Park Service Tallies Ancient Human Remains for Tribal Return
Published Date: 7/31/2026
Notice
Summary
In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Mesa Verde National Park has completed an inventory of human remains and associated funerary objects and has determined that there is a cultural affiliation between the human remains and associated funerary objects and Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice. The human remains and associated funerary objects were removed from Mesa Verde National Park, Montezuma County, CO; Montezuma Valley, Montezuma County, CO; near Blanding, San Juan County, UT; near Mancos, Montezuma County, CO; Rock Canyon, Montezuma Country, CO or Cheese Box Canyon, San Juan County, UT; and possibly the Canyon de Chelly area, Apache County, AZ.
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Tribes cleared to request repatriation
Mesa Verde National Park completed an inventory and determined that human remains representing at least 85 individuals and 4,304 associated funerary objects are culturally affiliated with named Indian Tribes. The notice names specific tribes (for example: Hopi Tribe; Jicarilla Apache Nation; Mescalero Apache Tribe; Navajo Nation; Pueblo of Acoma; Pueblo of Cochiti; Pueblo of Isleta; Pueblo of Jemez; Pueblo of Laguna; Pueblo of Nambe; Pueblo of Picuris; Pueblo of Pojoaque; Pueblo of San Felipe; Pueblo of San Ildefonso; Pueblo of Sandia; Pueblo of Santa Ana; Pueblo of Santa Clara; Pueblo of Taos; Pueblo of Tesuque; Pueblo of Zia; Santo Domingo Pueblo; Southern Ute Indian Tribe; Ute Indian Tribe of the Uintah & Ouray; Ute Mountain Ute Tribe; Ysleta del Sur Pueblo; Zuni Tribe) and states that repatriation may occur on or after August 31, 2026 to those tribes, lineal descendants, or other organizations that prove cultural affiliation.
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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
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Previous: 2026-15515, Notice of Intended Disposition: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Petersburg National Battlefield, Petersburg, VA
The National Park Service at Petersburg National Battlefield plans to return human remains and some old stone tools found during digs to Native American tribes or descendants starting August 31, 2026. If no one claims them by August 2, 2027, these remains and objects will be considered unclaimed. This affects tribes connected to the area and ensures respectful handling of these important cultural items.
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