ASU Catalogs 900-Year-Old Remains for Native Return
Published Date: 8/31/2026
Notice
Summary
Arizona State University has finished checking and listing ancient human remains and artifacts found during a 1980-81 dig in Maricopa County, Arizona. These remains belong to Native American tribes connected to the Hohokam culture from around A.D. 1100 to 1450. Starting September 30, 2026, the university can return these items to the rightful tribes, honoring their history and culture.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
ASU finds cultural affiliation to tribes
Arizona State University (ASU) determined that the Native American human remains and associated funerary objects are culturally affiliated with the Ak-Chin Indian Community; Gila River Indian Community; Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community; Tohono O'odham Nation; the Hopi Tribe; and the Zuni Tribe. ASU states that the Ak-Chin, Gila River, Salt River Pima-Maricopa, and Tohono O'odham together comprise the O'Odham cultural group and links the remains to Hohokam-era occupation.
Repatriation eligible starting Sept 30, 2026
The notice says repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects may occur on or after September 30, 2026. Requests for repatriation may be submitted by any one or more of the tribes named in this notice, or by a lineal descendant or tribe/organization not named that shows cultural affiliation by a preponderance of the evidence.
What ASU will return: 4 people, 176 lots
ASU's inventory identified human remains of at least four individuals and 176 lots of associated funerary objects (including 48 lots of ceramics, 42 lots of samples, 32 lots of chipped stone, 21 lots of shell, and others) removed from the Science Library site in Maricopa County during construction in 1980 and 1981. The remains are associated with the prehistoric Hohokam Classic Period (approximately A.D. 1100 to 1450), and ASU reports no known pesticide or hazardous treatment of the items.
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