Notice of Inventory Completion: Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation, and Tourism, Division of Archaeology, Baton Rouge, LA

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR National Park Service [N7370; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0043371; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000] Notice of Inventory Completion: Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation, and Tourism, Division of Archaeology, Baton Rouge, LA AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Louisiana Division of Archaeology (LDOA) 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 August 31, 2026. ADDRESSES: Send written requests for repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects in this notice to Karla Oesch, Collections Manager, Louisiana Division of Archaeology, P.O. Box 44247 Baton Rouge, LA 70804, email koesch@crt.la.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 Louisiana Division of Archaeology, 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, one individual has been identified from 16AV2, Greenhouse Site, in Avoyelles Parish, LA. The collection was made at some point prior to 2015 and the closure of the museum at the Marksville State Historic Site. In 2015, the collection was transferred to LDOA curation facility. During a 2021 inventory of the collection, the remains were rediscovered. In September 2021, Office of State Parks transferred ownership of the collection to LDOA. No associated funerary objects are present. Human remains representing at least, one individual has been identified from 16AV13, Upper Saline Mound, in Avoyelles Parish, LA. The exact date for fieldwork is unclear, but the site was visited between 1988 and 1990 by Shuman and Jones. The project was stored at LSU until 1993 when it was transferred to LDOA for long term curation. At least one lot of potentially associated funerary objects was noted including ceramics, lithics, and groudstone. Human remains representing at least, one individual has been identified from 16AV67, Indian Bayou Mounds, in Avoyelles Parish, LA. The fieldwork was conducted in January 1980 by Duke Rivet. The collection was entered into the LDOA database in 2001. At least one lot of potentially associated funerary objects were noted including ceramics and lithics. 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 Louisiana Division of Archaeology has determined that: • The human remains described in this notice represent the physical remains of three individuals of Native American ancestry. • The two lots of 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; Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana; Jena Band of Choctaw Indians; Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians; and The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. 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 August 31, 2026. If competing requests for repatriation are received, the Louisiana Division of Archaeology 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 Louisiana Division of Archaeology 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: July 20, 2026. Melanie O'Brien, Manager, National NAGPRA Program. [FR Doc. 2026-15503 Filed 7-30-26; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4312-52-P