Officials with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are warning artifact hunters that they will be prosecuted if caught taking items from Millwood Lake during the current drawdown period.
The nearly 30,000-acre lake 10 miles northeast of Ashdown is formed by damming the point where the Little River and the Saline River meet, and it sits on top of land rich with American Indian artifacts.
Artifacts located around the lake include arrowheads, pottery, building remains, rock art, ceramics, glassware and other objects made by Indians.
The Corps is reducing the lake level to 258.2 feet, or about a foot below normal, so that bank stabilization work can be done at a nearby park. When the lake levels are lowered, Corps rangers said there is typically an increase in the number of people who illegally dig for artifacts there.
The number of reported artifact thefts was not readily available last week from the Corps.
Depending on the circumstances and severity of the thefts, fines can be as high as $250,000 and jail terms can be up to 10 years, Corps officials said.
"Laws covering removing artifacts from public lands include the Archeological Resources Protection Act of 1979, which protects any item of archeological interest that is more than 100 years old, and Title 36 of the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations, which deals with theft or destruction of public property," Corps spokesman Tiffany Smith said in an emailed statement.
"Minor offenses can lead to misdemeanor charges, while more serious offenses or second offenses can lead to felony charges and convictions."
The Arkansas Archeological Society issued a statement regarding Millwood Lake and artifact sites in general, saying that "when individuals pursue what they consider a harmless hobby digging or picking up artifacts, they are destroying the past."
"By removing Indian artifacts or relics for a personal collection or to sell, the historical context is destroyed. This can wipe out the evidence of centuries of human experience. Many just don't realize the harm they are doing," according to the statement.
State Archaeologist Ann Early said the looting of archaeological sites has been a problem across the state for many years, causing permanent damage and robbing the state of its history.
She said several sites at Millwood Lake were partially documented before construction of the lake and dam began in the 1960s, but the work was never completed.
"This was back before there were federal laws in place to protect such sites," she said. "And now we are left with sites along the banks of the lake and on islands, many of which are undocumented. People just go in and start digging and grave robbing for financial gain."
Early added that "it's important to let people know the damage they are causing and that it's not a game to dig a hole and find treasure. This is a crime."
Toby Newman of Texarkana fishes at Millwood Lake often and said he has seen evidence of people digging for artifacts along some bank areas. He said he has never caught anyone in the act but always reports the dig sites to officials.
"The only things you can take from this area legally are the fish, and you are even limited on them by law," Newman said. "Folks just need to realize that they can't come in here and act like it's their own property."
Anyone who sees illegal digging on the shoreline of Millwood Lake is asked to call (870) 898-3343.
State Desk on 08/25/2014