Who owns archeological sites and artifacts on private land?
Archeological sites and their artifacts on private land belong to the landowner. The landowner has a right to do anything he or she wants with the site. Landowners can collect artifacts from their own sites, can give permission for other people to collect artifacts, or can prohibit artifact collection and other site disturbances on their land. However, under state law, even a landowner cannot disturb or destroy a burial site of any kind.
