Almost got arrested and had my artifacts confiscated!

[jpitt1970]

Today, I went down to the Tennessee River look for artifacts. When I was walking back to the car, two TVA officers were waiting on me. They asked if I had any arrowheads or any other artifacts. Then I was searched and had the few things I found confiscated. Lucky for me, all I had was a nice big knife blade, a net weight and a section of a long bone that had been cut like a ring and drilled, like a necklace charm or some type of pendant.....I was ticked off to say the least. I was only given a written warning for theft of Government property and told that if I was caught looking for artifacts along the river, I would be arrested!

I have been to the TVA website and even printed a copy of the the laws regarding artifact collecting, which clearly states that the laws do not pertain to a person collecting arrowheads off the surface of the ground. When I told the officers that, they just said the law has recently changed and they are cracking down on artifact hunters.

What a bunch of bull!!!

 

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[Tnmountains]

If you were in N. Ala you probally ran into the guy they call deputy dog. You bet it went in his revolving collection. Here is how it works. Jimmy Carter like to collect artifacts along the rivers and creeks and had thru ARPA laws changed it to where you can pick up a surface find. The Federal Gov stepped in after that and said yeah you can pick it up you just can't remove it from Federal property.That is theft. You can ride around all day with them in the boat but where they get you is when you exit Federal land? Was I right?
That guy down here does that to people he does not know or is not scared of, He is known for trading the things he confiscates back to collectors for thing he collects..... I see them on protected sights in the evenings out hunting as I fish.
They have stopped me on a few occasions and I have permission on fields by the river and the name and ph# of the land owners up and down the rivers for miles.

I suggest printing the ARPA LAWS and carrying them with you in a plastic envelope. I do and will argue it if I have to because I have permissions. I would also go and visit their office and talk to a supervisor. Alabama used to have a good working relation with the surface hunters and were always very nice when they traveled alone cause most artifact hunters/people carry and are armed. Now they double team for safety. I really cant blame them with all the nuts of there now days.

Sorry about that. Maybe in the future you can barter with them. They have no right to confiscate your stuff on Federal property. Plus sites like this get a lot of people out hunting that are very oblivious in what they are doing. NEVER EVER DIG. Follow the laws.

Be safe and next time be ready to chunk your stuff into your federal deep water.
Grrr

 

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[curiousfinds]

To quote the mentioned law...
"Artifact hunting is legal on private land, if you have the owner's permission, but since 1979 it has been against federal law to remove anything more than 100 years old from federal land."

How on earth is one supposed to know if it is 100 years or older, or not? Can't remember ever seeing one with a date.

Shoot, can't pick up anything, and if you do accidentally bring rocks home that ARE of historical significance, good luck trying to get a University or Museum to acknowledge the history of the find...that would be like admitting that we live on stolen land.
I once found an ancient - and I mean ancient - city unveiled by eroding cliffs on the ocean shore. Came home and called ALL of the supposed proper authorities - no on seemed to give a damn. So, I went back and took pictures.

Completely understand the frustration points of this issue...

 

[mrs.oroblanco]

Well, that whole deal sucks, to say the least.

I wonder when our government will figure out and/or understand - they don't own squat - Federal land is OUR land, and except for things like military bases and things of that nature, they are conservators, not owners.

The TVA - almost everywhere they are, seem to be ....................... trying to be nice here - a private entity that has control over public land. (thank you President FDR).

The "mission" of TVA (via the TVA act of 1933) is this:

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America
in Congress assembled, That for the purpose of maintaining and operating the properties
now owned by the United States in the vicinity of Muscle Shoals, Alabama, in the
interest of the national defense and for agricultural and industrial development, and to
improve navigation in the Tennessee River and to control the destructive flood water in
the Tennessee River and Mississippi River Basins, there is hereby created a body
corporate by the name of the “Tennessee Valley Authority” (hereinafter referred to as the
“Corporation”)

To maintain and operate the properties owned by the US - that would be its citizens.

Of course, imo, they have gone way beyond their bounds - all over the country.

B

 

[curiousfinds]

A Native American friend of mine has this bumper sticker - "This Is Indian Land"
Couldn't agree more - ALL of it...

 

[mrs.oroblanco]

Curiousfinds,

I have to respectfully disagree.

If the "powers that be" actually allow the truth to come to light, you might well find that Europeans were in this country many years before the
Native Americans. We already have proof of european skeletons far older than any native american skeletons or artifacts.


Back to the topic: What logic decided that artifacts in the ground that we never know about is better than letting someone detect and bring history to light, I will never know.

If they want to make a law on artifacts, let it be like other countries, like England. You get the credit, and money for the finds. If they don't need the artifacts for their museums, they will let you keep them. Meantime, back at the ranch, we lose an incredible amount of history by our screwy laws.

B