Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 93.djvu/753

 PUBLIC LAW 96-95—OCT. 31, 1979

93 STAT. 721

Public Law 96-95 96th Congress An Act To protect archaeological resources on public lands and Indian lands, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SHORT TITLE

Oct. 31, 1979 [H.R. 1825] Archaeological Resources Protection Act of 1979.

1. This Act may be cited as the "Archaeological Resources Protection Act of 1979". l6 USC 470aa note. SECTION

FINDINGS AND PURPOSE

SEC. 2. (a) The Congress finds that — 16 USC 470aa. (1) archaeological resources on public lands and Indian lands are an accessible and irreplaceable part of the Nation's heritage; (2) these resources are increasingly endangered because of their commercial attractiveness; (3) existing Federal laws do not provide adequate protection to prevent the loss and destruction of these archaeological resources and sites resulting from uncontrolled excavations and pillage; and (4) there is a wealth of archaeological information which has been legally obtained by private individuals for noncommercial purposes and which could voluntarily be made available to professional archaeologists and institutions. (b) The purpose of this Act is to secure, for the present and future benefit of the American people, the protection of archaeological resources and sites which are on public lands and Indian lands, and to foster increased cooperation and exchange of information between governmental authorities, the professional archaeological community, and private individuals having collections of archaeological resources and data which were obtained before the date of the enactment of this Act. DEFINITIONS

SEC. 3. As used in this Act— 16 USC 470bb. (1) The term "archaeological resource" means any material remains of past human life or activities which are of archaeological interest, as determined under uniform regulations promulgated pursuant to this Act. Such regulations containing such determination shall include, but not be limited to: pottery, basketry, bottles, weapons, weapon projectiles, tools, structures or portions of structures, pit houses, rock paintings, rock carvings, intaglios, graves, human skeletal materials, or any portion or piece of any of the foregoing items. Nonfossilized and fossilized paleontological specimens, or any portion or piece thereof, shall not be considered archaeological resources, under the regulations under this paragraph, unless found in an archaeological

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