Tennessee Unearths Cultural Ties: New Inventory of Ancient Remains
Published Date: 12/22/2025
Notice
Summary
The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation has finished checking and listing Native American human remains and artifacts found in four Tennessee counties. These remains belong to at least 10 individuals and are linked to local Native tribes. Starting January 21, 2026, these items can be returned to the tribes, making this a respectful step toward honoring Native heritage.
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Named Tribes Eligible for Repatriation
The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation determined that the human remains (at least 10 individuals) and four lots of associated funerary objects are culturally affiliated with these groups: Alabama‑Coushatta Tribe of Texas; Cherokee Nation; Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians; The Muscogee (Creek) Nation; Thlopthlocco Tribal Town; and the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma. Those named tribes are identified in this notice as affiliated and therefore may request repatriation of the remains and objects.
Who May Request Repatriation and When
Repatriation may occur on or after January 21, 2026. Written requests may be submitted by any one or more of the named Indian Tribes in this notice or by a lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization not named who shows by a preponderance of the evidence that they are a lineal descendant or culturally affiliated; joint requests count as a single request.
Your PRIA Score
Personalized for You
How does this regulation affect your finances?
Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this federal register document and every other regulation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Key Dates
Department and Agencies
Related Federal Register Documents
2026-04606 — Alaska; Hunting and Trapping in National Preserves
The National Park Service wants to update hunting and trapping rules in Alaska’s national preserves to bring back long-standing practices that support state-authorized wildlife harvests and public access. These changes affect hunters, trappers, and anyone using Alaska park lands, aiming to balance conservation with local traditions. You’ve got until April 9, 2026, to share your thoughts—no new fees or costs are expected.
2026-11850 — Agency Information Collection Activities; National Park Service Concessions Forms
The National Park Service is updating its forms for businesses that run services inside parks, like gift shops and food stands. These changes make it easier for companies to apply and keep things running smoothly, with no extra costs or delays expected. If you work with park concessions, keep an eye out for new form rules coming soon!
2026-11701 — Notice of Intended Repatriation: American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY
The American Museum of Natural History plans to return five Native Hawaiian cultural items, like stone tools, that were taken from burial sites on Oʻahu back in 1938. This repatriation will start on or after July 13, 2026, giving Native Hawaiian groups a chance to reclaim their heritage. No money changes hands, but it’s a big step in respecting and restoring Native Hawaiian history.
2026-11700 — Notice of Inventory Completion: American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY
The American Museum of Natural History has finished checking its collection and found human remains and a bone tool linked to Native American tribes. Starting July 13, 2026, these items can be returned to the tribes that they belong to. If you want to request the return, you can contact the museum directly—just a heads-up, some items might need careful handling due to past pesticide use.
2026-11238 — Notice of Inventory Completion: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
The University of Michigan has finished checking its collection and found Native American ancestral remains from a historic site in Michigan. These remains can be returned to the affiliated tribes starting July 6, 2026. This means the university is ready to give back these important cultural items, following the law, with no costs or risks involved.
2026-11232 — Notice of Intended Repatriation: University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA
The University of California, Berkeley plans to return four important cultural items—two baskets and two charmstones—to Native American tribes connected to them. This repatriation will start on or after July 6, 2026, honoring the tribes’ heritage and history. No money changes hands, but the university is making sure these treasures go back to their rightful communities.
Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2025-23540 — Notice of Inventory Completion: Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, Division of Archaeology, Nashville, TN
The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation has finished checking and listing Native American human remains and related items found in Hamilton County, TN. These remains belong to certain Native tribes, and starting January 21, 2026, they can be returned to their rightful communities. This process respects Native heritage and helps bring important cultural items back home without any cost to tribes.
Next: 2025-23542 — Notice of Inventory Completion: Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation Division of Archaeology, Nashville, TN
The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation has finished checking and listing Native American human remains and artifacts. They found a clear connection between these items and certain Native tribes, so they’re ready to return them starting January 21, 2026. This means important cultural treasures will soon go back to their rightful communities, with no cost to the public.