University of Texas San Antonio Prepares Ancient Items for Return
Published Date: 11/12/2026
Notice
Summary
The University of Texas at San Antonio’s Center for Archaeological Research has finished listing human remains and artifacts from ancient Texas sites, linking them to Native American tribes. Starting December 14, 2026, these remains and objects can be returned to the tribes. This important step respects Native heritage and follows federal law, with no costs mentioned.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Human remains and objects set for repatriation
The University of Texas at San Antonio Center for Archaeological Research has identified human remains from at least 17 individuals and 916 associated funerary objects that may be returned to affiliated groups. Repatriation may occur on or after December 14, 2026.
Tribes named as culturally affiliated
The CAR determined a cultural affiliation between the remains/objects and the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas; Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes (Oklahoma); Comanche Nation (Oklahoma); Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana; Kiowa Tribe; Mescalero Apache Tribe (New Mexico); and the Tonkawa Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma. Those named tribes are identified as parties that may request repatriation.
Who may request repatriation and evidence standard
Repatriation requests may be submitted by any one or more of the named Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations, or by any lineal descendant or Tribe/organization not named who shows by a preponderance of the evidence that they are culturally affiliated. Joint repatriation requests count as a single request, and CAR must decide among competing requests before repatriation.
Geographic source of remains and objects
The remains and funerary objects come from five Texas sites: three in Fort Bend County (41FB28, 41FB42, 41FB223), one in Harris County (41HR422), and one unknown site in Waller County. The Fort Bend sites date approximately 8000–2000 BP; the Harris County site dates approximately 5000–500 BP.
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Next: 2026-22983, Notice of Inventory Completion: University of Texas at San Antonio Center for Archaeological Research, San Antonio, TX
The University of Texas at San Antonio finished checking some old human remains and found no living relatives or tribes connected to them. Starting December 14, 2026, these remains can be returned if requested. This update affects Native American groups and anyone interested in these ancestral items, with no costs mentioned.