A Guide to Treasure in Nebraska, Kansas, North Dakota and South Dakota

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While artifact and relic sites can usually be pinned down to actual, or rather accurate, locations, this is not true of lost treasures and lost mines. If these sites could be pinpointed, the treasure or mine would, of course, no longer be lost. Many artifact and relic sites have lain undisturbed for years because there was little or no interest in collecting the "junk" to be found there. Today, however, almost everything found at these sites has some archaeological or historical (if not monetary) value. Artifacts--defined by the dictionary as "anything made by human skill or work, an artificial product"--are of archaeological interest because they are a part of the culture of the land. For this reason, most states have laws prohibiting the collecting of artifacts on public lands except by trained scientists. Some states will make exceptions and grant permission to conduct artifact searches by non-scientific parties, provided they meet certain qualifications and make their searches under specified conditions. These searchers are usually granted a license for a specified period of time, and often to search only under supervision. Although some Indian village sites located on public lands are listed herein, it is a safe rule not to approach them without proper authorization. Indian villages located on privately owned land generally do not fall under state supervision, except by arrangement with the landowner, but here again you would not be wise to undertake such a search without specific permission from the landowner. For that matter, you should not enter upon any private land, for any purpose, without express permission.