Archeological resources, both sites and collections, are protected by law on federal lands. These laws and their regulations ensure that archeological resources and their stories are preserved for this and future generations.
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. Learn more about the purposes and implications for the federal laws affecting archeology on these pages:
- 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: February 10, 2025