The Archaeological Resources Protection Act (ARPA) provides our best tool for stopping the theft of cultural items and human remains right at the source: people who steal from ancient sites on Tribal and federal lands.
Careful and thorough investigations are necessary to make solid ARPA convictions. Land managers, archaeologists, and law enforcement must work together to achieve these goals.
Above all, we need the eyes and ears of the public to spot these crimes and submit a tip! With ARPA we can eliminate crimes against history and keep ancient sites intact and undamaged for future generations.
Archaeological resources, as defined by the Archaeological Resources Protection Act (16 USC 470bb[1]) are “material remains of past human life” including “pottery, basketry, bottles, weapons, weapon projectiles, tools, structures or portions of structures, pit houses, rock paintings, rock carvings, intaglios, graves, [and] human skeletal materials.” These items must be at least 100 years of age to be protected under ARPA. Many other anti-theft laws protect more recent resources.
Archaeological resources are non-renewable and do not exist to be consumed like water or wood. These resources hold their cultural and historical value best when they are left undisturbed, right where they were left on the land. If we practice sustainable appreciation of ancient sites, we protect the rights of future generations to understand history and heritage.
For more clarity on the terms used in ARPA, check out our FAQ.
