Probably be a better idea for the people recovering hydrocarbons to obey the law. I'm surprised nobody has sued them to stop the project.
APPLICABLE LAWS
The role of law enforcers has expanded recently; enforcement of laws relating to the preservation of history has become a key responsibility in some jurisdictions. These agencies have realized that law enforcement, in addition to protecting life and property, must preserve the past as well. While federal law has prohibited looting from federal or Native American properties since the beginning of the 20th century, enforcement of those laws rarely occurred until about 20 years ago. The Archeological Resources Protection Act, which became law in 1979, was strengthened in 1988, mainly to overcome obstacles encountered during prosecutions. A general-intent law, ARPA prohibits people from excavating, damaging, defacing, altering, or removing archeological resources (or attempting these acts) from public or Native American lands without a permit.6
To be protected resources under ARPA, looted objects must constitute evidence of past human existence, possess archeological interest (not necessarilynsignifi-cance), and be over 100 years old. Objects, or resources, are defined broadly to include not only such relics as pottery, tools, and shipwrecks but also rock art, skeletal remains, features of houses or other construction, and even vegetal remains or organic waste.
fbi.gov |
