Artifacts are removed from their location in a site and delicate materials are destroyed. Moreover, artifacts taken for private collections are lost to history. The information they contain cannot be shared with Native people, the scientific community, or the public. Archaeological sites are a non-renewable resource. Once disturbed, they cannot be repaired.
Recreational digging is like ripping pages from a history book.
It damages the site and limits interpretation. The Alutiiq Museum cannot accept artifacts collected illegally - without the permission of the landowner. This would be equivalent to accepting stolen property. 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.