IDENTIFY MY ARTIFACT HOW TO
IDENTIFY MY ARTIFACT CODE

No, the specific information about site locations is protected information. Yes, the general information about the site will be available to the public as well as professional archaeologists and government agency planners. If I report a site, will it become public record? Removing artifacts from state or federal lands is illegal, punishable by fines and/or jail. Archaeological sites found on federally owned lands are protected by the Archaeological Resources Protection Act, also known as ARPA.

IDENTIFY MY ARTIFACT CODE

Archaeological sites on State-owned lands are protected under Mississippi Code 39-7-11, which states that any archaeological sites found on state-owned lands are considered Mississippi Landmarks. If you find artifacts on publicly owned land, report the location to the agency manager or MDAH Archaeology. See MS Code §39-7-31 What should I do if I find artifacts or a site on state or federal land? It can be a trespassing violation to gather artifacts on private property with the written permission of the landowner.

IDENTIFY MY ARTIFACT HOW TO

Never take anything from a site or disturb it in any way unless the landowner has given permission (in writing) and you know how to keep a careful record of what is removed. If you are a landowner seeking guidance to preserve your site, please contact MDAH Archaeology at What should I do if I find a site on private property?įirst, make sure that you have written permission to be on the owner’s land. However, we are interesting in protecting sites from destructions and can provide guidance to landowners in methods to preserve important sites. MDAH archaeologists are interested in recording the site’s location and artifacts from your site, and cannot confiscate your property. If I report a site on my land, will the state limit what I can do or try to take over my property? Ideally, if possible, document the UTM coordinates (most cellular phones now contain this information on apps such as Google Maps and Bing) and contact the Archaeological Site File Registrar for assistance. We ask that you make a record of where the site is located on an accurate map, such as a USGS 7.5” topographic map, USDA soil maps, or a highway map.

If you find what may be a site on your land, MDAH archaeologists will be glad to assist you in documenting the site for our records. How old is this arrowhead that I found on my property? What if I find a dugout canoe in a creek? Find the answers to these questions and more on our Archaeology FAQ below.

Identify my artifact