Can Archaeologists Keep What They Find?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Professional archaeologists do not keep, buy, sell, or trade any artifacts. Quite simply,

they don’t get to keep what they find because it doesn’t belong to them

. If archaeologists kept what they found, they would be the only ones to know the story behind the object. Archaeologists want to share their discoveries.

Can you keep artifacts you find?


If it’s on your property, it’s yours to keep

. Unless you sign a contract with a government agency, archaeologists, or educational institution which allows the other party to excavate on your property and keep the artifacts that are found, the artifacts are your property.

Can archeologists keep artifacts?

Legitimate archaeologists are in favor of these kinds of laws because they help protect the integrity of the site.

Professionals in the field do not keep, sell or trade artifacts they uncover

. Their goal is to record history, plain and simple, and if possible, move the objects as a collection for research and display.

What do archaeologist do with things they find?

Archaeologists find

clues about the past

. They use a variety of extraction or digging techniques. … Archaeologists are also responsible for the conservation of the artifacts they recover. This usually involves bringing the items back to a lab to clean, restore, and stabilize them properly.

Do archaeologists get paid for what they find?

The BLS reports that the state employing the most archaeologists in 2019 is California, where the

average annual salary for archaeologists is $69,890

. … Having an advanced archaeologist education and experience can boost job prospects.

What should I do if I find an artifact?


If it’s on your property, it’s yours to keep

. Unless you sign a contract with a government agency, archaeologists, or educational institution which allows the other party to excavate on your property and keep the artifacts that are found, the artifacts are your property.

Is it illegal to own ancient artifacts?

Archaeological artifacts are internationally protected by the Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict and their circulation is

prohibited by the UNESCO Convention (1970)

on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of …

Do archaeologists travel?

Do Archaeologists Travel? … Archaeologists whose research areas are not near where they live may travel to conduct surveys, excavations, and laboratory analyses. Many archaeologists, however,

do not travel that much

. This is true for some jobs in federal and state government, museums, parks and historic sites.

What is the most important artifact ever found?

In 1799, a group of French soldiers rebuilding a military fort in the port city of el-Rashid (or Rosetta), Egypt, accidentally uncovered what was to become one of the most famous artifacts in the world —

the Rosetta Stone

Who is the most famous Archaeologist?

  • Archaeologist: Howard Carter (Discovered King Tut’s Tomb)
  • Howard Carter – Discovering Tut.
  • Howard Carter – Archaeologist in Egypt.
  • Howard Carter and Lord Carnarvon – The Finding of King Tut’s Tomb.
  • Lost City of the Incas (photos with music)
  • Machu Picchu – The Lost City.

How much money do archaeologists make a month?

Annual Salary Monthly Pay Top Earners $87,500 $7,291 75th Percentile $74,500 $6,208 Average

$55,055


$4,587
25th Percentile $40,500 $3,375

Do archaeologists make alot of money?

How Much Does an Archaeologist Make? Archaeologists made a median salary of $63,670 in 2019. The

best-paid 25 percent made $81,480

that year, while the lowest-paid 25 percent made $49,760.

What is the highest paying job in the world?

  • Anaesthesiologist.
  • Surgeon.
  • Chief Executive Officer.
  • Physician.
  • Senior Software Engineer.
  • Investment Banker.
  • Data Scientist.

What are 3 examples of artifacts?

Examples include

stone tools, pottery vessels

, metal objects such as weapons and items of personal adornment such as buttons, jewelry and clothing. Bones that show signs of human modification are also examples.

Who do you call when you find an artifact?

If you aren’t an

archaeologist

and you happen to stumble upon an artifact in the United States, then you must report your finding. Each state has an office of historical preservation or archaeology, as well as a state archaeologist.

How can you tell how old an artifact is?

Perhaps the most famous absolute dating technique,

radiocarbon dating

was developed during the 1940s and relies on chemistry to determine the ages of objects. Used on organic matter, the technique measures the amount of radioactive carbon decay to determine an object’s age.

James Park
Author
James Park
Dr. James Park is a medical doctor and health expert with a focus on disease prevention and wellness. He has written several publications on nutrition and fitness, and has been featured in various health magazines. Dr. Park's evidence-based approach to health will help you make informed decisions about your well-being.