UT Austin Catalogs Human Remains for Tribal Return
Published Date: 8/24/2026
Notice
Summary
In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the University of Texas at Austin, Texas Archeological Research Laboratory (TARL) 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.
Repatriation Available Starting September 23, 2026
If you are a representative of the Caddo Nation of Oklahoma, the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes, or a qualifying lineal descendant, you may request repatriation of human remains and associated funerary objects held by the University of Texas at Austin TARL on or after September 23, 2026. The inventory covers human remains representing at least 119 individuals and 18,934 associated funerary objects.
TARL Identifies Cultural Affiliation
The Texas Archeological Research Laboratory (TARL) determined that the human remains and 18,934 associated funerary objects are culturally affiliated with the Caddo Nation of Oklahoma and the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes (Wichita, Keechi, Waco, & Tawakonie), Oklahoma. This determination covers remains and objects from multiple Lamar County sites including 41LR1, 41LR2, 41LR3, and a private collection (41LR-).
Who May Request Repatriation and How Competing Claims Are Handled
Requests for repatriation may be submitted by any one or more of the Indian Tribes named in the notice, or by any lineal descendant or Indian Tribe not named who shows by a preponderance of the evidence that they are affiliated. If competing requests are received, TARL must determine the most appropriate requestor before repatriation; joint requests are treated as a single request.
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