Archaeology

Archaeological
Laws

As archaeological damage has become more of an issue over the years, we have begun to make laws protecting historical damage. Some examples are:

The antiquities act of 1906: Allowing the president to create national monuments and establish penalties for stealing from government protected areas
Archaeological Resources Protection Act of 1979 (ARPA): Defines protected resources (over 100 years old), requires permits for excavation on public/Indian lands, and sets strict criminal penalties for violations
National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (NHPA): Requires federal agencies to consider the effects of their projects on historic items
Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) of 1990: Provides a process for museums/agencies to return Native American human remains and cultural items to lineal descendants and tribes
UNESCO Convention of 1970: Restricts the international trade of illicitly removed cultural property

Stop and Look: Do not pick up or move the object, as its surroundings ("context") are crucial for scientific study.
Document: Photograph the object from multiple angles, including a wide shot showing nearby landmarks, and note the precise location.
Report: Contact a local museum, university, or state archaeologist to report the finding, especially on public land.
Do Not Post on Social Media: Publicizing the location can lead to looting.
If Already Removed: If you have already removed it, contact authorities immediately, as keeping it may violate laws like the Archaeological Resources Protection Act.