Georgia also has many unmarked historic cemeteries, often on hilltops or not far from old houses that may now be long gone. For a nominal fee, archaeological consultants will perform a risk-management survey to assess the likelihood of disturbing burials or other types of historically- or archaeologically-important sites. However, unless scientific investigation methods are used, it will be difficult to recognize many burials. Burials are often in relatively shallow pits containing small bone fragments and associated ritual objects, such as pots, beads, pipes, and ornate objects, such as carved shells. Indian burials vary greatly and can be difficult to identify. How do I know if I’ve encountered a grave or burial? Forests, National Parks, National Wildlife Refuges, and military bases. Federal lands in Georgia include Corps of Engineers lakes and the lands around them managed by the Corps, U.S. Generally, it is illegal to surface collect, metal detect, or dig on any federal lands without a federal permit. State property includes state parks, historic sites, wildlife management areas, and state forests, as well as state highway rights-of way, navigable river and stream bottoms, and the Atlantic coast all the way to the three mile limit. ![]() To surface collect, metal detect, or to legally dig on any state property, you must have a permit from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. ![]() Additionally, it is unlawful to receive, retain, dispose of, or possess any human body part (including bones), knowing it to have been removed from a grave unlawfully. It is generally illegal to dig human burials and/or collect human skeletal remains or burial objects. This includes all ground-disturbing activities, including on Civil War sites. On private land, it is legal to dig or metal detect for artifacts IF you have written permission from the landowner, and IF you have notified the Georgia Department of Natural Resources in writing five (5) business days before you begin. It is legal to collect artifacts from the surface of private property, IF you have written permission from the landowner. Laws pertaining to state and federal lands do not distinguish between surface collecting and any type of digging for artifacts. Laws pertaining to private lands distinguish between surface collecting (picking up objects laying on top of the ground) and any ground-disturbing, or digging for artifacts. Is it legal to collect artifacts? Is it legal to dig for artifacts? Is it legal to dive for artifacts in river or stream bottoms, or along the coast?.What does the Department of Natural Resources do?.How do I notify the Department of Natural Resources that I intend to dig on private property?.Can burial objects be found on the ground surface?.What is a burial object? How do I know if something is a burial object?.Which artifacts are legal to have and which are not?.What should I do if I have skeletal remains?.Is my personal artifact collection legal? Can it be confiscated? Can I display it publicly?.What is the best way to protect an archaeological site?.Why are there laws regarding human remains, artifacts, archaeological sites, and collecting?.Do I get in trouble if I find a burial?.What do I do if I think I have found a burial?. ![]()
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