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Oklahoma · Snapshot open-us-law v2026.08, retrieved 2026-09-14

Okla. Stat. tit. 21, § 21-1168.4: Discovery of human remains or burial furniture -

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  1. OK Code
  2. Title 21

Reporting and notification procedure.

A. All persons who encounter or discover human skeletal remains

or what they believe may be human skeletal remains or burial

furniture thought to be associated with human burials in or on the

ground shall immediately cease any activity which may cause further

disturbance and shall report the presence and location of such human

skeletal remains to an appropriate law enforcement officer.

B. Any person who willfully fails to report the presence or

discovery of human skeletal remains or what they believe may be

human skeletal remains within forty-eight (48) hours to an

appropriate law enforcement officer in the county in which the

remains are found shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

C. Any person who knowingly disturbs human skeletal remains or

burial furniture other than a law enforcement officer, registered

mortician, a representative of the Office of the Chief Medical

Examiner, a professional archaeologist or physical anthropologist,

or other officials designated by law in performance of official

duties shall, upon conviction, be guilty of a Class D3 felony

offense and shall be punished by imprisonment as provided for in

subsections B through F of Section 20P of this title.

D. Anyone other than a law enforcement officer, registered

mortician, a representative of the Office of the Chief Medical

Examiner, a professional archaeologist or physical anthropologist,

or other officials designated by law in performance of official

duties, who disturbs or permits disturbance of a burial ground with

the intent to obtain human skeletal remains or burial furniture

shall, upon conviction, be guilty of a Class D3 felony offense and

shall be punished by imprisonment as provided for in subsections B

through F of Section 20P of this title.

E. The law enforcement officer, if there is a reason to believe

that the skeletal remains may be human, shall promptly notify the

landowner and the Chief Medical Examiner. If remains reported under

this act are not associated with or suspected of association with

any crime, the State Archaeologist and the State Historic

Preservation Officer shall be notified within fifteen (15) days. If

review by the State Archaeologist and the State Historic

Preservation Officer of the human skeletal remains and any burial

furniture demonstrates or suggests a direct historical relationship

to a tribal group, then the State Archaeologist shall:

1. Notify the State Historic Preservation Officer; and

2. Consult with the tribal leader, designated by the Oklahoma

Indian Affairs Commission, within fifteen (15) days regarding any

proposed treatment or scientific studies and final disposition of

the materials.

Collected 2026-09-14T18:32:36Z. Source file · JSON

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