Archaeological Resources Protection Act

E29656

The Archaeological Resources Protection Act is a U.S. federal law that safeguards archaeological sites and artifacts on public and Indian lands by regulating excavation and prohibiting unauthorized removal or damage.


Statements (48)
Predicate Object
instanceOf United States federal law
cultural heritage protection law
administeredBy Bureau of Land Management
National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
U.S. Forest Service
other federal land-managing agencies
amendedBy 1988 amendments to the Archaeological Resources Protection Act
appliesTo Indian lands in the United States
public lands of the United States
authorizes confiscation and forfeiture of equipment used in violations
confiscation and forfeiture of illegally obtained archaeological resources
codifiedIn Title 16 of the United States Code
country United States
dateSigned 1979-10-31
defines archaeological resource as material remains of past human life or activities of archaeological interest at least 100 years old
effectiveDate 1979-10-31
enactedBy United States Congress
encourages cooperation with private individuals, Indian tribes, and institutions for archaeological resource protection
focusesOn protection of subsurface archaeological materials rather than above-ground historic structures
fullName Archaeological Resources Protection Act of 1979
legislativeIntent to strengthen penalties and clarify protections beyond those provided by the Antiquities Act of 1906
penaltiesInclude civil penalties for violations
criminal penalties for knowing violations
fines based on archaeological or commercial value and cost of restoration and repair
imprisonment for serious violations
prohibits damage to archaeological resources on Indian lands
damage to archaeological resources on public lands
sale, purchase, exchange, transport, or receipt of archaeological resources obtained in violation of the Act
unauthorized excavation of archaeological resources
unauthorized removal of archaeological resources
publicLawNumber Public Law 96-95
purpose to protect archaeological resources on public lands and Indian lands
to secure, for the present and future benefit of the American people, the protection of archaeological resources and sites
regulates excavation of archaeological resources on Indian lands
excavation of archaeological resources on public lands
relatedTo Antiquities Act of 1906
National Historic Preservation Act
Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act
replaced Antiquities Act of 1906 (in part, for archaeological resource protection and penalties)
requires confidentiality of specific archaeological site location information
permits for excavation and removal of archaeological resources on Indian lands
permits for excavation and removal of archaeological resources on public lands
scope applies to archaeological resources more than 100 years old
shortName ARPA
signedBy Jimmy Carter
statutesAtLargeCitation 93 Stat. 721
uscSections 16 U.S.C. §§ 470aa–470mm

Referenced by (7)
Subject (surface form when different) Predicate
NHPA
National Historic Preservation Act Amendments of 1980
National Historic Preservation Act of 1966
Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act ("Archaeological Resources Protection Act of 1979")
Public Law 89-665
relatedTo
Archaeological Resources Protection Act ("Archaeological Resources Protection Act of 1979")
fullName
Antiquities Act of 1906 ("Archaeological Resources Protection Act of 1979")
influenced

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