Federal · Title 18 — Crimes and Criminal Procedure

18 U.S.C. § 1866: Historic, archeologic, or prehistoric items and antiquities

Misdemeanor

What this law says, in plain English

A person who violates federal regulations regarding historic or prehistoric artifacts, or who damages or removes antiquities on federal land without permission, may be imprisoned up to 90 days, fined, or both.

Read the full statutory text

A person that violates any of the regulations authorized by chapter 3201 of title 54 shall be fined under this title and be adjudged to pay all cost of the proceedings. A person that appropriates, excavates, injures, or destroys any historic or prehistoric ruin or monument or any other object of antiquity that is situated on land owned or controlled by the Federal Government without the permission of the head of the Federal agency having jurisdiction over the land on which the object is situated, shall be imprisoned not more than 90 days, fined under this title, or both.

Verify at the official source: Federal legislative text

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This page is legal information, not legal advice. Code text is sourced from official publications and may lag amendments — always confirm at the official source linked above. Plain-English summaries and relationship data are AI-derived and reviewed on an ongoing basis; verify with a licensed attorney before acting.