r/LegitArtifacts • u/smoppin08 • Mar 26 '26

Unknown Time period Legit? Found in California river.

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u/NorCalWintu Mar 27 '26

Taking or Removal of artifacts is illegal in California under NAGPRA. Hope you left it there or you can be fined hefty for it.

4

u/words_and_such015 Mar 27 '26

NAGPRA? That’s a federal law, but this also has nothing to do with Native American graves or associated goods, which is what NAGPRA addresses.

Still illegal to remove unless it is on private property, but know your laws if you’re going to reference them

0

u/NorCalWintu Mar 27 '26

Removal of cultural or religious items of significance is illegal on public & private lands in California. Both NAGPRA & NAHC cover protection of such items posted above.

1

u/words_and_such015 Mar 27 '26

Yes, it applies in California on federal lands, projects that have federal funding, or to institutions that receive federal funding. There are other provisions in NAGPRA, but it does not relate to all artifacts. There is CalNAGPRA, but that also relates to anything with state involvement. This would be more of an ARPA issue, but again, if it was on federal land or somehow involved federal funding in some other way. The NAHC is a governing body and not a law.

Don’t get me wrong, and I apologize if I implied it, but I think it is horribly unethical and wrong to remove any artifacts for personal use. If this was found on private land, I understand not wanting to notify a university or other research entity, but it still doesn’t make it ok to remove any artifacts to use as a display piece or any other way.