Final answer:
According to NAGPRA, archeologists must repatriate Native American items such as human remains and objects of cultural significance to tribes if they can prove lineal descent or cultural affiliation.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), when archeologists excavate Native American items, they must repatriate and return cultural items such as human remains, funerary objects, sacred objects, and objects of cultural patrimony to tribes if they can demonstrate lineal descent or cultural affiliation. The goal of NAGPRA is to correct the colonial legacy of grave robbing and provide tribes the opportunity to properly bury and respect their ancestors and cultural heritage.