On the other hand, pots looted from tombs in South America can have no legal
provenience.

> -----Original Message-----
> From: [log in to unmask] [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: Tuesday, March 14, 2000 10:28 PM
> To:   [log in to unmask]
> Subject:      Re: FW: bottlediggers of indiana
>
> One point that seems to have been overlooked in the discussion concerning
> relic collecters and the Antiques Road Show is that the artifacts in
> question
> may have been recovered from private land with the owner's permission, in
> which case no laws were broken.  I saw both the program on the slave tags
> and
> the earthenware bottle, and although I do not recall the exact details I
> do
> not belive that either party claimed to have found these items on Federal
> lands.  Many bottle collectors confine thier activities to private
> property
> with the owner's permission.  Although archaeologist may not like the
> results, no laws are being broken.  I think the real problem is that
> archaeologist have failed in convincing anyone that they have exclusive
> rights to the material culture of the past.