Notice

Notice of Inventory Completion: S'edav Va'aki Museum, City of Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ

A Notice by the National Park Service on 03/27/2026

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• Public Inspection Published Document: 2026-05964 (91 FR 14874) Document Headings ###### Department of the Interior

National Park Service

1. [N7025; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0042483; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]

AGENCY:

National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the S'edav Va'aki Museum (formerly Pueblo Grande Museum), City of Phoenix 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 April 27, 2026.

ADDRESSES:

Send written requests for repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects in this notice to Lindsey Vogel-Teeter, S'edav Va'aki Museum, 4619 East Washington Street, Phoenix, AZ 85034, email lindsey.vogel-teeter@phoenix.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 S'edav Va'aki Museum, City of Phoenix, 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, six individuals and two associated funerary objects have been identified in the collections of S'edav Va'aki Museum (SVM). The human remains and ( printed page 14875) associated funerary objects have no collecting history and were either found in the collections of SVM or transferred to SVM from the Phoenix Museum of History (PMOH). PMOH closed in 2009 and no longer exists. The acquisition history of these individuals and associated funerary objects geographically locates the individuals and associated objects in Maricopa County, AZ.

Around 1960, at least one individual was documented in an exhibition at SVM. In 1995 this same individual was documented in collections at SVM. No associated funerary objects are present and there is no other acquisition information. Bioarchaeological documentation suggests that this individual is not consistent with the Hohokam archaeological culture but may be consistent with archaic and/or hunter/gatherer populations. These human remains are coated with Alvar, an acrylic resin that is not known to be toxic. The Alvar was likely applied by SVM staff between the 1930s and 1960s.

In 1970, at least one individual was documented in collections at SVM. No associated funerary objects are present and there is no other acquisition information. Bioarchaeological documentation suggests that this individual is not consistent with the Hohokam archaeological culture. These human remains are coated with Alvar, an acrylic resin that is not known to be toxic. The Alvar was likely applied by SVM staff between the 1930s and 1960s.

On December 10, 2005, at least one individual was documented at SVM. No associated funerary objects are present. The human remains were abandoned, overnight, by an unknown person and were found at the driveway entrance gate to SVM. A note with the human remains stated “This Native American scull [sic] was found by hunter in the 1960s, that is all that is known. Please take proper care of it Thx [sic].” There is no other information.

On August 24, 2006, at least one individual was documented in the estate of Donald Hiser and transferred to SVM. No associated funerary objects are present. Donald Hiser was the former City of Phoenix Archaeologist and worked at SVM from 1960 to 1983. Bioarchaeological documentation suggests that this individual is not consistent with the Hohokam archaeological culture. These human remains are coated with Alvar, an acrylic resin that is not known to be toxic. The Alvar was likely applied by Museum staff between the 1930s and 1960s. The human remains are also labeled with an unknown ink.

On January 16, 2002, at least one individual and one associated funerary object were identified in the collection of the PMOH. On September 10, 2009, the human remains and associated funerary object were transferred from the PMOH to the SVM. The human remains are cremated and bioarchaeological documentation suggests that the human remains are unusual in presentation and more consistent with the practice of 19th and 20th century cremation. The one associated funerary object is a Playas incised jar, a type of ceramic associated with the Jornada Mogollon archaeological culture. However, secondary cremations are not associated with the Jornada Mogollon archaeological culture therefore it is unlikely that the individual is associated with that archaeological culture. There is no other information.

On January 16, 2002, at least one individual and one associated funerary object were identified in the collection of the PMOH. On September 10, 2009, the human remains and associated funerary object were transferred from the PMOH to the SVM. The one associated funerary object is a faunal bone. There is no other information.

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 SVM has determined that:

• The human remains described in this notice represent the physical remains of six individuals of Native American ancestry.
• The two 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 Ak-Chin Indian Community; Gila River Indian Community of the Gila River Indian Reservation, Arizona; Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community of the Salt River Reservation, Arizona; and the Tohono O'odham Nation of Arizona.

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:

1. Any one or more of the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations identified in this notice.

2. 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 April 27, 2026. If competing requests for repatriation are received, the SVM 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 SVM is responsible for sending a copy of this notice to the Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations identified in this notice and any other consulting parties.

Authority: Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, 25 U.S.C. 3003, and the implementing regulations, 43 CFR 10.10.

Dated: March 20, 2026.

Melanie O'Brien,

Manager, National NAGPRA Program.

[FR Doc. 2026-05964 Filed 3-26-26; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4312-52-P

Published Document: 2026-05964 (91 FR 14874)