Indigenous Leaders Fight Bill Promoting Citizen Archaeology: "Do Not Disturb the Spirits of the Water"

A bill pending in the Florida Legislature would let anyone pay $100 for a so-called "citizen archaeology permit" and then be able to dig up historical artifacts from submerged lands like riverbeds and lakes — and keep what they find.  Collectors are psyched about the bill. Archaeologists say that only they have the expertise to collect and catalog such artifacts. And some Native Americans say leave the artifacts the hell alone. Passage of the bill, they warn, would result in looting.

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