawatomi Nation; Ho-Chunk Nation of Wisconsin; Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska; Omaha Tribe of Nebraska; Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma; Sac & Fox Tribe of the Mississippi in Iowa; Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate; Spirit Lake Tribe; Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska; Yankton Sioux Tribe of South Dakota, and many others listed in the notice. These named tribes may submit repatriation requests.
Who May Request Repatriation and Competing Claims Rule
Repatriation requests may be submitted by any one or more of the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations named in this notice, or by any lineal descendant or tribe/organization not named that shows affiliation by a preponderance of the evidence. Repatriation may occur on or after January 20, 2026; if competing requests are received, the OSA BP will determine the most appropriate requestor, and joint requests are treated as a single request.
Remains Not Treated with Hazardous Substances
The notice states that no hazardous substances were used to treat any of the human remains described herein. This is noted for each set of remains transferred to the OSA BP.
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