And all illegally.................
How can it be illegal? They were found on private property. What is the difference between pottery and arrow heads? However I do understand that it is illegal to remove anything from the Indian Mound that represents old Tugaloo Town.And all illegally.................
And all illegally.................
Nic, I've been on archeological digs with government people and they let me keep some of the partial and less impressive pieces we cataloged so I doubt they would want to bother with someone only surface collecting. Now someone digging up a mound should be prosecuted in my opinion.
Thanks for the warning guys. Yes I know what can happen. If they were that interested in prosecuting surface collectors me and a whole lot of folks on the forum would be in court. If they were interested in catching people all they would have to do is go to any big lake in GA when the water was down on a weekend and bust the people setup on mounds sifting shovels full of dirt next to the sign that says "No Artifact Collecting" All the mounds on big lakes that I've seen exposed look like the moons surface with all the holes from people digging in them. The ones that are exposed all the time are even worse.
Illegal to surface collect on State, Federal or County property, also illegal to collect on road right of ways. If I recall correctly, if you are on private property you have to have written permission to surface collect unless it is your immediate family's property. And yes they do prosecute, I have represented my share of people who were caught by the DNR for doing it. I am no expert, but I believe that pottery predates Cherokee pottery. Early on the Cherokees were using European pots made of copper.....Much easier to cook with and transport.
Nobody is going to answer my question?