NAGPRA Inventory Completion: Florida Department of State Repatriation Notice
Summary
The National Park Service published a NAGPRA inventory completion notice for the Florida Department of State regarding human remains and funerary objects from a 39 Magnolia Avenue archaeological site. The inventory identifies two individuals of Native American ancestry and 175 associated funerary objects, with cultural affiliation determined for ten tribal nations including the Seminole Tribe of Florida, Muscogee (Creek) Nation, and others. Repatriation may occur after May 4, 2026.
What changed
The Florida Department of State completed a NAGPRA inventory identifying human remains representing at least two individuals and 175 associated funerary objects. The remains were disturbed during development-related archaeological testing at 39 Magnolia Avenue and were accessioned for repatriation determination. The objects include faunal bones, marine and land snail shells, and St. Johns ceramic sherds. The FDOS determined cultural affiliation with ten Indian Tribes, including the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas, Alabama-Quassarte Tribal Town, Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana, Kialegee Tribal Town, Miccosukee Tribe of Indians, Poarch Band of Creek Indians, Seminole Tribe of Florida, The Muscogee (Creek) Nation, The Seminole Nation of Oklahoma, and Thlopthlocco Tribal Town.\n\nAffected parties including Tribal Nations and Native Hawaiian organizations may submit written repatriation requests to Tea Kaplan at the Florida Department of State by May 4, 2026, or the repatriation may proceed without further notice. Developers conducting ground-disturbing activities should ensure NAGPRA compliance including federal agency notification requirements and prohibitions on intentional excavation of Native American human remains and cultural items without proper authorization.
What to do next
- Review this inventory notice if your tribe is listed as culturally affiliated
- Submit written repatriation requests to Tea Kaplan at the Florida Department of State if your tribe wishes to claim the remains or funerary objects
- Consult with legal counsel regarding NAGPRA compliance before any ground-disturbing development activities
Source document (simplified)
Notice
Notice of Inventory Completion: Florida Department of State, Tallahassee, FL
A Notice by the National Park Service on 04/02/2026
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- Public Inspection Published Document: 2026-06334 (91 FR 16732) Document Headings ###### Department of the Interior
National Park Service
- [N7049; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0042513; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
AGENCY:
National Park Service, Interior.
ACTION:
Notice.
SUMMARY:
In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Florida Department of State (FDOS) 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.
DATES:
Repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects in this notice may occur on or after May 4, 2026.
ADDRESSES:
Send written requests for repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects in this notice to Tea Kaplan, Florida Department of State, 2100 W Tennessee Street, Tallahassee, FL 32304, email Tea.Kaplan@dos.fl.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
This notice is published as part of the National Park Service's administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA. The determinations in this notice are the sole responsibility of the FDOS, and additional information on the determinations in this notice, including the results of consultation, can be found in its inventory or related records. The National Park Service is not responsible for the determinations in this notice.
Abstract of Information Available
Human remains representing, at least, two individuals have been identified. The 175 associated funerary objects are unmodified faunal bones (N=53), marine and land snail shells (N=15), St. Johns plain ceramic sherds (N=73), St. Johns check stamped ceramic sherds (N=32), and St. Johns cord marked sherds (N=2). Ancestral remains were disturbed during archaeological testing preceding development at 39 Magnolia Avenue. A trench was excavated partially exhuming two burials. The remainder of the burials were left in situ, but the disturbed remains were brought to the Florida Department of State for determinations on ancestry and historicity. Here, they were determined to Ancestral Native American and accessioned for NAGPRA repatriation.
Cultural Affiliation
Based on the information available and the results of consultation, cultural affiliation is reasonably identified by the geographical location or acquisition history of the human remains and associated funerary objects described in this notice.
Determinations
The FDOS has determined that:
- The human remains described in this notice represent the physical remains of two individuals of Native American ancestry.
- The 175 objects described in this notice 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.
- There is a connection between the human remains and associated funerary objects described in this notice and the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas; Alabama-Quassarte Tribal Town; Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana; Kialegee Tribal Town; Miccosukee Tribe of Indians; Poarch Band of Creek Indians; Seminole Tribe of Florida; The Muscogee (Creek) Nation; The Seminole Nation of Oklahoma; and the Thlopthlocco Tribal Town.
Requests for Repatriation
Written requests for repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects in this notice must be sent to the authorized representative identified in this notice under ADDRESSES. Requests for repatriation may be submitted by:
Any one or more of the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations identified in this notice.
Any lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice who shows, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the requestor is a lineal descendant or an Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization with cultural affiliation.
Repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects described in this notice to a requestor may occur on or after May 4, 2026. If competing requests for repatriation are received, the FDOS must determine the most appropriate requestor prior to repatriation. Requests for joint repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects are considered a single request and not competing requests. The FDOS is responsible for sending a copy of this notice to the Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations identified in this notice.
Authority: Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, 25 U.S.C. 3003, and the implementing regulations, 43 CFR 10.10.
Dated: March 24, 2026.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2026-06334 Filed 4-1-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
Published Document: 2026-06334 (91 FR 16732)
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