We can, however, contact land owners to let them know that there are materials on their property that need care. Archaeological sites and the artifacts they contain belong to the owner of the land on which they occur. In Alaska, artifacts found on the beach belong to the State. It is also important to recognize that Native American people feel very strong ties to materials made by their ancestors. To many, these artifacts are sacred and belong to the Native community.
All professional archaeologists arrange permits before conducting any excavation or collection.
These permits state how materials will be obtained and where they will be stored. Under the Archaeological Resource Protection Act of 1979, it is illegal to dig in, or to take, purchase, sell, receive, or transport materials from a site on federal land, without a permit. Similar laws protect state and private lands, and Native American burials. Set a good example. Never dig in an archaeological site or collect artifacts except under the guidance of a professional archaeologist.