Let ordinary people collect artifacts

I see, by the front-page article on artifact thefts, that our bureaucrats learned nothing from the pot raid in Blanding 23 years ago. For those too young or who have forgotten, back in June of 1986, the state and the feds decided they would put a stop to "artifact thefts." Using Gestapo tactics, they raided and confiscated the best collections in Blanding. Now, most of the confiscated pots reside behind a locked bank-vault door at Edge of the Cedars Museum. The bureaucrats claimed they could prove the artifacts came from public land. They couldn't, but most of the collectors didn't have the money to sue for the return of their property.

The sad truth is that the bureaucrats have the law on their side, but their record of protecting, studying and displaying ancient artifacts is far from exemplary. Most of what they have is stored in bags and boxes in some warehouse. Colleges in general do no better. The simple fact is, they don't have the facilities to curate and display what they have.

After the Blanding pot raid, some of us who only wanted one nice pot decided to make our own. It took 15 to 20 years to learn how, but in spite of what Kevin Jones said, we are making Anasazi pots today. And if we want to, we can make them look old. I doubt the state archaeologist could tell an old one from a new replica.

Seems to me it would make more sense for the caretakers of our public lands to publish guidelines and issue permits for collecting artifacts, as they do for collection of firewood and petrified wood. Since neither the bureaucrats nor universities nor Mother Nature will protect these ancient artifacts, why not let ordinary people collect and enjoy them?

George Hawkins lives in Bountiful.