I Just email Stephinine with my thoughts...
Hello, I have attached an unsolicited responce that you chose to give to a citizen who posted an ad on craigslist. I must tell you that I am very offended by your message. When I read it I see the heavy hand of the government coming down on an individual citizen who is legally pursuing a hobby on private property. I do not endorse nor do I appreciate any government official threatening American citizens in any fashion for any reason. Your desire to "Guard" the peoples treasure for all eternity and to protect unfound items on private property my be honorable, however, your tactics remind me of dictatiorial governments from a long gone era; ie Nazi Germany. It is intrusive forms of laws and regulations such as the ones you spout that are making common people stand up and take notice, and what we see we dont like. Your ideals are not the ones that free thinking people have voted in and will soon be voted out.
I could go on here but I will end by saying that your attempt to intimidate this citizen of Washington state has been heard around the world and it is acts like yours that will soon create REAL change in America. I for one will notify my elected officials and advicate for the reduction of funding for such agencies as yours. I will further demand that such laws be wiped from the books and repalced with logical rules that address the needs of all free people.
Thank you.
Greetings,
We recently noticed your advertisement on Craigslist. Though we have not heard from you directly, as the state agency tasked with protecting archaeological sites and resources for the inspiration and enrichment of the citizens of Washington, we felt it would be productive to contact you directly.
It is our understanding that you are interested in metal detecting lots or yards over 50 years old to find coins, tokens, or relics. Items over 50 years old, produced or modified by humans, below the surface of the ground and submerged under water, are archaeological objects. Archaeological objects, and archaeological sites and resources, are protected resources under state statutes.
In addition, per RCW 27.53.060, a permit is required for any person to knowingly and willfully remove, alter, dig into, excavate or remove an archaeological object or site in the state of Washington.
This statute applies to both public and private lands. Even with landowner permission, a permit from DAHP is required. The permit processes requires a research design, a plan for care and cleaning of the recovered objects, the commitment to write a professional, technical report, and appropriate curation of the artifacts and data recovered. The permit process also requires DAHP to afford interested parties an opportunity to comment on the proposed excavation project, prior to its commencement. These parties typically include affected Indian Tribes, local government, historical societies, landowners, and archaeological peers. Permit application forms are available on our website at
http://www.dahp.wa.gov/pages/Archaeology/Permitting.htm.
Failure to obtain such a permit, or failure to comply with any permit conditions, can result in civil penalties in an amount up to $5000 per violation, restoration costs and investigative costs. Furthermore, if burials, cairns, or glyptic records are involved, RCW 27.44 allows the affected Indian Tribe to file claims for damages and emotional distress.
Excavation permits are granted to professional archaeologists who meet the requirements of that definition under RCW 27.53.030(8). While we understand metal detecting is your hobby, much damage has been done to the state’s archaeological resources by hobbyists.
There are legal ways to experience the excitement of discovery of our historic past. The Forest Service operates a program entitled “Passport in Time.” This program affords volunteers the opportunity to participate in real archaeological excavations with professional archaeologists. This includes historic period sites as well as prehistoric. The website link is:
http://www.passportintime.com/.
There are some Washington State Parks that are open to metal detecting. Please see the following link for more information:
http://www.parks.wa.gov/activities/
Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions about the content of this letter. You can find additional information about archaeology in Washington, as well as the laws regarding archaeological excavations on our website at
www.dahp.wa.gov.
Sincerely,
Stephenie Kramer
Assistant State Archaeologist
(360) 586-3083
[email protected]
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