Posted by Brendon Baillod on November 05, 19103 at 11:50:48:
In Reply to: Re: What if you found a single small item like a coin ? posted by Craig Rich on November 04, 19103 at 22:33:10:
My read on state laws suggests that any "historic" object you find on terrestrial public sites can be claimed by the state at the descretion of whichever authority the state appoints (usually the State Archeologist or Archeological Board). Most historical materials on public lands are specifically prohibited from removal, such as indian burial sites. However, the law seems fairly broad in terms of describing which terrestrial public objects could be deemed "historic" and thereby protected. If you find an indian head penny on public land while metal detecting, I'm sure you're welcome to keep it. However, I suspect you'd get a fight from the State if you found a preserved wooly mammoth or an intact buried shipwreck on state land.
If you find something on private land, obviously it belongs to the land owner, but there is some federal law as well as state law that suggests particularly historic sites on private land can also be injuncted by the State if they are in danger of being destroyed or damaged. I believe I should address terrestrial shipwreck law as well on the page I put up. I'll try to add some more content in that regard next week.
BB
: David: I'm no lawyer, but it's always been my understanding that a loose object that is not "on in or near" an actual shipwreck site is pretty much "finders-keepers" -- especially if it's on the beach.
: Craig Rich
: Michigan Shipwreck Research Associates
:
: : In a show on Florida Treasure finders coins found on the beach were kept by the finder, how about here on a great lakes beach?
: : Dave