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Post by oryan on Nov 4, 2006 12:28:04 GMT -5
Does anyone know whether any discoveries are allowed to be kept in the event of a new discovery in a cave. If not, who do you hand discoveries to, do you get to keep a percentage profit of the findings and do you get to receive a reward?
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Post by Azurerana on Nov 4, 2006 12:57:03 GMT -5
Depends upon what you discover. Please amplify your post.
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Post by jonsdigs on Nov 4, 2006 18:36:23 GMT -5
I found a ground sloth (Megatherium) scapula in the spoils of a dig we were doing in Narrows Cave. Since it had already been disturbed, I gave it to the natural history museum in Denver. It turned out to be only the third Megatherium site in Colorado. We consider it unethical to sell fossil material from caves and it is mostly illegal.
When we have found human artifacts and remains in other caves in Colorado we have contacted archaeologists to deal with them and carefully left them undisturbed and the specifics undiscussed. Anything found in a cave on private property belongs to the landowner and should be left in place although preservation should be the foremost concern. Remember, anything over 100 years old is considered archaeological. Furthermore, even broken speleothems should be left where found.
If you have found something the landowner would profit by, it is between you and them. There are specific laws about about protection of resources and salvage on public lands. In Britain, where abandoned mines revert to the Crown, the rule is to leave artifacts in place.
Take nothing but pictures, and if it cannot be physically protected don't spread the word. Contact your local NSS Grotto and they can guide you.
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