Getting a Little Worried! Some advice please! UDATED

[wylie]

I need to know the laws pertaining to Native American Artifacts and how they affect me!

Wow! Thanks for all of your comments! The spot I hunt is my own property luckily. I have found several artifacts and want to preserve this site and everything in it. I think that this is a part of history and should be preserved. I have always been passionate about archaeology and I feel this is my way to contribute to everyone's enjoyment. I dont look at it as stealing because it is my own property and I want it preserved more than anyone because of my own Native American heritage. My ancestors are of the Cherokee Nation, and several others. I want this land protected! I will continue to research the Laws for my state and do appreciate all of your help!

 

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[pickaway]

Re: Getting a Little Worried! Some advice please!

Look up your state laws, should be able to find them on the net...

 

[Airborne80]

Re: Getting a Little Worried! Some advice please!

I agree..... google your state laws and you should find all of the details. Good luck.

 

[The Grim Reaper]

Re: Getting a Little Worried! Some advice please!

In most states as long as you pick up artifacts on private land with permission there usually isn't any problem. Picking them up on state property is another thing though and can usually get you in hot water. Like the others said, Google your state laws and see what they say. You are from Arkansas I see from your profile and I see quite a few people posting on this board and others from your state who collect artifacts with no problems.

 

[steve71]

Re: Getting a Little Worried! Some advice please!

I need to know the laws pertaining to Native American Artifacts and how they affect me!

i'm not sure about the laws where your at. i know that you better be careful keep it in moderation hunting artifacts becouse you will get addicted and not sure if you will be able to kick it.lol.ATF addicted to flint.

 

[Dabeel]

Re: Getting a Little Worried! Some advice please!

Hey Wylie
Received a breaking news email alert from the Sacramento Bee paper over the weekend:

If you like to collect arrowheads and artifacts, do not do what this guy did:

Published: Saturday, Dec. 20, 2008

A man has been arrested on suspicion of looting an ancient American Indian tribal village site -- actions that were then posted on the Internet.

--------- ---------30, of Eureka was arrested Tuesday for allegedly taking archeological items, such as arrowheads and spear tips, from a village site inside Patrick's Point State Park, 25 miles north of Eureka in Humboldt County.
State officials reported that someone involved had recorded the theft and posted it on the Internet. The YouTube posting led to the arrest of --------- ---------.

Yurok tribe leaders called the disturbance and theft of sacred burial items extremely offensive. Yuroks are buried with items that represent the personality of the person, according to the tribe.

I would classify this as "not very smart"........A STATE PARK!!!!! HELLOOOOO!!!!!!!

Just an FYI,

Doug

 

[Cannonman17]

Re: Getting a Little Worried! Some advice please!

"theft of sacred burial items " Greedy grave robber in my book. Gives the rest of us a bad name.

 

[Jonnyreb]

Re: Getting a Little Worried! Some advice please!

I agree, the guy did something really stupid, but....the media seems to have embellished the story a lil bit in the last paragragh there. The first paragragh stated it was a village site, and nowhere did it state he had "looted" a burial ground.
I would be curious to know if the guy was digging or surface collecting. Either way, its illegal to collect of state owned land, (in most cases) its just that surface collection is more of a "rescue". Of course the digging is what has ruined the collecting rights for a lot of us.

 

[archaeon]

Re: Getting a Little Worried! Some advice please!

i have had a "full blood" tell me once here in florida that ALL arrowheads in the ground are burial items and all are sacred. gimmie a break! i looked right at him and told him that the majority of points in the ground are like shotgun shells...tools for survival. he disagreed, but he was ingnint.

 

[Flintfinder of Mo.]

Re: Getting a Little Worried! Some advice please!

Here's an example of some Bad digging. We used to be able to surface hunt this spot, until this started happening. I can not find my good pics of what these guys did to this farmers field. They hid in the corn and dug a spot almost half the size of a football field. The farmer said everyone stay out and off my land. He drove his combine off in to one of the pits dug, and he was pissed. Sorry if I am off subject but this is a reason that people don't want us artifact hunters on their land. They ruined it for us all , on this killer killer site. John

 

[pippinwhitepaws]

Re: Getting a Little Worried! Some advice please!

in the southwest, many people buried their relatives under the floors of their homes.
the federal law is clear on the subject of looting native american sites.

http://www.american.edu/TED/artifact.htm

 

[phantomfinder]

Re: Getting a Little Worried! Some advice please!

