In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Georgia Department of Natural Resources has completed an inventory of human remains found in Athens-Clarke County, Georgia, confirming their Native American ancestry. These remains are culturally affiliated with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and The Muscogee (Creek) Nation. Interested parties, such as Indian Tribes or descendants, may request repatriation of the human remains starting January 13, 2025. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources, alongside the National Park Service, is responsible for handling these requests and determining appropriate requestors in case of competing claims.
Simple Explanation
The people in charge of Georgia’s ancient stuff found some bones they say belong to Native American Tribes. Now, they’ve figured out which Tribes the bones belong to, and those Tribes can ask to have the bones returned to them.