To collect or not to collect

Well, when I started this blog, one of the topics I said I may talk about is rocks but up to this point I have refrained from doing so. But while reading some posts from a Rockhounding group this morning, I realized that for the paleontologist, archaeologists and basic Rockhound, there is a topic that’s very polarizing. The collecting of fossils and artifacts. Currently most states have some sort of law protecting fossils, dinosaurs and human artifacts (cultural and remains) from being collected by anyone other than an authorized college, university or museum. This is supposedly to protect it. Does this make sense? Yes, in part. I understand the importance of proper cataloging and protecting the integrity of a site in order to properly excavate all artifacts as well as to be able to more completely understand the historical significance of what was found. This is how we learn about the true past. On the other hand in a lot of these cases the amateur rockhound is completely thrown out of the mix. Not given any credit whatsoever and not allowed to participate in this process. Before Big Brother got in the mix of making these laws, a vast majority of finds were found by just this type of person, a weekend warrior out looking for something nice to display at their house and show their friends and family. Nowadays most rockhounds are very cognizant of the possible importance of what they may find and take great measures to ensure that things don’t get damaged…Also a true rockhound follows common sense guidelines and treats the areas they are at with the proper respect. Personally, I take and extra bag or two to clean up any trash I make or find. Bottom line? I fall in the middle here. I understand that there are many people much better able to “work” an historic site better than me, but if I was to find something of historical importance and then was kicked from the site with no credit given while also not being able to “assist” in the collection of artifacts, fossils and data,  I would be very pissed off. Would it make me think twice about reporting it? Yeah, honestly it would. This is my planet too, this is my history too, it belongs to all people.