Well the way I understand it , If you are digging on indian land ..... You are braking the law, If you take anything off there land ....
You are braking the law....There laws are different because they (ALL) own the land , So you would have to get a yes to digg from All of them . But you should look it up on the internet, Too find out what is what.... Goodluck finding out the laws about digg on indian land....

 

[pippinwhitepaws]

Re: Getting a Little Worried! Some advice please!

http://www.fbi.gov/publications/leb/1997/july971.htm

 

[Mudonmyshoes]

Re: Getting a Little Worried! Some advice please!

All I know is that I am new to artifact hunting and really enjoy walking the fields and creeks with my kids. I am not out to make a profit, but enjoy collecting for my personal use. I would never dig or trespass. The time I spend looking is relaxing and calming. If I do not find anything during my search, so what. It's something I enjoy and would hate to see end because of a few selfish individuals.....Mud

 

[Jonnyreb]

Re: Getting a Little Worried! Some advice please!

Here's an example of some Bad digging. We used to be able to surface hunt this spot, until this started happening. I can not find my good pics of what these guys did to this farmers field. They hid in the corn and dug a spot almost half the size of a football field. The farmer said everyone stay out and off my land. He drove his combine off in to one of the pits dug, and he was pissed. Sorry if I am off subject but this is a reason that people don't want us artifact hunters on their land. They ruined it for us all , on this killer killer site. John

That Sir, is a PRIME example of what else has ruined collecting for a lot of us as well. I could tell you story after story about such instances here in the N.E. Texas/S.E.Oklahoma Caddoan area!! That just makes me want to pick a fight with somebody!!

 

[coalfire]

Re: Getting a Little Worried! Some advice please!

I have read about Pot thieves that do this. I have also heard of some thieves digging mounds on other peoples property. This makes us, the honest, serious collectors look bad and people group us in with them. This, and I am sorry if I hurt feelings, is why I hate people selling and buying artifacts. I have no problem for selling blankets, weaving, or other stuff that would be damaged or just plain gone if in the soil. But Points & tools should be kept, donated or gifted. NOT SOLD. EVER. The demand far exceeds the supply making prices soar. And, thus leads to this.

I collect because I enjoy the chipped end product and respect and research the lost history of my local Native Americans, and want to acquire a collection with my own two hands. It means more to me than a bought one. If I want one, for instance I am going to make a knife and scheath to carry, I will buy a COPY chipped today and I will not lie and say it is old. I can remember back in 1993 when I was in college when I went to the local mall there used to be a Artifact Sale along the way at the local VFW every couple of weeks and wow were there alot(!) of cars there. I went in once to see. and WOW again I saw some excellent artifacts. And these people were all smiles and handshakes because they thought they had me hooked til I walked away.

Yes there are still a lot of artifacts in the ground, and I'd wager to say 75% have not been found. I tell folks I love to collect and save the artifacts from the plows. But you can't offer me enough for my collection as my collection is worthless not priceless! Offer me a million dollars and I'd still walk away! I'll try to explain. The Susquehannock were killed off here, (back in PA were I hunted there) only their history and artifacts exist anymore. The Iroquois and Delawares moved across this territory along with many others tribes. I have history of them. I protect them. When people start placing dollars on their history it makes sad. If you need money there are other ways to make it. If you want a specific artifact buy a copy and mark it as such. But please don't feed this market. I am not militant about it. Just pissed that their are people out there, maybe even reading this that see dollar signs where most of us see a peoples history. I am not looking to fight or get in a argument, this is just my personal thoughts. I once saw a aerial photo in national Geographic of a huge area where pot thieves dug that looked like a enlarged view of a golf ball. It had that many holes. I know those that sell will not really stop but please don't encourage the crime. Yes it may be a crime if you buy a stolen artifact from an illegal dig. You are just as guilty as they in the eyes of the law. Sorry for the rant. LOL
Respectfully, (weather you believe me or not)
~Z~