Freaking stupid!!!

You might want to check out these pics, be sure to look at the pics where they destroyed some big chunks of land. http://www.flickr.com/photos/myfwcmedia/sets/72157632872560173

First of all I had NO idea about picking up something you found, just thought it was "yours". So if I found a arrahhead on a WMA and pick it up I just broke the law?


Skinny, some of those pictures were underwater it looked like?

1st how do people look for stuff in rivers, are they diving or using a dredge?

2nd how do you prove some indention in the sandy bottom isnt some animal/turtle or 1 of many other things that could have caused it?

Those guys need to be punished for that. I have points that I have collected over the years but have never had the desire to sell them. They mean to much to me.

Skinny, have you ever heard of Georgia Dunn from Lacey's Spring? We were distantly related but you should have seen her collection... it was/is breathtaking to say the least.

The guy that owns Southern Scuba Divers in Birmingham has been fighting this for years. He has a collection of Civil war artifacts and huge Shark teeth. According to Alabama law they belong to the state because he retreived them from Alabama waterways. You can go to thier website and read about his battles with the lawmakers.

lovemx , He was charged for diving on a well known Civil War site and the artifacts he took were clearly from State property. He has tried to have the law changed but has not had success.

bowhunter, I have seen pictures of the collection, it was a nice one.

Tc, some dive and some dredge and some use other methods. Those holes you see in the pics are clearly man-made and the Florida folks got evidence of the holes being made while the looting was taking place.

Skinny, another one please--What artifact would be worth $100,000?

worth a certain amount and what some idiot will actually pay for it are two different things. I'd guess one of the suspects had a really high price tag on one of the artifacts. Keep in mind that a Picasso only fetches a lot of money cause rich idiots are willing to pay that much for one.

Bunch of grave robbers.

On the Flickr set of pictures there is a presentation sign that shows a group of what looks like a bunch of Paleo period points that says they were listed for $100,000.

The flickr site seems to be an attempt to defend the time, effort and resources applied to catch the criminals. I'd like to see a dollar figure corresponding to the cost of the sting. I'd also like to see a dollar figure corresponding to the cost the State's legal effort to recover the same type of stuff - since it is of such importance.

As an example: why spend a 200k chasing something that the state is only willing to spend 50k to legally recover. Obviously those figures are not accurate, but do you see my point?

Seen more damage by hogs and bream beds than what they are showing!

The River bottom changes every year. Eventually it all goes into the Gulf...

Skinny, serious question here. When you are contracted to do a site survey or excavation, does the University or your contract team make a profit on top of salary, matereals and supplys?

I think its much like moonshine. The state just wants their revenue.

that has changed recently from what I understand, used to could pick up but not dig

Now you can't pick up or have in possession I believe, I have no interest in it to be honest but I have several friends that live and breath looking for points.

One friend used to dive and dig the river, founds lot's of points from what I heard. He's no longer with us but I'd see him going diving when I was going duck hunting.

Another friend is a diver and has found points, told me about a guy that found a burial site, the guy dug up a skull. Bad Bad Bad JuJu happened to him for about 3 weeks. After a really bad car wreck and finally released from the Hospital he took the skull back.

Just off my farm the Feds covered a site so it couldn't be dug without heavy equipment.

When I do survey work through the University nobody makes a profit. Every penny goes to salary, materials, and student's education. We're not allowed to make a profit. Lately, fuel has been eating our salary and supply budget.

So what does an average survey cost? I know there are lots of variables so say an average Phase 1 survey, $10-$12 grand?

There are too many variables to talk about here, it just depends on the size and conditions of the job.

I figured that, then how bout a cost range of a basic "as low as" to "as high as" for a Phase 1 on 5 acres of semi cleared property.

The cost of those is figured just like any contractor figures any job. There are dozens of considerations. Why do you want to know?

I can understand why you are skirting around the question, Im just interested... I've seen where some go for as high as $15,000. Just seemed a little high for a handful of professionals, students and or volunteers...