What to do if you find an ancient artifact?

Archeologists excavate artifacts from archeological sites. Artifacts are not souvenirs! Leave the artifact where you found it. Please don’t pick it up, move it, throw it, put it in your pocket or your bag, or bury it.

Is it illegal to buy ancient artifacts?

BUY ONLY LEGALLY ACQUIRED ANCIENT ART While there are indeed a number of laws governing the sale and purchase of items of cultural patrimony (antiquities), as long as an item has been legally imported into the United States, it’s legal to sell and purchase.

Are ancient artifacts on eBay real?

He estimates that about 30 percent of “antiquities” currently for sale on eBay are obvious fakes, in so much as creators mix up iconography and choose colors and shapes for visual effect rather than authenticity. Another 5 percent or so are genuine treasures.

Who do you think is the rightful owner of the artifacts and antiquities?

The Antiquities Act of 1975 states that anything found must be reported to the Ministry of Culture and Heritage within 28 days. Then the ministry decides what to do with it. If the item was found before 1976, then it belongs to whoever found it.

Who “owns” an archaeological artifact?

As for me, I’m of the belief that an archaeological artifact is “owned” by the public; and whoever finds it is responsible for its care, for the sake of the public. And in most cases, the law is on my side. Under American Common Law, an artifact found on, or beneath, the surface of your property is considered part of the real estate.

Is an artifact considered part of the property?

Under American Common Law, an artifact found on, or beneath, the surface of your property is considered part of the real estate. This is true for an arrowhead resting on the surface of a plowed field, or a Civil War cannonball found underneath a foot of soil.

How can I find someone to help identify an artifact?

It’s best practice to find someone near to you: artifact identification is tricky, and it might be helpful if you could easily just take the object to them to see it. In addition, if you found it locally, the odds are better that someone local will be able to readily identify something that was made locally.

Who is responsible for the preservation of artifacts found on property?

If it’s on your property, it’s yours to keep. Unless you sign a contract with a government agency, archaeologists, or educational institution which allows the other party to excavate on your property and keep the artifacts that are found, the artifacts are your property.