Forest Service Dumps 25,000 Ancient Artifacts If Unclaimed by Tribes
Published Date: 8/13/2026
Notice
Summary
The Cherokee National Forest plans to return over 25,000 ancient items like pottery and tools found in Tennessee to Native American tribes or descendants starting September 14, 2026. If no one claims them by August 13, 2027, these cultural treasures will be considered unclaimed. This move respects Native American heritage and follows important laws protecting their history.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Return of 25,150 Cultural Items
Starting September 14, 2026, the Cherokee National Forest intends to return 25,150 unassociated funerary objects (including 17,405 prehistoric ceramics, 7,492 lithic artifacts, one lot of 1,167.720 kg of burned rocks, animal bone and shell, charcoal, soils, and historic artifacts) to lineal descendants, Indian Tribes, or Native Hawaiian organizations.
Claim Deadline and Unclaimed Status
Written claims for disposition must be received by August 13, 2027, sent to the USDA Forest Service official listed in the notice; if no claim is received by that date the cultural items will become unclaimed cultural items. Disposition may occur on or after September 14, 2026, and competing claims must be resolved before disposition.
Priority Given to Three Cherokee Tribes
The Cherokee Nation; Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians; and the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma are identified as having priority for disposition of the cultural items described in this notice.
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