The Office of the State Archaeologist

Start of decision tree

1. I found an artifact, site, or fossil in IOWA. • If NO, IT’S FROM ANOTHER STATE OR COUNTRY go to Step 2. • If YES, go to Step 3.
2. This is not OSA’s area of expertise. Please contact an archaeologist or institution from the area of the find. A list of state contacts is linked below. [end of decision tree]
3. On private or public land?* • If PUBLIC LAND, go to Step 4. • If SOMEONE ELSE’S PROPERTY, go to Step 5. • If MY OWN PROPERTY, go to Step 7.
4. STOP! It is illegal to take artifacts from public land without a permit. Contact the local, county, state, or federal agency that manages this land. If you find an artifact on public land, leave it place, record the location, take a photo, and provide this info to staff. [end of decision tree]
5. Did you get explicit permission from the landowner to collect on their property? • If NO, go to Step 6. • If YES, go to Step 7.
6. STOP! This is illegal. Leave the artifact in place and contact the landowner. [end of decision tree]
7. Is the object stone? • If IT IS UNMISTAKABLY STONE, go to Step 8. • If NOT SURE, go to Step 11. • If YES, go to Step 24.
8. Is it unmistakably intentionally shaped by humans? • If YES, go to Step 10.• If NO OR NOT SURE, go to Step 11.
9. Do you think it’s a fossil? • If YES, go to Step 10. • If NO OR NOT SURE, go to Step 11.
10. This is not OSA’s area of expertise. Contact a paleontologist. [end of decision tree]
11. Do you think you see a face, animal, writing, or glyphs? • If YES OR NOT SURE, go to Step 12. • If NO, go to Step 13.
12. These are extremely rare on handheld objects. You may have a concretion. Watch the videos listed below and/or contact a geologist.
13. Does it have a distinctly round shape and fits in your hand? • If YES, go to Step 14. • If OR/AND, go to Step 15. • If NO, go to Step 17.
14. You may have a grinder. A cultural determination is not feasible without additional context. Watch the videos listed below and/or contact a geologist. [end of decision tree]
15. It is mostly rounded and has a distinct round hole or indentation that looks like a paint well or place for a nut? • If YES, go to Step 16. • If NO, go to Step 17.
16. You may have an omarolluk. Watch the videos listed below and/or contact a geologist. [end of decision tree]
17. If your rock doesn’t fit the above descriptions, we may be able to identify it. Email us, watch the videos, or contact a geologist. [end of decision tree]
18. Do you suspect it might be bone? • If YES, go to Step 19. • If NO, go to Step 22.
19. Could it be human bone? • If YES, go to Step 20. • If NO, go to Step 21.
20. CONTACT LOCAL LAW ENFORECEMENT. Our office will be asked to consult if it is determined to not be of legal interest. [end of decision tree]
21. Is it unmistakably animal bone? • If YES, go to Step 24.
22. Do you suspect it might be ancient pottery? • If NO, go to Step 23. • If YES, go to Step 24.
23. Do you suspect it might be a historical object? • If YES, go to Step 24.
24. We can likely identify this item. Email us a photo of the object next to a ruler or item for scale and provide basic contextual information. [end of decision tree]

*Rivers and streams: The State of Iowa owns the channel botom and streambanks up to the ordinary high-water mark for meandered rivers; beyond the high-water mark is a mix of public land and private ownership. The beds and banks of non-meandered rivers and streams belong to the landowner on either side.

Email the OSA: osa@uiowa.edu Find an archaeologist in your state: https://saa.org/about-archaeology/get-involved-locally Video: Distinguishing Archaeological Artifacts from Natural Stone Objects Video: Groundstone Tools vs Natural Stone