Louisiana digs up paperwork for Native remains repatriation
Published Date: 7/31/2026
Notice
Summary
In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Louisiana Division of Archaeology (LDOA) 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.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
LDOA inventory: three Native remains
The Louisiana Division of Archaeology identified human remains representing at least three Native American individuals from site 16CO102 (Woodie Davis Mound) in Concordia Parish, LA, and one lot of associated funerary objects (including ceramics). The remains were field documented in 1982 and curated with LDOA in 1983.
Tribes identified as culturally affiliated
The Louisiana Division of Archaeology determined a cultural affiliation between the remains/objects and these groups: Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas; Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana; Jena Band of Choctaw Indians; Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians; The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma; The Muscogee (Creek) Nation; and the Tunica-Biloxi Indian Tribe. Those named groups are explicitly identified as affiliated in this notice.
How and when repatriation requests may be made
If you are a member of one of the named tribes, a lineal descendant, or another tribe that can show cultural affiliation by a preponderance of the evidence, you may submit a written request for repatriation to Karla Oesch, Collections Manager, Louisiana Division of Archaeology, P.O. Box 44247, Baton Rouge, LA 70804, or by email to [email protected]. Repatriation to a requestor may occur on or after August 31, 2026; if competing requests are received, LDOA will determine the most appropriate requestor and joint requests count as a single request.
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