Title 13 — Libraries, Archives, and Cultural Resources

The President of the University of Arkansas system is designated agent of the State of Arkansas for the purpose of conducting a program of archeological research as described in this subchapter which shall be referred to as the “Arkansas Archeological Survey”.

(1) The Arkansas Archeological Survey shall initiate, operate, and maintain a program in archeology which shall include, but not be limited to, the following areas of action:(1) Excavation of archeological and historical sites, ruins, and mounds for the purpose of securing data a…

(a) The President of the University of Arkansas shall appoint a Director of the Arkansas Archeological Survey who shall have a doctor of philosophy degree in anthropology with a specialization in archeology or the equivalent in training and experience who shall be responsible for…

(a) (1) The President of the University of Arkansas shall appoint a State Archeologist who shall have a doctor of philosophy degree in anthropology with a specialization in archeology, or the equivalent in training and experience, and such other full-time or part-time employees a…

(a) Funds appropriated for the Arkansas Archeological Survey shall be by specific appropriation separate and distinct from funds appropriated for the University of Arkansas and shall be used exclusively for the purposes of the survey. (b) All expenditures of funds appropriated fo…

(a) The University of Arkansas is to make available for study in connection with the Arkansas Archeological Survey the holdings of its museum which contains the world's best and most extensive collection of Arkansas archeological material and the valuable collection of archeologi…

The University of Arkansas and cooperating institutions shall provide appropriate housing to the extent that it is available in the nature of laboratory and office space for Arkansas Archeological Survey personnel without cost to the survey.

(a) All public institutions of higher learning in Arkansas desiring to participate in the Arkansas Archeological Survey provided for in this subchapter may contract with the University of Arkansas for Arkansas Archeological Survey archeologists to be assigned to and in residence …

All other state agencies, departments, and institutions, as well as county and city officials, are directed to cooperate in the activities described in this subchapter in order that a statewide focus shall be given the implementation of the Arkansas Archeological Survey created b…

(a) In recognition of the fact that archeological materials and antiquities are destroyed or damaged in connection with the construction of public works such as highways and dams, the Arkansas Archeological Survey created by this subchapter shall include salvage work in advance o…

(a) The President of the University of Arkansas System is authorized to accept grants, bequests, devises, gifts, and donations for purposes of a state program in archeological research and to expend them to that end. (b) The president's full power to accept and hold title to inte…

(a) The Arkansas Archeological Survey shall serve as the repository for copies of all archeological field notes, photographs, publications, or other records obtained through the use of state funds by whatever agency. (b) All archeological objects found through the efforts of the …

(a) All artifacts, fossils, relics, and other personal property discovered, donated, or otherwise acquired in pursuance of this program shall be the property of the State of Arkansas held in trust by the University of Arkansas. (b) The university shall, to the extent possible, ma…

(a) The Arkansas Archeological Survey shall hold title to and have primary responsibility for all archeological objects and materials obtained pursuant to this program or otherwise accruing to the survey. (b) It shall be the responsibility of the Director of the Arkansas Archeolo…

The Arkansas Archeological Survey is authorized to assist and support the programs of the Arkansas Archeological Society to the extent that the purposes and aims of the two (2) coincide.

The Arkansas Archeological Society is requested to annually review and evaluate the programs and activities of the Arkansas Archeological Survey and to provide written reports of the evaluation to the Director of the Arkansas Archeological Survey, each state-supported institution…

(a) (1) The State of Arkansas reserves to itself the exclusive right and privilege of field archeology on sites owned or controlled by the state, its agencies, departments, and institutions, in order to protect and preserve archeological and scientific information, matter, and ob…

(1) As used in this subchapter:(1) (A) (i) “Archeological site” means a location containing the physical remains of human life or human activities that are no less than one hundred (100) years old.(ii) An archeological site may but need not contain pottery, basketry, bottles, wea…

A.C.A. § 13-6-303Current through all legislation of the 2025 Regular Session.Arkansas Code of 1987 Annotated Official EditionCopyright © 2026 by the State of Arkansas All rights reserved

(a) All state agencies, departments, institutions, and commissions, as well as all counties and municipalities, shall cooperate fully with the Arkansas Archeological Survey in the preservation, protection, excavation, and evaluation of artifacts and sites. (b) To that end, where …

(a) (1) Upon written notice to the Commissioner of State Lands given by the Arkansas Archeological Survey, the Commissioner of State Lands shall reserve from sale any state lands, including lands forfeited to the state for nonpayment of taxes, on which sites or artifacts are loca…

(a) (1) An archeological site of significance to the scientific study or public representation of Arkansas's aboriginal past may be publicly designated by the Arkansas Archeological Survey as a state archeological landmark.(2) However, no sites shall be so designated without the …

(a) (1) It is unlawful for any person, natural or corporate, to knowingly dig up an artifact from the private land of the owner without first obtaining the owner's permission.(2) A violation of subdivision (a)(1) of this section is a:(A) Class D felony for the first offense and a…

(a) In order that archeological sites and artifacts on state-owned or state-controlled land shall be protected for the benefit of the public, no person, natural or corporate, shall knowingly dig up and remove, write upon, carve upon, paint, deface, mutilate, destroy, or otherwise…

(a) It is a declaration and statement of the General Assembly's intent that all human burials and human skeletal burial remains shall be accorded equal treatment and respect for human dignity without reference to their ethnic origins, cultural backgrounds, religious affiliations,…

(1) As used in this subchapter:(1) “Artifacts” means arrowheads, other bone and stone tools, pottery, pottery fragments, china, metal objects or other material objects made by Native American settlers, or other residents of Arkansas, which were left or lost in or on the ground, e…

(a) The public has a right to the knowledge to be derived and gained from the scientific study of human skeletal burial remains and burial furniture. (b) Therefore, when justified by “A State Plan for the Conservation of Archeological Resources in Arkansas” as promulgated by the …

(a) (1) If human skeletal burial remains are exhumed for relocation, then at the request of a direct descendant, that of a specific church, or that of a Native American tribal group recognized by the United States Government who can provide written or scientific documentation of …

(a) If human skeletal burial remains are not claimed as set forth in § 13-6-404, the Arkansas Archeological Survey or a state-supported museum, or a museum accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, may serve as a depository for such skeletal remains as are required for scie…

(a) Anyone who knowingly buys, sells, or barters human skeletal burial remains or their associated burial furniture is committing a Class D felony for the first offense and a Class C felony on the second and subsequent offenses. (b) Artifacts as defined in this subchapter and pri…

Anyone who knowingly displays human skeletal burial remains for profit or to aid and abet a commercial enterprise is committing a Class C felony with each day of display being a separate offense.

(a) Anyone who intentionally or knowingly desecrates or permits desecration of a burial ground and associated burial furniture is committing on the first offense a Class D felony and on the second or subsequent offenses a Class C felony. (b) The presence in the ground of grave ma…

The mere possession of items defined in § 13-6-402 does not create a presumption of a violation of this subchapter, but the duty shall remain upon the state to prove any violation of this subchapter.