Park Sets Deadline for Tribal Claims on Artifacts
Published Date: 7/2/2026
Notice
Summary
Joshua Tree National Park plans to return the remains of two Native American individuals and 104 related artifacts to the rightful tribes, following the law that protects Native American graves. This process can start after August 3, 2026, and tribes have until July 2, 2027, to claim them. If no claims come in, the remains and objects will be considered unclaimed.
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Repatriation of remains and artifacts
Joshua Tree National Park intends to return the physical remains of two Native American individuals and 104 associated funerary objects. Priority for disposition is given to the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians of the Agua Caliente Indian Reservation, the Cahuilla Band of Indians, and the Morongo Band of Mission Indians. The 104 objects include pottery sherds, manos, a metate fragment, non-human bone fragments, lithics, and a projectile point.
Claim window and unclaimed outcome
Disposition may occur on or after August 3, 2026, and written claims for disposition must be received by July 2, 2027. Claims may be submitted by any Indian Tribe named in the notice, or by a lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization not named that shows priority; if no claim is received by July 2, 2027, the remains and objects will become unclaimed.
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Key Dates
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Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2026-13328 — Notice of Inventory Completion: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Joshua Tree National Park, Twentynine Palms, CA
Joshua Tree National Park has finished checking its collections and found human remains and 173 related items linked to Native American tribes. Starting August 3, 2026, these remains and objects can be returned to the tribes that they belong to. This process respects Native American heritage and follows important laws to make sure everything is done right.
Next: 2026-13330 — Notice of Inventory Completion: University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, Philadelphia, PA
The University of Pennsylvania Museum has finished checking its collection and found human remains linked to Native American tribes. These remains, from three individuals found in New York long ago, can be returned to the tribes starting August 3, 2026. If you want to request the return, contact the museum soon—this is a respectful step toward honoring Native heritage.