[MSN] Bill protects Arkansas historical sites

[Museum Security Network Mailinglist]

02/12/2007 
Bill protects Arkansas historical sites  
By: David Holsted  

Posted Mon., Feb. 12, 2007

HARRISON-"Preserved for hundreds of years, gone in sixty seconds" might
sound like the tagline of a cheap thriller movie, but it is a matter of
great concern for state Rep. Roy Ragland. 

"Preserved for hundreds of years, gone in sixty seconds" might sound like
the tagline of a cheap thriller movie, but it is a matter of great concern
for state Rep. Roy Ragland. 
"In many areas of the state, people are looting archeological sites,"
Ragland said. 
To protect those sites, such as Toltec Mounds Archeological State Park near
Little Rock and the Caddo Indian mounds along the Ouachita and Saline river
valleys, Ragland (R-Marshall) has sponsored House Bill 1068. It would
increase the penalties for knowingly disturbing archeological sites. On Feb.
8, the bill was passed by the House Agriculture, Forestry and Economic
Development Committee, and now goes before the entire House. 
Ragland said that his bill will amend the Arkansas Antiquities Act of 1967,
which made it a misdemeanor to deface or loot an archeological site.
Ragland's bill would make it a Class D felony to take artifacts worth more
than $1,000. Subsequent violations would be considered Class C felonies. 
If the value of the artifact is less than $1,000, the violation would be a
Class B misdemeanor for the first offense and Class A misdemeanor for
subsequent offenses. 
Ragland stressed that the penalties would apply only to areas designated as
archeological sites by the Arkansas Archeological Survey. 
Artifacts that might be affected include, but are not limited to, pottery,
basketry, bottles, weapons, tools, structures or parts of structures, rock
paintings, graves and human skeletal remains. 
According to Ragland, the bill would not affect private landowners who
perhaps want to go looking for arrowheads on their property, or people who
get permission from landowners to engage in such activities. 
"It's really a property rights issue," Ragland said. 
Ragland said that since the Arkansas Antiquities Act was passed, no
archeological site has been established on private property. The Arkansas
Archeological Survey can't even designate a site on state-owned land without
proper authority, he added. 
Ragland cited one growing concern in regard to the theft of archeological
artifacts. 
"Many of these incidents involve methodone users and methodone dealers,"
Ragland said. "They can sell the artifacts for good money. There's a real
black market for them. Law enforcement officials have told me that when they
do a bust, they often find artifacts."  

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