If these walls could talk…
In April 2005, Andrew Mayes was renovating a home he’d bought in Lockport Township, near Chicago. While knocking out a wall in a closet, he discovered several unusual antiques: Several boxes of ammunition with a receipt dated 1940 and a mint-condition 1928 A1 Thompson submachine gun, a favorite of 1930s Chicago gangsters.
Surprised by his unusual find, Mayes immediately contacted the police, who quickly confiscated the weapon and ammunition. A sheriff’s spokesman, who estimated the gun’s value at around $10,000, praised Mayes for his honesty and noted that since Illinois state law prohibits civilians from owning automatic weapons, Mayes would not have been able to sell the gun if he had kept it to himself. He could have even faced up to 10 years in prison for possessing or selling an illegal and unregistered weapon.
While Mayes was unlucky in that he discovered something he wasn’t allowed to keep, don’t assume that what you find will automatically be taken away from you. In March 2006, for example, a demolition crew uncovered a stack of bills worth over $30,000 hidden in the walls of a flood-ravaged home in New Orleans. The surprised homeowner, a woman in her 50s who opted to remain anonymous, believed the money had been stashed away by her father, who grew up during the Depression and was wary of banks. And, once the woman’s identity was confirmed, she was allowed to keep every cent.
Finding items of significance -- historical or otherwise -- during home renovation projects is rare, but it does happen. Here’s what to do if you uncover something of interest:
Notify the proper authorities
You should always notify the proper authorities if you discover something out of the ordinary. State laws vary in regards to the legal ownership of artifacts found on private property, but generally speaking, all items (with the exception of things that are illegal to own) belong to the person who holds title to the land from which they were retrieved. Items found on federal or state land, or with federal or state money, however, become the property of the respective governments. You must obtain written permission from the landowner before you can legally remove items from property you don’t own.
Consider the historical value
If you come across something that may have historical or archaeological significance, you should report it to your state archaeological society (The Archaeological Institute of America has contact information for most state boards). The society will most likely dispatch an investigator to examine your item in person and determine its validity. Don’t worry, he or she can’t and won’t take it from you, or excavate your property, without your permission.
Look, don’t touch
If at all possible, don’t move an item that may have historical significance. It helps archaeologists to see the item in the condition it was discovered to determine its use or function. Take a picture of the site and protect the item from the elements. Some metal and wooden artifacts that have been buried in soil or under water may be damaged when they come into contact with the surface atmosphere again, so it’s always best to leave them where they lay.
Don’t commit grave errors
In the event that you should uncover human remains on your property, contact the police and the county coroner immediately. Do not touch or move them if you can help it. Accidentally disturbing graves or human remains is not a crime, but intentionally doing so or not reporting their discovery to the relevant authorities is a violation of state and federal laws.
Get it in writing
While you are allowed to sell artifacts that are legally yours to museums or private collectors, it’s always wise to get an accredited archaeologist involved first. Unless an item is officially documented as ‘historic’ and appraised, it will likely be significantly harder to sell or sell for a reduced price.
Published on June 19, 2007