The Archaeological Survey has set up a webpage where people can report their discoveries. You can get an expert opinion on your find and, who knows, possibly be credited with recording a new archaeological site! Recording this information is a big step in helping to preserve and protect Alberta’s historical resources.
What happens if you find an artifact Canada?
If you find an artifact you should not move, damage or interfere with it. It is illegal to sell or trade it, or remove it from the Province. It is also illegal to bequeath artifacts in your will.
What should you do if you find a fossil in Alberta?
If you think you have found a fossil, report it to the experts at the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology.
Can you find arrowheads in Alberta?
Farmers often find them in their fields after plowing. In fact many farmers have more impressive artifact collections than a lot of museums do! Click here to read about some of Alberta Culture’s work documenting artifact collections across the province.
What to do if you find an artifact Ontario?
if you have found an artifact we strongly encourage you to leave it in place and to take a photograph of it. We would be happy to assist with the identification of material from such photographs. Please send queries to [email protected].
What do I do if I think I found an artifact?
Leave It Be
Artifacts are not souvenirs! Leave the artifact where you found it. Please don’t pick it up, move it, throw it, put it in your pocket or your bag, or bury it.
How do you get an artifact appraised?
How to get an appraisal on an artifact
- American Society of Appraisers: Website | Toll free: 800.272.8258.
- Appraisers Association of America: Website | Phone: 212.889.5404.
- International Society of Appraisers: Website | Toll free: 888.472.5461.
Can you keep fossils you find in Alberta?
If you live in Alberta and legally surface collect a fossil, you may keep it as custodian, but ownership remains with the Province of Alberta. You cannot sell, alter, or remove the specimen from the province without permission from the Government of Alberta.
Can I keep a fossils you find?
Always check with the landowner before removing any fossils. Private landowners have the right to keep any fossils found on their property. They are urged to report any fossil finds to the UGS (see below).
Can you keep fossils if you find them?
Collected fossils remain public property and are placed with museums, universities or other public institutions for study and exhibition. You may collect reasonable quantities of common invertebrate fossils such as mollusks and trilobites, but this must be for personal use, and the fossils may not be bartered or sold.
Can I keep an arrowhead I found?
All artifacts found on public lands are protected by state and federal laws*. It is illegal and unethical to collect artifacts on public lands. Artifacts include anything made or used by humans including arrowheads and flakes, pottery, basketry, rock art, bottles, coins, metal pieces, and even old cans.
Can you keep arrowheads you find on private property?
Can I Pick up the Arrowhead? The short answer: you can pick it up, take pictures of it, and take a waypoint to share with an archaeologist, but you can’t take it home with you, especially if you’re like me and mostly hunt on state- or federally-owned lands.
Where can I dig in a creek for arrowheads?
Flowing water sifts gravel into different sizes along gravel bars. Look for points in gravel bars where rocks are similar in size to the points you’re hoping to find. Keep your eye on the outside bend (or cut bank side) of the creek where erosion exposes bare dirt.
Who do you call when you find an artifact?
Archaeologist
Locate Your Nearest Archaeologist
In addition, if you found it locally, the odds are better that someone local will be able to readily identify something that was made locally. If you don’t know which category it falls into, start with any one of these three: historian, archaeologist, geologist.
Do you get money for finding artifacts?
To the professional and amateur archaeologist, artifacts are worth $0.00 in monetary terms, but in informational terms, artifacts are priceless because of the information that can be inferred. Provided the artifact was found and left within its context, we can learn about the past from the artifacts.
How do you report archaeological finds?
To report your finds, get in touch with your local Finds Liaison Officer. They will identify and record your finds onto our database for you and others to see and researchers to study.
How old does an item have to be to be considered an artifact?
Anything over 50 years old may be an artifact!
Archaeologists use a “50 year rule” when thinking about things that may be artifacts.
Who owns artifacts found?
Ownership of Archaeological Artifacts are Determined by Conflicting Laws. International treaties and the laws of a given country all govern ownership of historical treasures and cultural heritage artifacts, which, unfortunately, are often in conflict with one another.
Can you keep archaeological finds?
By law, archaeological objects (apart from Treasure – see below) normally belong to the landowner. Archaeologists will generally make provision with the landowner for objects they find to go into a public collection, such as a museum.
Do you own artifacts found on your property?
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.
What are the 4 types of artifacts?
The following are common types of artifact.
- Historical & Cultural. Historic and cultural items such as a historic relic or work of art.
- Media. Media such as film, photographs or digital files that are valued for their creative or information content.
- Knowledge.
- Data.