Met Museum Returns Rockefeller Artifact to Chickasaw Nation
Published Date: 5/5/2026
Notice
Summary
The Metropolitan Museum of Art plans to return a special quartz sandstone figure to the Chickasaw Nation, its rightful cultural owners, starting June 4, 2026. This figure, linked to ancestor ceremonies and found in Tennessee, was donated by Nelson Rockefeller in 1979. The repatriation honors Native American traditions and strengthens ties between the museum and the Chickasaw people.
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Met Museum to Return Chickasaw Ancestor Figure
The Metropolitan Museum of Art plans to return a quartz sandstone crouching male figure (former accession number 1979.206.476) to the Chickasaw Nation as an unassociated funerary object. The figure was found on the banks of Duck River in Humphreys County, Tennessee, donated by Nelson Rockefeller in 1979, and repatriation may occur on or after June 4, 2026.
Who Can Request This Repatriation
Any lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization may submit a written request to the Met to repatriate this cultural item, and repatriation to an approved requestor may occur on or after June 4, 2026. If competing requests are received, The Met must determine the most appropriate requestor, and joint repatriation requests are treated as a single request.
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