University Returns Ancient Tools to Tribes in Routine Repatriation Move
Published Date: 4/16/2026
Notice
Summary
San Diego State University has finished checking its collection of Native American cultural items and found they belong to certain tribes. These items, mostly old tools and pottery, will be returned to the tribes starting May 18, 2026. If you want to request these items, contact SDSU before then—no money changes hands, just respect and care for history.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
SDSU Identified 3 Individuals and 80 Lots
San Diego State University determined that the human remains described in this notice represent the physical remains of three Native American individuals, and that 80 lots of associated funerary objects are reasonably believed to have been placed with or near human remains. SDSU determined a cultural affiliation between these remains/objects and the specific tribes listed in the notice.
Large Archaeological Collections Identified
The notice lists multiple SDSU collections from San Diego and Imperial Counties that include thousands of associated funerary objects (examples cited in the notice include collections of approximately 3,500+ objects, 11,500+ objects, and 24,500+ objects). These collections come from specific sites (for example, CA-SDI-149, CA-SDI-4843, CA-SDI-10668) and are part of the inventory to be repatriated.
Repatriation Starts May 18, 2026
Repatriation of the items described in this notice may occur on or after May 18, 2026. If you want to request repatriation, you must send a written request to Jaime Lennox at San Diego State University, 5500 Campanile Drive, San Diego, CA 92182, or email jlennox@sdsu.edu.
Who Can Request Repatriation
Requests for repatriation may be submitted by any one or more of the Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations named in this notice, or by any lineal descendant or tribe not named who shows by a preponderance of the evidence that they are culturally affiliated. Competing requests must be resolved by San Diego State University before repatriation.
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