# 2026-16486: National Park Returns Pottery to Tribes: Heritage Duty Done

2026-16486, Notice of Intended Repatriation: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Mesa Verde National Park, CO, 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/2026-16486
- As of: 2026-08-20
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Document number: 2026-16486
- Title: Notice of Intended Repatriation: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Mesa Verde National Park, CO
- Type: Notice
- Agencies: Interior Department; National Park Service
- Citation: 91 FR 52346
- 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

National Park Returns Pottery to Tribes: Heritage Duty Done

## Summary

Mesa Verde National Park plans to return 23 Native American cultural items, like pottery and tools, to the tribes they belong to. This repatriation will start on or after September 14, 2026, following laws that protect Native American heritage. If you want to learn more or request repatriation, contact the park superintendent.

## Abstract

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Mesa Verde National Park intends to repatriate certain cultural items that meet the definition of unassociated funerary objects and that have a cultural affiliation with the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice.

## Effects PRIA read

- Repatriation of 23 funerary objects: benefit, low. Mesa Verde National Park intends to repatriate 23 unassociated funerary objects that are reasonably believed to have been placed with or near human remains and that have a cultural affiliation with the Hopi Tribe of Arizona. The repatriation may occur on or after September 14, 2026.
- Who may request repatriation: benefit, low. Any lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization may submit a written request for repatriation if they show by a preponderance of the evidence that they are a lineal descendant or are culturally affiliated. Requests must be sent to Kathryn Cook Collins, Superintendent, Mesa Verd…

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## Sources
- [2026-16486 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/08/13/2026-16486/notice-of-intended-repatriation-us-department-of-the-interior-national-park-service-mesa-verde)
- [2026-16486 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-08-13/pdf/2026-16486.pdf)

## Related
- [Previous: 2026-16485, Notice of Intended Repatriation: Ohio History Connection, Columbus, OH](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-16485)
- [Next: 2026-16487, Notice of Intended Repatriation: History Colorado, Denver, CO](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-16487)
- [All Federal Register documents](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-16486 (as of 2026-08-20).