The Office of the State Archaeologist at The University of Iowa since 1959
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Black and gold arrowhead drawing
Artifact Collecting in Iowa
Do's and Don'ts
Black and gold arrowhead drawing
Do...
Don't...

...get landowner's permission
before collecting.

...catalog and label all finds.

...record site locations with
the Office of the State
Archaeologist (OSA).

...report any human remains or
burial sites to the OSA.

...try to identify artifact types
represented in your collection.

...join the Iowa
Archaeological Society.

...give programs to
school groups.

...allow professional archaeologists
to view and study your collection.

...read about artifacts and archaeology.

...participate in public field
schools whenever possible.

...enjoy your hobby!

...trespass.

...dig in or around
archaeological features.

...collect human remains.

...collect from public land
without a permit.

...buy or sell artifacts (many
items on the market
are fakes).

...mix artifacts from
different sites.

...let your collection be
dispersed by auction.

...let your hard work go to
waste by losing data
on your collection.

...let artifacts become damaged by storing
them in piles or letting
them rub together.

...re-work or re-shape artifacts (gluing broken
artifacts back together is
okay).


Please contact the Office of the State Archaeologist or
other professional archaeologists if you have any questions.

Office of the State Archaeologist, 700 Clinton St. Building,
The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242


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