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In days gone by, whether on horseback or on foot many travelers of different races took the same trails that we hike and backpack today.
In other words, the roads we feel may be less traveled were a route settlers and even American Indians moved on to get from one place to another.
Many of the mountain passes were traveled by American Indians in their moves from Summer camps to Winter camps. Along these very trails that we walk is history as we can only imagine.
At higher altitudes it is not unusual to find a scattered arrowhead or point of obsidian lying in a strategic spot within our view. Sometimes we are privy to see a petroglyph and can only imagine the encrypted message that it holds. In awe we look and wonder but must remember never to touch.
The National Park Service has defined that any object made by a human that is more than fifty years old is indeed an historical artifact. Not that on sight we can determine that what we see could indeed be over fifty years old, but we can speculate and usally we are right in our assumptions.
So what do you do if you encounter one of these objects on the trail?
First you must remember that there is a federal law called NAGPRA (Native American Graves and Repatriation Act) which protects all Indian artifacts and graves from the hands of poachers and others who choose to take what is not rightfully theirs. This federal law was established in 1990 and holds stiff penalties for those who decide to break this law. Fines range from two hundred and fifty dollars for mere touching of an object, up into the thousands of dollars and also jail time for those who decide to take any historical object.
Besides NAGPRA there is also moral and ethical issues involved with removal of any historical object, not only the openings of graves but even an arrowhead point that may be removed.
Should you take it?
The answer: NO.
Why?
It was left behind many years ago and could actually be part of a funeral item that a person was buried with. To find this item may also indicacte that a burial site may be near by and to disturb it would be nothing less than blasphemy. How would you feel if someone took something that belonged to a deceased loved one of yours, especially if they removed it from a crypt or even off a headstone?
If you should encounter an artifact or even an item that you are not sure is an artifact you should immediately notify a Ranger who will call in an Anthropoligist or Archeologist who can easily identify and document the article. This includes any human remains that you would happen to accidentally dig up while digging a toilet or trench for firebuilding.
There are strict protocals when finding an artifact and usally if the artifact is identified as American Indian, such as arrowheads, mortar stones, or sheepherders stoves, the Ranger will immediately contact the local Indian Tribe who will also need to identify the piece or remains. The Indian Tribe will then either bury the piece in traditional ceremony or remove it and then later carry on ceremony privately.
In the event that a piece such as a calvary piece or anything relating to white settlement, the item will be identified and removed for storage with a local museum and also studied for historical value, unless otherwise decided by coroner, anthropoligist or others who are in a senior position to identify and dispose of such items. In either case, the penalties are stiff, so do not touch.
It is illegal to remove anything from a National Park or wilderness area and the fines are stiff also. Never disturb any artifact, leave it where you found it in the same position. As soon as you are able to notify a Ranger or the park Service itself give a detailed account of where you found it by mapping the area, even crudely and also you may want to place a marker close to the artifact such as a stick or large rock. Never cover the artifact with or place the marker directly in the area with the artifact. This could notify someone to the whereabouts and they may not be as honest as you have been.
While backpacking or hiking as you enjoy the beautiful scenery and surroundings, it is important to remember that by preserving the areas natural state you are doing a great justice to many.
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