Notice of Inventory Completion: Human Remains and Funerary Objects at South Dakota State Historical Society Archaeological Research Center

The South Dakota State Historical Society Archaeological Research Center (ARC), located in Rapid City, SD, has formally completed an inventory of human remains and associated funerary objects held in its collections, as required under the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA). This federal law mandates that museums and federal agencies inventory Native American human remains and cultural items and work toward their repatriation to lineal descendants or culturally affiliated tribes. Following the completion of this inventory, the ARC has determined that a cultural affiliation exists between the inventoried human remains and associated funerary objects and one or more Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations identified in the notice. This determination is a critical step in the NAGPRA compliance process, as it establishes the legal basis for repatriation claims. This notice published in the Federal Register serves to formally inform the public and eligible claimants — specifically affiliated tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations — of the completed inventory and the cultural affiliation findings. It opens the window for those tribes to submit repatriation requests to the ARC for the return of ancestral remains and burial items. No transfer or physical repatriation of remains or objects may occur for a minimum of 30 days following publication of this notice, allowing time for any objections or additional claims to be filed with the relevant authorities.

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