Archeological resources, both sites and collections, are protected by law on federal lands. In December 2014, Congress created a new title within the United States Code, Title 54, for National Park Service-related laws. Many federal archeology and historic preservation laws have been moved to Title 54. Learn more on the introduction to Title 54 page.
- Antiquities Act of 1906
- Historic Sites Act of 1935
- National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) of 1966
- Reservoir Salvage Act of 1960
- Archeological and Historic Preservation Act (AHPA) of 1974
- Archaeological Resources Protection Act (ARPA) of 1979
- Abandoned Shipwreck Act (ASA) of 1987
- Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) of 1990
- Sunken Military Craft Act (SMCA) of 1990
- Curation of Federally Owned and Administered Archaeological Collections (36 CFR 79)
Last updated: January 5, 2023