Notice

Notice of Inventory Completion: Marshall University, Huntington, WV

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

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• Public Inspection Published Document: 2026-05973 (91 FR 14875) Document Headings ###### Department of the Interior

National Park Service

1. [N7021; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0042479; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]

AGENCY:

National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), Marshall University 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.

( printed page 14876)

ADDRESSES:

Send written requests for repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects in this notice to Dr. Marion Coe, Marshall University, One John Marshall Drive, Huntington, WV 25755, email coem@marshall.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 Marshall 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 21 individuals have been identified from the Clover Site (46-CB-40) in Cabell County, WV. The 21 items and lots of associated funerary objects are one lot burned faunal, one lot ceramics, one lot charcoal, one lot charred botanicals, one lot charred wood, one lot copper, one corn cob, one lot European ceramics, one lot faunal, one lot fire-cracked rock, one lot ground stone, one lot hematite, one lot iron ore, one lot lithics, one log (red cedar or juniper), one lot modern ceramic, one lot possible ochre, one sandstone, one lot shell, one lot slate, and one lot soil samples. The Clover Site spans multiple archaeological phases of occupation with habitation documented in the early Archaic through the Late Prehistoric. It is best known in the archaeological community for its Fort Ancient component. This Late Prehistoric village site is located on a high flood terrace of the Ohio River, within the Green Bottom Wildlife Management Area. It is designated as a National Historic Landmark for the Fort Ancient Complex component. In 2018, Marshall University described six Ancestors and 53 funerary belongings in an Inventory and Notice of Inventory Completion. At that time this was thought to represent the extent of human remains and cultural items in the possession and control of Marshall University. In 2024, Marshall conducted a campus-wide survey and audit of all cultural collections. In July 2024, housing containing additional Ancestors and funerary belongings from Clover was identified.

Human remains representing at least one individual have been identified from near Point Pleasant in Mason County, WV. The three associated funerary objects are one lot ceramic fragments, one lot faunal fragments, and one lot shell fragments. During a detailed collections assessment conducted in July 2024, human remains and associated funerary objects were identified in the Biological Sciences Department. A note in the housing dated the Ancestors to 1320 AD.

Human remains representing at least two individuals have been identified from Sycamore Creek near Hurricane, Putnam County, WV. The two associated funerary objects are one burnt pottery fragment and one strap handle sherd fragment. On an unknown date, these individuals and funerary objects were collected by F.M. Riddle.

Human remains representing at least one individual has been identified. No associated funerary objects are present. The individual is from an unknown location in West Virginia.

Human remains representing at least two individuals have been identified. No associated funerary objects are present. No location information is available for these individuals.

Marshall University has no knowledge or record of the presence of any potentially hazardous substances used to treat any of the human remains or associated funerary objects.

Cultural Affiliation

Based on the information available and the results of consultation, cultural affiliation is reasonably identified by the geographical location and acquisition history of the human remains and associated funerary objects described in this notice.

Determinations

Marshall University has determined that:

• The human remains described in this notice represent the physical remains of 27 individuals of Native American ancestry.
• The 26 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 Absentee-Shawnee Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma; Bay Mills Indian Community, Michigan; Catawba Indian Nation; Cayuga Nation; Cherokee Nation; Chickahominy Indian Tribe—Eastern Division; Chippewa Cree Indians of the Rocky Boy's Reservation, Montana; Delaware Tribe of Indians; Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians; Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma; Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, Michigan; Kaw Nation, Oklahoma; Keweenaw Bay Indian Community, Michigan; Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin; Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians of the Lac du Flambeau Reservation of Wisconsin; Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians of Montana; Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, Minnesota (Component reservations: Bois Forte Band (Nett Lake); Fond du Lac Band; Grand Portage Band; Leech Lake Band; White Earth Band); Monacan Indian Nation; Nansemond Indian Nation; Omaha Tribe of Nebraska; Oneida Indian Nation; Oneida Nation; Onondaga Nation; Pamunkey Indian Tribe; Ponca Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma; Ponca Tribe of Nebraska; Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin; Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians, Minnesota; Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan; Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe; Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, Michigan; Seneca Nation of Indians; Seneca-Cayuga Nation; Shawnee Tribe; St. Croix Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin; The Osage Nation; Tonawanda Band of Seneca; Tunica-Biloxi Indian Tribe; Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians of North Dakota; Tuscarora Nation; United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma; and the Wyandotte Nation.

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, Marshall University 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. Marshall University is responsible for sending a copy of this notice to the Indian Tribes and Native ( printed page 14877) 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. 2026-05973 Filed 3-26-26; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4312-52-P

Published Document: 2026-05973 (91 FR 14875)