Many are unaware of South Carolina’s footprint in the paleontology community. Even more are scratching their heads wondering what it has to do with the legal field, but there are various statutes and regulations that govern the act of excavating archaeological and paleontological finds. For those novice paleontologists or any future member of the community, check state statutes and regulations before going to collect any fossils or artifacts. Before we discuss the implications the state’s fossil record has had on the legality of collecting finds, we will start at the beginning, 541 million years ago.
The National Historic Preservation Act by 