This act states:

16 USC 470aa
(a) The Congress finds that-
 

-(1) archaeological resources on public lands and Indian lands are an accessible and irreplaceable part
of the Nation's heritage;
 

-(2) these resources are increasingly endangered because of their commercial attractiveness;
 

-(3) existing Federal laws do not provide adequate protection to prevent the loss and destruction of these archeological resources and sites resulting from uncontrolled excavations and pillage; and
 

-(4) there is a wealth of archaeological information which has been legally obtained by private individuals
for noncommercial purposes and which could voluntarily be made available to professional archaeologists
and institutions.

(b) The purpose of this chapter is to secure, for the present and future benefit of the American people, the protection of archaeological resources and sites which are on public lands and Indian lands, and to foster
increased cooperation and exchange of information between governmental authorities, the professional archaeological community, and private individuals having collections of archaeological resources and data
which were obtained before October 31, 1979.
 
 

The Archaeological Resource Protection Act, or ARPA for short, was passed to insure our cultural heritage would
be preserved.  As the act points out archaeological resources are irreplaceable.  Archaeologists are not simply
interested in the artifacts themselves, but where they came from.  That is why archaeologists keep detailed records
and notes of soil colors, textures, and where the artifacts are located in association with other artifacts and the
different soils and features.  Once artifacts and features have been excavated and removed from their context, that archaeological resource is considered destroyed.  Many individuals who loot archaeological sites on Federal property
are not interested in the artifacts historical value, but simply its commercial value.  Sites throughout the United States
are looted, and with those actions not only does the National Park Service and archaeologists lose out, but so do you.

National Park Service property and the archaeological sites within them belong to you, the American people.  All archaeological work taking place in the National Parks is being done to allow you the visitor a chance to better
understand our past.  Looters are not simply stealing from the Federal government, but from all of us.  You can help
Federal land managing agencies in protecting archaeological resources by reporting any suspicious activity or
individuals collecting artifacts illegally on Federal Property.

For more information on the Archaeological Resource Protection Act or how you can get involved in archaeological
projects taking place in the National Parks, consult these sites: