Just in case anyone is wondering, the best thing you can do when you find an archaeological artifact whilst going about your day, is to just leave it where you found it. If it’s really obvious and in public, kinda hide it. If it’s in your tilled field, just plant over it.

You don’t have to call anyone. You don’t have to track down your local tribe or SHPO or university archaeology department.

You can just think to yourself, “that was so neat to see!” And reflect on why you have access to land in the first place.

IF somehow, you find human remains, call the non-emergency number for your police department. You probably can’t appropriately date human remains, and the cops will help you make sure you haven’t found a murder.

The laws around cultural resources and ethics are tricky enough for people who are trained in this. No one NEEDS to keep the things they find, even archaeologists!

To clarify: you’re not going to discover the whole history of the Americas from a projectile point you picked up, took home, or mailed to your friend because they just LOVE “ancient history”

You’re also probably not going to stop using your field to plant your crops and support your family

So the best thing you can do, to preserve what you found, is to leave it alone until you, or probably someone else is willing and ready to cede whatever “ownership” you think you have to the archaeology you found.

And PS, every region in the US has at least one Tribal Historic Preservation Office. If you feel like you really have a contribution to make, Google the THPOs in your state.

But you could also mind your business and leave them alone because “I found an artifact” tells them something they already know. Their ancestors were here, and they’ve always been here.