Relic hunting, metal detecting, digging, and removing historical objects are prohibited on National Park Service land and other protected federal property.
- Photograph the complete object, front, back, edges, interior, marks, damage, repairs, labels, and associated material.
- Record measurements, materials, construction, inscriptions, names, dates, unit references, and provenance exactly.
- Separate observed facts from family history, seller claims, and later collector labels.
- Compare documented examples and search archival records.
- State identity, date, and association at the strength the evidence supports.
Use a repeatable research method
Document first, compare second, research records third, and describe only what the evidence supports.
Research record
Evidence to prioritize
Create a written record with source citations. Preserve original order and associations. Use reversible handling and conservation methods, and ask a qualified specialist when material is valuable, hazardous, structurally weak, or historically sensitive.
Common problems
Rushing to clean, separate, sell, frame, laminate, sharpen, oil, polish, or identify an object can permanently erase evidence.
Condition and alteration
List tears, losses, fading, corrosion, moth damage, trimming, mounting, polishing, washing, repairs, replacement parts, rebindings, added inscriptions, copied labels, and conservation work. Age and condition are different questions.
Value research
Compare only genuinely similar pieces. Match identity, format, originality, condition, provenance, completeness, date, venue, buyer’s premium, and shipping. A famous battle or person should affect value only when the connection is documented.