In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the University of Tennessee, McClung Museum of Natural History & Culture intends to return 57 cultural items, which are considered unassociated funerary objects, to The Chickasaw Nation. These items, including ceramics and lithics, were excavated from a site in Stewart County, Tennessee in 1939. UTK has determined that these items are culturally linked to The Chickasaw Nation. Repatriation can occur on or after April 17, 2025, and additional requests can be made by other tribes or descendants who can prove their connection to the objects.
Simple Explanation
The University of Tennessee wants to give back some special old items, like pots and tools, to the Chickasaw Nation because they belong to them. They plan to start this on April 17, 2025, and other groups or people who think the items belong to them can also ask to have them back.