Artifacts and the law

[Jack D]

A few days ago, our local paper had an article about a man that was breaking the law by digging in old outhouse locations for old glass bottles. This man was digging on private property with the owners permission. The article goes on to remind everyone that it is illegal in Oregon to dig anything older than 75 years old.....even on private property...unless there is an archaeologist present. He wasn't arrested, just informed and made to stop.

How does this relate to MD'ers? Is the law similar in other states?

Frankly, this infuriates me. Another example of government interference in our private lives. I can understand if it is an acient village or something of importance....but old glass bottles in an outhouse location? It's no secret that some glass bottles are old and that people dumped them in the outhouse pits. What more can be learned from them by archeologists? What about coins over 75 years old? How does one know what the age of something is until after it has been dug up? I dug up some old broken cast iron in my meadow. It could be over 75 years old. Did I break the law?

Ridiculous!

[Arkwater]

I think they make those laws because they know that some artifacts (bottles?) are quite valuable. Its all about greed.

[IronClad]

AMERICA .....land of the FREE ???? just keep on thinking that.


Everyday citizens of the US are unknowingly relinquishing more and more of our Rights.

... last time I looked, this Country was a Government "Of The People, By The People, and For The People "....sadly this is no longer the case.

[The TINMAN]

Hey Jack,
I guess you would have to check what laws that pertain to your area. What a Crock, It's on PRIVATE land BUT they can still tell ya what you can have and isn't it funny that the Archeoligist get to have that stuff. Bunch of Bull Hockey ! Politics & Greed ! I'm with you, If it's an Ancient site or very Historical thats fine but if I owned some land and was out in the middle of MY field and found something even older than 75yrs, That puppy is staying with me. Pretty soon they'll be tellin ya anything past 1" in the ground belongs to them to. Gotta keep up on the laws wich is near impossible as they keep changing them every other day.

The TINMAN

[The TINMAN]

Ironclad
I heard that was just a viscious rumor. They are taking our Rights and giving away our Sovereignty every day.

The TINMAN

[Captain]

It will only get worse. if somthing isnt done fast.. we will lose what made us a great Country.

Get rid of or BAN groups like the ACLU, Moveon.org which Goggle has banded all there adds.. This would be a nice start.

[Buster]

If you have permission, you should be able to keep anything that you find. If the owner who gave you permission wants it then you should deal with them.. If it is a ark dig and they have the place roped off and no tresspassing signs up, then I would say that they have the say where the finds go. But I would still want to keep all the stuff I would dig up. As I said, They are welcome to my pull tab and beer bottle cap collection. They will be worth money someday...Buster....