When photographing on national & state forest lands in the Pacific NW, I often come across small pieces of archaeology, typically Native American hunting artifacts & potsherds from long-vanished cultures.

Mainly, small stuff you might pick up, inspect, and put back on the ground – or into your pocket...

Just curious, what’s your thinking and behavior when you come across such things? Do you refuse to touch them, no matter how small – better preserving them in their context for future experts? And if they seem significant, do you report them to the ranger’s office?

Have you ever felt the urge to “hide” them from people less responsible than you? Or maybe you’ve done the opposite – placed them in better sight so others can enjoy the discovery, too?

Last, have you reviewed the laws of your local area – do they seem reasonable?