Notice of Intended Repatriation: The Filson Historical Society, Louisville, KY, 24657 [2025-10595]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
• National Park Service

[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 111 (Wednesday, June 11, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Page 24657]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-10595]



[[Page 24657]]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0040325; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Intended Repatriation: The Filson Historical Society, 
Louisville, KY

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and 
Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Filson Historical Society intends to 
repatriate certain cultural items that meet the definition of 
unassociated funerary objects and that have a cultural affiliation with 
the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice.

DATES: Repatriation of the cultural items in this notice may occur on 
or after July 11, 2025.

ADDRESSES: Send written requests for repatriation of the cultural items 
in this notice to Kelly Hyberger, The Filson Historical Society, 1310 
South 3rd Street, Louisville, KY 40208, email 
[email protected].

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 
Filson Historical Society, and additional information on the 
determinations in this notice, including the results of consultation, 
can be found in the summary or related records. The National Park 
Service is not responsible for the determinations in this notice.

Abstract of Information Available

    A total of 123 cultural items have been requested for repatriation. 
The 123 unassociated funerary objects are one adz, one bone awl, six 
grooved axes, three bannerstones, one lot of beads, one sandstone bowl, 
26 stone celts, three discoidals, five gorgets, one stone hoe, three 
stone mauls, one stone cylinder fragment, 26 stone pestles, three stone 
pipes, two fragmented pipes, 19 spearheads, two scrapers, one sinker, 
one ceramic bowl, one lot of axes, one lot of celts and chisels, one 
lots of unidentified clay implements, one lot of stone drills, one lot 
of hammerstones, one lot of hemisphere stones, one lots of hoes, one 
lot of stone knives, one lot of lap stones, one lot of stone mauls, one 
lot of midden material, one lot of pestles, one lot of points, one lot 
of polishing sinkers, one lot of scrapers, one lot of stone sinkers, 
and one lot of stone tools.
    Of the unassociated funeral objects requested, 106 were donated to 
the Filson by Otto Rothert in 1929. At various dates prior to 1929, 
Rothert collected these items from mound sites throughout Muhlenberg 
County, KY.
    Of the unassociated funerary objects requests, 17 lots of items 
consist of co-mingled material removed from various undocumented sites 
across Kentucky, including material collected by Rothert from mound 
sites in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky.

Determinations

    The Filson Historical Society has determined that:
     The 123 unassociated funerary objects described in this 
notice are reasonably believed to have been placed intentionally with 
or near human remains, and are connected, either at the time of death 
or later as part of the death rite or ceremony of a Native American 
culture according to the Native American traditional knowledge of a 
lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization. The 
unassociated funerary objects have been identified by a preponderance 
of the evidence as related to human remains, specific individuals, or 
families, or removed from a specific burial site or burial area of an 
individual or individuals with cultural affiliation to an Indian Tribe 
or Native Hawaiian organization.
     There is a connection between the cultural items described 
in this notice and the Cherokee Nation; Eastern Band of Cherokee 
Indians; and the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma.

Requests for Repatriation

    Additional, written requests for repatriation of the cultural items 
in this notice must be sent to the authorized representative identified 
in this notice under ADDRESSES. Requests for repatriation may be 
submitted by 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 a culturally affiliated Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian 
organization.
    Repatriation of the cultural items in this notice to a requestor 
may occur on or after July 11, 2025. If competing requests for 
repatriation are received, the Filson Historical Society must determine 
the most appropriate requestor prior to repatriation. Requests for 
joint repatriation of the cultural items are considered a single 
request and not competing requests. The Filson Historical Society is 
responsible for sending a copy of this notice to the Indian Tribes and 
Native Hawaiian organizations identified in this notice and to any 
other consulting parties.
    Authority: Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, 
25 U.S.C. 3004 and the implementing regulations, 43 CFR 10.9.

    Dated: May 28, 2025.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2025-10595 Filed 6-10-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P