Prevent Looting and Vandalism

Looting and vandalism of archeological resources on federal lands is against the law and can be prosecuted as a felony under the Archaeological Resources Protection Act (ARPA). Prohibited activities include metal detecting, digging and removing archeological materials without a Permit; defacing rock art; looting shipwrecks; or trafficking in artifacts. Inadvertent damage to archeological sites due to public land use is a related concern. These activities compromise the integrity of the archeological record and the ability of federal land managers to protect and preserve sites held in public trust.

ARPA sets criminal and civil penalties for looting, vandalism, and artifact trafficking. In order to discourage looting and vandalism, ARPA also calls for land managers to create public outreach programs, monitor known sites at risk, and document site damage. While ARPA prosecutions will never heal damaged archeological resources, they do send a powerful message that looting and vandalism are not tolerated.

Preventing Looting and Vandalism

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  National Park Service

  Looting at Petersburg

  Assessing impacts to sites.

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  Bureau of Land Management

  Vandalism at Birthing Rock

  Damaged sacred site with graffiti.

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  Tennessee Valley Authority

  A Thousand Eyes

  Getting help from volunteer friends.