Is collecting arrowheads illegal

Answer 1

According to the Archaeological Resources Protection Act of 1979, No, it is not illegal to pick up arrowheads as long as they are on the grounds surface. You cannot dig for them. Also you cannot take arrowheads from any federal land, such as a National park or reserve, or from a Native American Reservation no matter how you find it. You must buy it from their gift shops. I have included a copy of section 6 of the law in this post, subsection G deals with arrowheads. Also, it is worth noting that most archaeologists frown on the collection of too many arrowheads since an important or undiscovered site may be located close by, and the removal of these arrowheads could lead to the loss of valuable data about a people or culture and their technology. So happy hunting, but please collect in moderation. Rebekah Arcadia - Anthropology Student, Pikes Peak Community College Archaeological Resources Protection Act of 1979 16 U.S.C. 470ee, Prohibited acts and criminal penalties Section 6 16 U.S.C. 470 ee(a), Unauthorized excavation, removal, damage, alternation, or defacement of archaeological resources (a) No person may excavate, remove, damage, or otherwise alter or deface or attempt to excavate, remove, damage, or otherwise alter or deface any archaeological resource located on public lands or Indian lands unless such activity is pursuant to a permit issued under section 4 of this Act, a permit referred to in section 4(h)(2) of this Act, or the exemption contained in section 4(g)(1) of this Act. 16 U.S.C. 470ee(b), Trafficking in archaeological resources: Federal law (b) No person may sell, purchase, exchange, transport, receive, or offer to sell, purchase, or exchange any archaeological resource if such resource was excavated or removed from public lands or Indian lands in violation of- (1) the prohibition contained in subsection (a) of this section, or (2) any provision, rule, regulation, ordinance, or permit in effect under any other provision of Federal law. 16 U.S.C. 470ee(c), Trafficking in illegal interstate or foreign commerce in archaeological resources: State or local law (c) No person may sell, purchase, exchange, transport, receive, or offer to sell, purchase, or exchange, in interstate of foreign commerce, any archaeological resource excavated, removed, sold, purchased, exchanged, transported, or received in violation of any provision, rule, regulation, ordinance, or permit in effect under State or local law. 16 U.S.C. 470ee(d), Penalties (d) Any person who knowingly violates, or counsels, procures, solicits, or employs any other person to violate, any prohibition contained in subsection (a), (b), or (c) of this section shall, upon conviction, be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned not more than one year, or both: Provided, however, That if the commercial or archaeological value of the archaeological resources involved and the cost of restoration and repair of such resources exceeds the sum of $500, such person shall be fined not more than $20,000 or imprisoned not more than two years, or both. In the case of a second or subsequent such violation upon conviction such person shall be fined not more than $100,000, or imprisoned not more than five years, or both. 16 U.S.C. 470ee(e), Effective date (e) The prohibitions contained in this section shall take effect on October 31, 1979 [the date of the enactment of this Act]. 16 U.S.C. 470ee(f), Prospective application (f) Nothing in subsection (b)(1) of this section shall be deemed applicable to any person with respect to any archaeological resource which was in the lawful possession of such person prior to October 31, 1979. 16 U.S.C. 470ee(g), Removal of arrowheads located on ground surface (g) Nothing in subsection (d) of this section shall be deemed applicable to any person with respect to the removal of arrowheads located on the surface of the ground. According to the Archaeological Resources Protection Act of 1979, No, it is not illegal to pick up arrowheads as long as they are on the grounds surface. You cannot dig for them. Also you cannot take arrowheads from any federal land, such as a National park or reserve, or from a Native American Reservation no matter how you find it. You must buy it from their gift shops. I have included a copy of section 6 of the law in this post, subsection G deals with arrowheads. Also, it is worth noting that most archaeologists frown on the collection of too many arrowheads since an important or undiscovered site may be located close by, and the removal of these arrowheads could lead to the loss of valuable data about a people or culture and their technology. So happy hunting, but please collect in moderation. Rebekah Arcadia - Anthropology Student, Pikes Peak Community College Archaeological Resources Protection Act of 1979 16 U.S.C. 470ee, Prohibited acts and criminal penalties Section 6 16 U.S.C. 470 ee(a), Unauthorized excavation, removal, damage, alternation, or defacement of archaeological resources (a) No person may excavate, remove, damage, or otherwise alter or deface or attempt to excavate, remove, damage, or otherwise alter or deface any archaeological resource located on public lands or Indian lands unless such activity is pursuant to a permit issued under section 4 of this Act, a permit referred to in section 4(h)(2) of this Act, or the exemption contained in section 4(g)(1) of this Act. 16 U.S.C. 470ee(b), Trafficking in archaeological resources: Federal law (b) No person may sell, purchase, exchange, transport, receive, or offer to sell, purchase, or exchange any archaeological resource if such resource was excavated or removed from public lands or Indian lands in violation of- (1) the prohibition contained in subsection (a) of this section, or (2) any provision, rule, regulation, ordinance, or permit in effect under any other provision of Federal law. 16 U.S.C. 470ee(c), Trafficking in illegal interstate or foreign commerce in archaeological resources: State or local law (c) No person may sell, purchase, exchange, transport, receive, or offer to sell, purchase, or exchange, in interstate of foreign commerce, any archaeological resource excavated, removed, sold, purchased, exchanged, transported, or received in violation of any provision, rule, regulation, ordinance, or permit in effect under State or local law. 16 U.S.C. 470ee(d), Penalties (d) Any person who knowingly violates, or counsels, procures, solicits, or employs any other person to violate, any prohibition contained in subsection (a), (b), or (c) of this section shall, upon conviction, be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned not more than one year, or both: Provided, however, That if the commercial or archaeological value of the archaeological resources involved and the cost of restoration and repair of such resources exceeds the sum of $500, such person shall be fined not more than $20,000 or imprisoned not more than two years, or both. In the case of a second or subsequent such violation upon conviction such person shall be fined not more than $100,000, or imprisoned not more than five years, or both. 16 U.S.C. 470ee(e), Effective date (e) The prohibitions contained in this section shall take effect on October 31, 1979 [the date of the enactment of this Act]. 16 U.S.C. 470ee(f), Prospective application (f) Nothing in subsection (b)(1) of this section shall be deemed applicable to any person with respect to any archaeological resource which was in the lawful possession of such person prior to October 31, 1979. 16 U.S.C. 470ee(g), Removal of arrowheads located on ground surface (g) Nothing in subsection (d) of this section shall be deemed applicable to any person with respect to the removal of arrowheads located on the surface of the ground.

Answer 2

No, i do not believe so. I don't think that it is illegal in any state, as long as you don't injure anybody with them. Check your local laws though, some counties have certain rules.

Added: It very well may be unlawful to do so on federal parklands and/or on tribal lands. As stated above, check your local laws.