# 2026-16480: Uni Digs Up Native Remains for Tribal Return: WTF Museums?

2026-16480, Notice of Inventory Completion: The University of Tennessee, Department of Anthropology, Knoxville, TN, and the Frank H. McClung Museum of Natural History & Culture, Knoxville, TN, is a Federal Register notice from Interior Department, National Park Service published 2026-08-13, effective 2026-09-14 (as of 2026-08-20).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-16480
- As of: 2026-08-20
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Document number: 2026-16480
- Title: Notice of Inventory Completion: The University of Tennessee, Department of Anthropology, Knoxville, TN, and the Frank H. McClung Museum of Natural History & Culture, Knoxville, TN
- Type: Notice
- Agencies: Interior Department; National Park Service
- Citation: 91 FR 52342
- Published: 2026-08-13
- Effective: 2026-09-14
- Comments close: not stated
- Significant: no
- Touches household money: no
- Regulation identifier numbers: none
- Last updated: 2026-08-20

## In one line

Uni Digs Up Native Remains for Tribal Return: WTF Museums?

## Summary

The University of Tennessee and the McClung Museum have finished checking their collections and found Native American human remains and items that belong to certain tribes. Starting September 14, 2026, these remains and objects can be returned to the tribes. This is a respectful step to honor Native American heritage, with no costs mentioned.

## Abstract

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), The University of Tennessee, Department of Anthropology and the Frank H. McClung Museum of Natural History & Culture (UTK), 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.

## Effects PRIA read

- Repatriation available to affiliated tribes: benefit, low. If you are one of the listed Indian Tribes or a lineal descendant, you may request repatriation of human remains and associated funerary objects. The University of Tennessee identified the physical remains of 14 Native American individuals and 156 associated funerary objects and determined cultural…

## Related documents

- [2026-04606](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-04606): Alaska; Hunting and Trapping in National Preserves, 2026-03-10
- [2026-22736](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-22736): Agency Information Collection Activities; National Park Service Concessioner Services Customer Satisfaction Survey, 2026-11-09
- [2026-22670](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-22670): National Register of Historic Places; Notification of Pending Nominations and Related Actions, 2026-11-06
- [2026-22422](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-22422): National Register of Historic Places; Notification of Pending Nominations and Related Actions, 2026-11-03
- [2026-22325](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-22325): Notice of Intent To Extend and Continue Concession Contracts and Award a Temporary Concession Contract, 2026-11-02
- [2026-21222](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-21222): Denali National Park and Preserve; Vehicle Use, 2026-10-16

## Sources
- [2026-16480 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/08/13/2026-16480/notice-of-inventory-completion-the-university-of-tennessee-department-of-anthropology-knoxville-tn)
- [2026-16480 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-08-13/pdf/2026-16480.pdf)

## Related
- [Previous: 2026-16479, Notice of Intended Disposition: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service,…](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-16479)
- [Next: 2026-16481, Notice of Intended Repatriation: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-16481)
- [All Federal Register documents](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-16480 (as of 2026-08-20).