Single funerary object joins Alabama bones for tribe repatriation
Published Date: 9/23/2026
Notice
Summary
Auburn University at Montgomery has finished checking and listing Native American human remains and a funerary object found at a historic site in Alabama. These items are linked to local Indian Tribes and can be returned starting October 23, 2026. If you want to request the return, contact the university soon—no money changes hands, just respect and care for these important cultural items.
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
One Native American Individual Eligible for Return
Auburn University at Montgomery has identified human remains representing at least one Native American individual and one associated funerary object (a fragment of a deer long bone) from site 1RU9 (Phenix City Dock/possibly Upper Coweta) that may be returned starting October 23, 2026. The items were excavated in 1963, are housed in the AUM Archaeology Laboratory, and Auburn University at Montgomery can be contacted for repatriation requests at Kimberly Pyszka, P.O. Box 244023, Montgomery, AL 36124, email [email protected].
Who May Request Repatriation and How
Repatriation requests may be submitted by any one or more of the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations named in the notice (including the Absentee Shawnee Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma; 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; The Muscogee (Creek) Nation; The Seminole Nation of Oklahoma; and the Thlopthlocco Tribal Town) or by a lineal descendant or other tribe/organization that shows by a preponderance of the evidence that it is affiliated. Requests for joint repatriation are treated as a single request, and if competing requests are received, Auburn University at Montgomery must determine the most appropriate requestor before repatriation may occur on or after October 23, 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.
2026-20013, Agency Information Collection Activities; Archeology Permit Applications and Reports
The National Park Service wants to keep collecting info for archeology permits and reports, making sure the process stays smooth and clear. This affects archeologists and anyone applying for permits to dig or study artifacts in parks. They’re asking for comments by October 30, 2026, but no changes to fees or big costs are planned.
2026-20015, Agency Information Collection Activities; National Park Service Concessions Forms
The National Park Service is asking to keep using their current forms for park concessions, like shops and services, without changes. This affects businesses working with the parks and helps reduce paperwork hassle. You’ve got until October 30, 2026, to share your thoughts—no fees or new costs involved!
2026-19996, Notice of Intended Repatriation: California State University, Sacramento, Sacramento, CA
California State University, Sacramento plans to return over 8,500 cultural items to Native American tribes connected to northern Tehama County. These items include stones, bones, pigments, and historic materials, and the repatriation can start on or after October 30, 2026. This move respects Native heritage and involves no cost to the public but honors important cultural ties.
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.
Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2026-19482, Notice of Inventory Completion: Auburn University at Montgomery, Montgomery, AL
Auburn University at Montgomery has finished checking and listing Native American human remains and artifacts found at a site in Alabama. These items belong to certain Native tribes, and they can be returned starting October 23, 2026. If you want to request the return, contact the university soon—this is a respectful step to honor Native heritage with no cost involved.
Next: 2026-19484, Notice of Inventory Completion: Auburn University at Montgomery, Montgomery, AL
Auburn University at Montgomery has finished checking and listing Native American human remains and burial items found in Alabama. These remains and objects are linked to specific Native tribes and can be returned starting October 23, 2026. If you want to request the return, contact the university soon—no money changes hands, but respect and history do!