Metal Detecting In Alaska?
You Should Know The Law
Whether you are metal detecting in Alaska, treasure hunting, or panning for gold, you need to understand the laws of antiquity, which do relate to all of the above.
Although the words, “metal detecting”, or “treasure hunting” are not mentioned in the Alaska law, so you better be careful.
Below is a copy of the Alaska laws that pertain to metal detecting in Alaska. However, please note that this law does not specifically use the terms “metal detecting”, or “treasure hunting.”
The Alaska laws follow the laws of ARPA.
ARPA (Archaeological Resources Preservation Act).
Check with your local villages and towns for their treasure hunting laws.
Metal Detecting In Alaska? Follow The Law.
The Alaska Law Reads As Follows
An Act for the Preservation of American Antiquitie
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America inCongress assembled, That any person who shall appropriate, excavate, injure, or destroyany historic or prehistoric ruin or monument, or any object of antiquity, situated on landsowned or controlled by the Government of the United States, without the permission ofthe Secretary of the Department of the Government having jurisdiction over the lands onwhich said antiquities are situated, shall, upon conviction, be fined in a sum of not morethan five hundred dollars or be imprisoned for a period of not more than ninety days, orshall suffer both fine and imprisonment, in the discretion of the court.
Sec. 2. That the President of the United States is hereby authorized, in his discretion, todeclare by public proclamation historic landmarks, historic and prehistoric structures,and other objects of historic or scientific interest that are situated upon the lands ownedor controlled by the Government of the United States to be national monuments, and mayreserve as a part thereof parcels of land, the limits of which in all cases shall be confinedto the smallest area compatible with proper care and management of the objects to beprotected: Provided, That when such objects are situated upon a tract covered by a bonafide unperfected claim or held in private ownership, the tract, or so much thereof as maybe necessary for the proper care and management of the object, may be relinquished tothe Government, and the Secretary of the Interior is hereby authorized to accept the relinquishmentof such tracts in behalf of the Government of the United States.
Metal Detecting in Alaska, or any treasure hunting can get you arrested.
Sec. 3. That permits for the examination of ruins, the excavation of archaeological sites,and the gathering of objects of antiquity upon the lands under their respective jurisdictionsmay be granted by the Secretaries of the Interior, Agriculture, and War to institutionswhich they may deem properly qualified to conduct such examination, excavation,or gathering, subject to such rules and regulation as they may prescribe: Provided, Thatthe examinations, excavations, and gatherings are undertaken for the benefit of reputablemuseums, universities, colleges, or other recognized scientific or educational institutions,with a view to increasing the knowledge of such objects, and that the gatherings shall bemade for permanent preservation in public museums.
Sec. 4. That the Secretaries of the Departments aforesaid shall make and publish fromtime to time uniform rules and regulations for the purpose of carrying out the provisionsof this Act.
Approved, June 8, 1906
Metal Detecting in Alaska Can Be A Great Experience.