ASU Catalogs Ancient Human Remains for Tribal Return
Published Date: 8/31/2026
Notice
Summary
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.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Named tribes can receive remains
Arizona State University identified human remains (at least two individuals) and five associated funerary object lots from site AZ U:15:002 (ASU) in Pinal County, Arizona, and determined they are affiliated with the Ak-Chin Indian Community; Gila River Indian Community; Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community; Tohono O'odham Nation; Hopi Tribe; and Zuni Tribe. These human remains and objects may be repatriated to those Tribes or other eligible requestors on or after September 30, 2026.
ASU finds cultural affiliation with O'Odham and others
ASU concluded that the prehistoric Hohokam archaeological culture (approximately A.D. 900 to 1450) represented at site AZ U:15:002 (ASU) has cultural continuity with present-day O'Odham peoples and identified a connection between the remains/objects and the Ak-Chin, Gila River, Salt River Pima-Maricopa, Tohono O'odham, Hopi, and Zuni. The determination cites continuities in settlement, architecture, basketry, textiles, ceramics, ritual practices, and documented oral traditions.
Who may request repatriation
Written requests for repatriation may be submitted by any one or more of the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations named in this notice, or by any lineal descendant or Tribe/organization not named who shows by a preponderance of the evidence that they are culturally affiliated. If competing requests are received, the Arizona State University Center for Archaeology and Society Repository (ASU CASR) must decide the most appropriate requestor; joint requests are treated as a single request.
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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
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In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Center for Archaeology and Society Repository (acting in place of the Arizona State University School of Human Evolution and Social Change) intends to repatriate certain cultural items that meet the definition of unassociated funerary objects, sacred objects, and/or objects of cultural patrimony and that have a cultural affiliation with the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice.