Archaeology Myth #3: Gold!?
Archaeologists get to keep any gold or other artifacts that they find.
Image of Sophie Schliemann

Sophie Schliemann wearing the "treasure of Priam", which her husband excavated and was accused of smuggling out of Turkey for his private collection. Photo from manuscript by C. Irwin-Williams.

REALITY
Professional archaeologists do not keep, buy, sell, or trade any artifacts. They believe that the objects they dig up should be kept together as a collection to be available for study or display. By law, artifacts recovered from federal or state lands belong to the public, and must be taken care of on behalf of the public.
Photo: Child Looking at Burke Museum Display

A young visitor at the Burke Museum,
viewing an exhibit in the lobby.

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