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NPS Notice of Inventory Completion: Mercyhurst University

FR: Interior Department

Published March 19th, 2026

Detected March 19th, 2026

Summary

The National Park Service published a notice of inventory completion regarding human remains held by Mercyhurst University. This notice initiates a process for the potential repatriation of these remains.

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What changed

The National Park Service (NPS), on behalf of the Department of the Interior, has issued a Notice of Inventory Completion concerning human remains affiliated with Mercyhurst University in Erie, PA. This notice, published in the Federal Register, identifies the specific collection of human remains and provides information for potential claimants.

This notice is part of the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) process. Repatriation of the human remains may occur on or after April 20, 2026. While this is a procedural notice, institutions holding such remains should be aware of their obligations under NAGPRA and ensure compliance with notification and consultation requirements.

What to do next

Review NAGPRA inventory completion notices for potential impacts on institutional holdings.
Consult with relevant tribal nations regarding any identified human remains or cultural items.
Ensure compliance with notification and repatriation timelines as stipulated by NAGPRA.

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Notice

Notice of Inventory Completion: Mercyhurst University, Erie, PA

A Notice by the National Park Service on 03/19/2026

Document Details Published Content - Document Details Agencies Department of the Interior National Park Service Agency/Docket Numbers N7000 NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0042354 PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000 Document Citation 91 FR 13325 Document Number 2026-05379 Document Type Notice Page 13325
(1 page) Publication Date 03/19/2026 Published Content - Document Details
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Document Details Published Content - Document Details Agencies Department of the Interior National Park Service Agency/Docket Numbers N7000 NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0042354 PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000 Document Citation 91 FR 13325 Document Number 2026-05379 Document Type Notice Page 13325
(1 page) Publication Date 03/19/2026 Published Content - Document Details
Document Dates Published Content - Document Dates Dates Text Repatriation of the human remains in this notice may occur on or after April 20, 2026. Published Content - Document Dates
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- AGENCY:
- ACTION:
- SUMMARY:
- DATES:
- ADDRESSES:
- SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
- Abstract of Information Available
- Cultural Affiliation
- Determinations
- Requests for Repatriation Enhanced Content - Table of Contents
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- Public Inspection Public Inspection This PDF is FR Doc. 2026-05379 as it appeared on Public Inspection on
03/18/2026 at 8:45 am.

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Department of the Interior

National Park Service

[N7000; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0042354; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]

AGENCY:

National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), Mercyhurst University has completed an inventory of human remains and has determined that there is a cultural affiliation between the human remains and Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice.

DATES:

Repatriation of the human remains in this notice may occur on or after April 20, 2026.

ADDRESSES:

Send written requests for repatriation of the human remains in this notice to Anne Marjenin, Mercyhurst University, 501 East 38th Street, Erie, PA 16546, email nagpra@mercyhurst.edu.

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 Mercyhurst University, 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. No associated funerary objects are present. On an unknown date, the individuals (V-PI-011, VM-053) were removed from a location in the vicinity of Nashville, Davidson County, Tennessee, likely by Dr. T. Hugh Young. On an unknown date, the individuals were obtained by Raymond C. Vietzen (1907-1995). Vietzen, an avocational archaeologist, collector, and author, established the Indian Ridge Museum in Elyria, Ohio, and the Archaeological Society of Ohio (formerly the Ohio Indian Relic Collectors Society). The Indian Ridge Museum, founded in the 1930s, served as Vietzen's laboratory and repository, and it remained in operation until the mid-1990s. After Vietzen's death, the facility fell into disrepair, and most of the items he had acquired and housed at the museum were sold. In 1998, the Ohio Historical Society (presently the Ohio History Connection) removed ancestral human remains and some of the remaining items from the facility and temporarily housed them at the Ohio Historical Society. In October of 2003, these remains were transferred from the Ohio Historical Society to Mercyhurst College (presently Mercyhurst University).

While there is no record regarding potentially hazardous substances having been used to treat the human remains, an unidentified adhesive is present. It is unknown when the adhesive was applied. The human remains may have been treated with an unidentified preservative coating, consolidant, or sealant. It is unknown when this unidentified substance may have been applied.

Cultural Affiliation

Based on the information available and the results of consultation, cultural affiliation is clearly identified by the information available about the human remains described in this notice.

Determinations

Mercyhurst University has determined that:

The human remains described in this notice represent the physical remains of two individuals of Native American ancestry.
There is a connection between the human remains described in this notice and the Absentee-Shawnee Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma; Cherokee Nation; Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians; Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma; Shawnee Tribe; The Muscogee (Creek) Nation; and the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma.

Requests for Repatriation

Written requests for repatriation of the human remains 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 described in this notice to a requestor may occur on or after April 20, 2026. If competing requests for repatriation are received, Mercyhurst University must determine the most appropriate requestor prior to repatriation. Requests for joint repatriation of the human remains are considered a single request and not competing requests. Mercyhurst University 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 11, 2026.

Melanie O'Brien,

Manager, National NAGPRA Program.

[FR Doc. 2026-05379 Filed 3-18-26; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4312-52-P

Published Document: 2026-05379 (91 FR 13325)