Arizona Uni Returns Tribal Remains from Old Ranch Site
Published Date: 8/31/2026
Notice
Summary
Arizona State University has finished checking and listing Native American human remains and artifacts found at the Dobson Ranch site in Arizona. These remains and items are linked to the Ak-Chin Indian Community and other tribes. Starting September 30, 2026, the university can return these important cultural items to the tribes, honoring their heritage and history.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Inventory Completed; Items Identified
Arizona State University finished an inventory of human remains and funerary objects from the Dobson Ranch site. The collection includes human remains representing at least two individuals and seven lots of associated funerary objects (four ceramic lots, one lot of shell pendants, and two lots of samples).
Cultural Affiliation Identified for Specific Tribes
ASU determined the remains and objects are culturally affiliated with the O'Odham communities (Ak-Chin Indian Community; Gila River Indian Community; Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community; Tohono O'odham Nation) and also identified a connection with the Hopi Tribe and the Zuni Tribe. ASU ties these remains to the Hohokam archaeological culture (approximately A.D. 900 to 1450) and cites continuities in settlement, material culture, and oral traditions.
Who May Request Repatriation and Process Rules
The notice says repatriation may be requested by any one or more of the named tribes, or by a lineal descendant or other tribe/organization that shows by a preponderance of the evidence that it is culturally affiliated. If competing requests arrive, ASU's Center for Archaeology and Society Repository will determine the most appropriate requestor; joint repatriation requests count as a single request. Repatriation may occur on or after September 30, 2026.
Personalized for You
How does this regulation affect your finances?
Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this federal register document means for your household, plus every other regulation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Key Dates
Department and Agencies
Related Federal Register Documents
2026-04606, Alaska; Hunting and Trapping in National Preserves
The National Park Service wants to update hunting and trapping rules in Alaska’s national preserves to bring back long-standing practices that support state-authorized wildlife harvests and public access. These changes affect hunters, trappers, and anyone using Alaska park lands, aiming to balance conservation with local traditions. You’ve got until April 9, 2026, to share your thoughts—no new fees or costs are expected.
2026-17186, Notice of Intended Repatriation: American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY
The American Museum of Natural History plans to return a special ceramic smoking pipe with a human face to the Stockbridge Munsee Community, as it’s linked to their Mohican ancestors. This repatriation may happen on or after September 23, 2026, following Native American laws protecting cultural items. No money changes hands, but the museum is making sure history and respect go hand in hand!
2026-17198, Gulf Islands National Seashore; Personal Watercraft
The National Park Service revises special regulations governing the use of personal watercraft at Gulf Islands National Seashore. This rule reduces the distance of flat wake speed zones from certain shorelines and codifies existing closures at West Petit Bois Island and the Fort Pickens ferry pier.
2026-16388, Powered Micromobility Devices
The National Park Service finalizes a management framework for the use of powered micromobility devices within the National Park System. The final rule defines powered micromobility devices separately from motor vehicles, traditional bicycles, electric bicycles, and human powered coasting devices, and creates rules for where and how they may be used in units of the National Park System. Examples of powered micromobility devices include electric scooters (e- scooters), hoverboards, and Segways.
2026-15406, First State National Historical Park; Bicycling
The National Park Service (NPS) proposes to issue special regulations for First State National Historical Park to allow for bicycle use on approximately 25 miles of trails within the Brandywine Valley unit of the park.
2026-14720, Notice of Inventory Completion: American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY
The American Museum of Natural History has finished checking 55 ancient items linked to Native American tribes near Croton Point, New York. Starting August 21, 2026, these items can be officially returned to the tribes that they belong to. This is a big step in respecting Native cultures and making sure their history is honored properly.
Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2026-17695, Notice of Inventory Completion: Arizona State University, School of Human Evolution and Social Change, Tempe, AZ
In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Arizona State University, Center for Archaeology and Society Repository (ASU CASR) acting in place of the Arizona State University, School of Human Evolution and Social Change (ASU SHESC) 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.
Next: 2026-17697, Notice of Intended Repatriation: Arizona State University, School of Human Evolution and Social Change, Tempe, AZ
In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Arizona State University, Center for Archaeology and Society Repository (ASU CASR) acting in place of the Arizona State University School of Human Evolution and Social Change (ASU SHESC) intends to repatriate certain cultural items that meet the definition of sacred objects and that have a cultural affiliation with the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice.