Auburn unearths 556 Native artifacts with bones for tribal repatriation
Published Date: 9/23/2026
Notice
Summary
Auburn University at Montgomery has finished checking and listing Native American human remains and 556 related artifacts found at a historic site in Alabama. These items are linked to local Indian Tribes, and starting October 23, 2026, they can be returned to the tribes. If you want to request the return, contact the university by mail or email.
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Return of Native American Remains
Auburn University at Montgomery has identified the physical remains of one Native American individual and 556 associated funerary objects (423 pottery sherds, 50 lithics, 12 faunal bones, 2 shell, 31 metal objects, 34 glass shards, and 4 fired clay) from site 1EE32 (Tuckabatchee) in Alabama. These remains and objects are determined to be affiliated with the following Indian Tribes: Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas; Alabama-Quassarte Tribal Town; Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana; Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma; Jena Band of Choctaw Indians; Kialegee Tribal Town; Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians; Poarch Band of Creek Indians; Seminole Tribe of Florida; Shawnee Tribe; The Muscogee (Creek) Nation; The Seminole Nation of Oklahoma; and Thlopthlocco Tribal Town. Repatriation may occur on or after October 23, 2026; requests should be sent to Kimberly Pyszka at Auburn University at Montgomery by mail or email.
Who Can 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 not named who shows by a preponderance of the evidence a cultural affiliation. If competing requests are received, Auburn University at Montgomery must decide the most appropriate requestor before repatriation; joint repatriation requests are treated as a single request. Written requests must be sent to Kimberly Pyszka, Auburn University at Montgomery, P.O. Box 244023, Montgomery, AL 36124, or by the listed email address.
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.
2026-19002, National Park Service Alaska Region Subsistence Resource Commission Program; Notice of Public Meetings
The National Park Service is holding meetings for Alaska's Subsistence Resource Commissions to discuss local hunting, fishing, and gathering rules. These meetings affect residents who rely on park resources and will happen mostly in October and November 2026, with one in February 2027. No big costs are expected, but these talks help keep subsistence traditions alive and fair.
2026-18306, Official Trail Marker for Butterfield Overland National Historic Trail
This notice issues the official trail marker insignia for the Butterfield Overland National Historic Trail in the National Trails System. The original graphic image for Butterfield Overland National Historic Trail was developed in 2026 with the completion of the Butterfield Overland National Historic Trail Comprehensive Plan. The National Park Service and related agencies have officially adopted and use this insignia to help mark all designated alignments of the Butterfield Overland National Historic Trail.
2026-17902, Bicycle Use in Park Areas
The National Park Service (NPS) proposes to modify the procedural requirements in existing NPS regulations for the designation of roads and trails for bicycle use within park areas. The changes would align NPS regulations with applicable Federal law and policy, remove unnecessary requirements, and ensure public involvement when needed. The changes in this rule would allow the NPS to manage its resources and allocate taxpayer funds more efficiently and streamline the approval of new and expanded opportunities for use and enjoyment of park areas by the American public.
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.
Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2026-19479, Notice of Inventory Completion: Auburn University at Montgomery, Montgomery, AL
Auburn University at Montgomery has finished checking its collection of Native American human remains and burial items. They found these items belong to certain Native tribes and plan to return them starting October 23, 2026. If you want to request the return, contact the university soon—this is a big step in respecting Native heritage with no cost involved.
Next: 2026-19481, Notice of Inventory Completion: Auburn University at Montgomery, Montgomery, AL
Auburn University at Montgomery has finished checking and listing Native American human remains and 299 related burial items found in Alabama. These remains and objects are linked to local Indian Tribes and could be returned starting October 23, 2026. If you want to request the return, contact the university soon—this is a respectful step honoring Native heritage with no cost involved.