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Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) Notice for Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

The National Park Service has issued a notice that the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History (SNOMNH) has completed an inventory of associated funerary objects that are culturally affiliated with Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations. These objects, including decorated and undecorated ceramic vessels, were removed from the Clement 1 site in McCurtain County, Oklahoma, during the Works Progress Administration (WPA) excavation in 1941. The objects are believed to have been interred around 1200-1500 CE. The museum has determined that the objects are reasonably believed to have been placed intentionally with or near individual human remains at the time of death or later as part of the death rite or ceremony.

Key Takeaways:

  • The SNOMNH has completed an inventory of associated funerary objects that are culturally affiliated with Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations, as required by the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA).
  • The objects, including decorated and undecorated ceramic vessels, were removed from the Clement 1 site in McCurtain County, Oklahoma, during the Works Progress Administration (WPA) excavation in 1941.
  • The objects are believed to have been interred around 1200-1500 CE, and cultural affiliation was established through Tribal Consultation and supported by archaeological, oral traditional, and post-contact historical information.
  • The museum has determined that the objects are reasonably believed to have been placed intentionally with or near individual human remains at the time of death or later as part of the death rite or ceremony.
  • Written requests for repatriation of the associated funerary objects must be sent to the authorized representative, Zachary Garrett, at SNOMNH by August 28, 2025.
  • Current cultural affiliation is identified with the Caddo Nation of Oklahoma.

Statistics:

  • 2 associated funerary objects were removed from the Clement 1 site (34MC8) in McCurtain County, OK.
  • The associated funerary objects are a lot of decorated ceramic vessels and a lot of undecorated ceramic vessels.
  • The objects are believed to have been interred around 1200-1500 CE.
  • The SNOMNH has identified the Caddo Nation of Oklahoma as the current cultural affiliation.

Sources:

  • Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, 25 U.S.C. 3003
  • 43 CFR 10.10
  • July 9, 2025 letter from Melanie O'Brien, Manager, National NAGPRA Program
  • Notice of Inventory Completion published in the Federal Register on September 13, 2021 (86 FR 50901)
  • Works Progress Administration (WPA) excavation report, 1941.

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