thedrifter
05-01-09, 06:12 AM
Relic hunters seek history, find trouble
4/30/2009 By Sgt. Judith Carver , Marine Corps Base Quantico
MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va. —
Relic hunters are defined as those who search for something that is cherished for its age or historic interest. Therefore it’s no surprise that Quantico, a place full of history, has seen its fair share of treasure seekers.
There are Civil War-era campsites located on mainside and in the Officer Candidate School area, said John Haynes, an archaeologist here. “These sites have been identified as historically significant.”
Although there are locations on the base that are not historical landmarks, the whole installation is safeguarded by the Archaeological Resources Protection Act of 1979.
“Collecting artifacts and digging for them is prohibited on all portions of the base,” said Haynes.
The purpose of the protection act is, “to secure, for the present and future benefit of the American people, the protection of archaeological resources and sites which are on public lands and Indian lands,” as stated in the ARPA Web site.
“Digging for artifacts on purpose and removing them from federal land without a permit, which requires the supervision of a professional archaeologist, is what the law prohibits,” said Haynes.
Though there is an exception to the act.
“ARPA exempts, specifically, arrowheads, buttons, and bullets if found on the surface,” said Hayes. “The spirit of the law is that it is not a crime to casually pick up an item out of curiosity.”
Archaeological sites on Department of Defense installations are monitored by the DOD Legacy Resource Management Program to identify possible ARPA violations.
The program funds studies to develop the process and technologies that benefit cultural and national services.
“The Marine Corps put in a proposal for fiscal year 2009 to develop a DOD protocol for monitoring of archaeological sites,” said Sue Goodfellow, a cultural resources specialist for Headquarters Marine Corps. “We are developing procedures and forms to monitor archaeological sites for instances such as relic hunting or looting.”
The monitoring requirements fall under the National Historic Preservation Act.
During the observation of a site, information is collected, maps are made and photographs are taken, explained Goodfellow.
Several months later the sites are visited again with the sample projects to see if there have been any changes or disturbances.
Those who don’t abide by the act do not walk away with a friendly warning.
“ARPA violations can be punished with civil and criminal penalties, a second offense can be classified as a felony,” said Hayes.
“Fines are based on either the value of the artifacts looted or the cost of the excavations if they had been undertaken by archaeologists,” in the first place.
Hayes also warns that equipment such as metal detectors can be confiscated.
There have been incidents of violations in the past.
“Relic hunters were caught and fined at the National Museum of the Marine Corps site prior to its construction several years ago,” said Haynes. “Although there is no recorded archaeological site of significance at the museum property, it is not necessary for a known or recorded site to be involved for relic hunting to be an ARPA violation.”
It is important to get the word out about ARPA and help Quantico maintain the rich history by conserving the land and the artifacts within it.
Typically relic hunters are only interested in the object. But even those who care about the history of an artifact take it out of context when they collect it, then you don’t know where it came from, said Haynes. “Taking an artifact makes it no longer a reliable piece of information.”
With the help of the Natural Resources and Environmental Affair office, violators can be caught.
“We enforce all the natural resources laws aboard the installation and sites are monitored with surveillance equipment,” said Euel J. Tritt, a conservation law enforcement officer here. “We’ve caught a couple people before metal detecting. We patrol the area and we get a lot of information from people as well.”
If people are seen metal detecting or digging on or near the base, contact a conservation law enforcement officer at 703-432-6793. If you see an artifact leave it where it is and contact Haynes at 703-432-6781. For information about ARPA, visit www.nps.gov/archeology. To view photos of artifacts found here at Quantico, visit www.quantico.mil.
Ellie
4/30/2009 By Sgt. Judith Carver , Marine Corps Base Quantico
MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va. —
Relic hunters are defined as those who search for something that is cherished for its age or historic interest. Therefore it’s no surprise that Quantico, a place full of history, has seen its fair share of treasure seekers.
There are Civil War-era campsites located on mainside and in the Officer Candidate School area, said John Haynes, an archaeologist here. “These sites have been identified as historically significant.”
Although there are locations on the base that are not historical landmarks, the whole installation is safeguarded by the Archaeological Resources Protection Act of 1979.
“Collecting artifacts and digging for them is prohibited on all portions of the base,” said Haynes.
The purpose of the protection act is, “to secure, for the present and future benefit of the American people, the protection of archaeological resources and sites which are on public lands and Indian lands,” as stated in the ARPA Web site.
“Digging for artifacts on purpose and removing them from federal land without a permit, which requires the supervision of a professional archaeologist, is what the law prohibits,” said Haynes.
Though there is an exception to the act.
“ARPA exempts, specifically, arrowheads, buttons, and bullets if found on the surface,” said Hayes. “The spirit of the law is that it is not a crime to casually pick up an item out of curiosity.”
Archaeological sites on Department of Defense installations are monitored by the DOD Legacy Resource Management Program to identify possible ARPA violations.
The program funds studies to develop the process and technologies that benefit cultural and national services.
“The Marine Corps put in a proposal for fiscal year 2009 to develop a DOD protocol for monitoring of archaeological sites,” said Sue Goodfellow, a cultural resources specialist for Headquarters Marine Corps. “We are developing procedures and forms to monitor archaeological sites for instances such as relic hunting or looting.”
The monitoring requirements fall under the National Historic Preservation Act.
During the observation of a site, information is collected, maps are made and photographs are taken, explained Goodfellow.
Several months later the sites are visited again with the sample projects to see if there have been any changes or disturbances.
Those who don’t abide by the act do not walk away with a friendly warning.
“ARPA violations can be punished with civil and criminal penalties, a second offense can be classified as a felony,” said Hayes.
“Fines are based on either the value of the artifacts looted or the cost of the excavations if they had been undertaken by archaeologists,” in the first place.
Hayes also warns that equipment such as metal detectors can be confiscated.
There have been incidents of violations in the past.
“Relic hunters were caught and fined at the National Museum of the Marine Corps site prior to its construction several years ago,” said Haynes. “Although there is no recorded archaeological site of significance at the museum property, it is not necessary for a known or recorded site to be involved for relic hunting to be an ARPA violation.”
It is important to get the word out about ARPA and help Quantico maintain the rich history by conserving the land and the artifacts within it.
Typically relic hunters are only interested in the object. But even those who care about the history of an artifact take it out of context when they collect it, then you don’t know where it came from, said Haynes. “Taking an artifact makes it no longer a reliable piece of information.”
With the help of the Natural Resources and Environmental Affair office, violators can be caught.
“We enforce all the natural resources laws aboard the installation and sites are monitored with surveillance equipment,” said Euel J. Tritt, a conservation law enforcement officer here. “We’ve caught a couple people before metal detecting. We patrol the area and we get a lot of information from people as well.”
If people are seen metal detecting or digging on or near the base, contact a conservation law enforcement officer at 703-432-6793. If you see an artifact leave it where it is and contact Haynes at 703-432-6781. For information about ARPA, visit www.nps.gov/archeology. To view photos of artifacts found here at Quantico, visit www.quantico.mil.
Ellie