The National Park Service has issued a notice regarding the disposition of certain Native American cultural items held by the Navy at the Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach Detachment Fallbrook in California. These items, which include tourmaline crystals, a quartz crystal, ceramic pipe fragments, and shell beads, were collected from various historical sites. The notice outlines that these items are intended to be returned to appropriate lineal descendants or Native tribes, with several Native American groups given priority. Interested parties may claim these items by March 17, 2026; otherwise, they will become unclaimed cultural items. The process follows guidelines set by the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA).
Simple Explanation
The Navy has some special items from Native American history, like crystals and beads, and they want to give them back to the right Native American tribes or families. If the tribes or families don't claim them by March 17, 2026, the items will be considered unclaimed.