# 2026-22982: University of Texas San Antonio Prepares Ancient Items for Return

2026-22982, Notice of Inventory Completion: University of Texas at San Antonio Center for Archaeological Research, San Antonio, TX, is a Federal Register notice from Interior Department, National Park Service published 2026-11-12, effective 2026-12-14 (as of 2026-11-13).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-22982
- As of: 2026-11-13
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Document number: 2026-22982
- Title: Notice of Inventory Completion: University of Texas at San Antonio Center for Archaeological Research, San Antonio, TX
- Type: Notice
- Agencies: Interior Department; National Park Service
- Citation: 91 FR 72892
- Published: 2026-11-12
- Effective: 2026-12-14
- Comments close: not stated
- Significant: no
- Touches household money: no
- Regulation identifier numbers: none
- Last updated: 2026-11-13

## In one line

University of Texas San Antonio Prepares Ancient Items for Return

## 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.

## Abstract

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the University of Texas at San Antonio Center for Archaeological Research (CAR) 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.

## Effects PRIA read

- Human remains and objects set for repatriation: benefit, medium. 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: benefit, low. 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 Okl…
- Who may request repatriation and evidence standard: benefit, low. 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…
- Geographic source of remains and objects: benefit, low. 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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## Sources
- [2026-22982 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/11/12/2026-22982/notice-of-inventory-completion-university-of-texas-at-san-antonio-center-for-archaeological-research)
- [2026-22982 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-11-12/pdf/2026-22982.pdf)

## Related
- [Previous: 2026-22981, Notice of Intended Repatriation: Sonoma State University, Rohnert Park, CA](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-22981)
- [Next: 2026-22983, Notice of Inventory Completion: University of Texas at San Antonio Center for A…](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-22983)
- [All Federal Register documents](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-22982 (as of 2026-11-13).