Native Americans deeply believe that everything has a spirit. Picture this: You’re walking along the serene banks of a USACE-managed river or lake when something catches your eye and protrudes from the land. Curiosity piqued, you momentarily forget your walk and approach it. Kneeling down, your fingers gently disturb the ground and after digging a little, you discover an arrowhead. Excitement builds as you think about how amazing it will be to share this treasure with your friends and family. You put it in your pocket, convinced that since it’s just an arrowhead – and there are surely more where it came from – taking it home is harmless. But in reality, you may be disturbing something much more important.

“When someone digs up and loots these artifacts, they take away part of our heritage. These objects are created with a mind and a purpose; they have important meaning,” said Casandra Beaver, a member of the Navajo Nation and administrative assistant for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Little Rock District.

Digging and stealing artifacts and remains from prehistoric Native American and historic archaeological sites is a serious problem that disrespects cultural heritage and threatens invaluable historical knowledge.

Theft and vandalism of these sites, particularly on government property, is a growing concern that requires urgent action. Every artifact carries a story, a connection to the past, and taking them diminishes our understanding of history. It is essential to respect these sites and preserve their integrity for future generations.

Many people may not realize that digging up artifacts is not only illegal, but also deeply disrespectful, as it can disrupt human burials and sacred sites.

“Just as it is unacceptable to search for objects in a cemetery or steal sacred objects from a church altar, we must point out that the same unethical methods are used to obtain pottery, woven objects , jewelry, arrowheads, knives and even human remains. that some looters choose to display in their collections,” said Billie Burtrum, tribal historic preservation manager for the Quapaw Nation. “The Quapaw Nation fully supports the prosecution of looting and grave robbing because these actions harm cultural heritage and displace the historical significance of the stolen items. »

Additionally, searching for items on private property without the landowner’s permission is equally unacceptable. This practice undermines the trust and respect owed to landowners and diminishes the personal and cultural significance of the land and its potential archaeological resources.

There are state laws to prosecute violators on private land, highlighting the seriousness of these actions.

In response to this growing problem, USACE Little Rock District is forming strategic partnerships with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to raise awareness and intensify efforts to combat the concerning increase in looting incidents.

This collaborative initiative not only aims to increase investigations aimed at deterring individuals from targeting artifacts on government lands, but also highlights the importance of pursuing convictions to highlight the seriousness of the problem.

“Archaeological sites are not just made up of individual artifacts; they are made up of interconnected artifacts and the matrix of the soil around them, which together tell the story of the past,” said Dr. Melissa Zabecki, state archaeologist for the Arkansas Archeological Survey. “When an artifact is removed, not only is a sacred object stolen, but the integrity of the entire site is compromised as a crucial piece of the puzzle is taken away and valuable information about the land is disrupted.”

Unfortunately, public lands in Arkansas and Missouri have a troubling history of cultural resource exploitation. To counter this trend, Little Rock District Archaeologist Allen Wilson teamed up with Capt. Brandon Bland, who oversees the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s division of refuge law enforcement in Arkansas, to provide training to law enforcement focused on identifying theft sites and understanding the laws. cases related to cultural resources.

“We are extremely proud of our cultural resources training program and the dedication of the USACE, AGFC and USFWS training staff who make it successful,” Bland said.

Over the years, this program has generated increased investigative interest and commitment from law enforcement at the state and federal levels. Notably, during a recent training session, an officer detected a violation of the Archaeological Resources Protection Act on USACE Lands, which was promptly reported to USFWS and AGFC.

Violators of these laws face severe penalties, including prison sentences of up to five years without the possibility of parole and fines of up to $250,000. Digging and selling artifacts for profit not only undermines ethical standards, but also demonstrates a profound disregard for the irreplaceable nature of our cultural resources.

“There are no more prehistoric archaeological sites created,” Wilson said. “When areas like these are destroyed or artifacts removed, we lose invaluable information about the cultures of these regions. Our resources for understanding this history are already limited, making preservation essential.

As these agencies face the pressing problem of theft and vandalism at historic sites, it is imperative to recognize the cultural significance of these artifacts and the critical need for their protection. Illegal activities associated with artifact theft include unauthorized excavations of archaeological objects, such as tools, pottery, and funerary remains, whether the site is on government or private land.

Removing objects from their original locations violates laws such as the Archaeological Resources Protection Act, the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, and state regulations, which exist to protect the integrity of archaeological sites and Native American tombs.

Actively searching for and collecting objects with the intention of selling or displaying them constitutes looting and harms cultural heritage.

“The destruction of sites has gone on for too long and it is time to start respecting the history of other peoples by ending the practice of looting,” said Dr. Zabecki.

By raising awareness of these illegal activities and emphasizing the importance of cultural preservation and law enforcement, communities can play a crucial role in safeguarding our shared heritage for generations to come.