| Contacts: | Donna Hummel (505)954-2019 |
Collecting Artifacts, including Arrowheads, from Public Lands is Illegal
Santa Fe, N.M. – The Bureau of Land Management would like to remind you that collecting artifacts – including arrowheads – from federal public lands or Indian tribal lands is illegal under federal laws and regulations. These objects are archaeological resources and remain the property of the United States.
Collecting archaeological resources, including arrowheads, is a violation under Title 43 Code of Federal Regulations 8365.1-5(a)(1). It is also a violation of the Antiquities Act of 1906 and Title18 of the United States criminal code. Violators may face prosecution and prison sentences of up to one year or more and/or possible fines in the tens of thousands of dollars.
According to the Archaeological Resources Protection Act of 1979 (ARPA), people who remove artifacts may be ordered by the court to relinquish or surrender any archaeological resources, vehicles, or equipment involved in the removal. These ARPA forfeiture provisions apply as a penalty in prosecutions regarding arrowhead removal.
We encourage everyone to learn more about the value of archaeological sites and to visit these places with respect. For those interested in learning about modern American Indian perspectives and the importance of cultural resources, the Visit with Respect DVD, produced by the BLM in cooperation with American Indian tribes, is available at http://www.blm.gov/co/st/en/nm/canm.html .
As stewards of your public lands, the BLM asks for your assistance in preventing the loss of these irreplaceable artifacts. BLM lands are patrolled by federal law enforcement officers who seek your participation in protecting archaeological resources. Please call the New Mexico state police dispatch at (505)827-9377 or the BLM duty officer contact information line at (505)761-8938 to report vandalism, looting, or artifact trafficking.
The BLM manages more land - over 245 million acres - than any other Federal agency. This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The Bureau, with a budget of about $1 billion, also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. The BLM's multiple-use mission is to sustain the health and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. The Bureau accomplishes this by managing such activities as outdoor recreation, livestock grazing, mineral development, and energy production, and by conserving natural, historical, cultural, and other resources on public lands.