We all know that the drought this summer has left all of East Texas dry and brittle. Many of the area lakes have felt the severity of the drought and are at all time lows, exposing areas of the lakes that have not been visible in many years. Recently we saw the low water levels expose a large piece of the Columbia Space Shuttle. As the drought continues, the low water levels may also expose early European home sites and/or Native American artifacts.
As exciting as this may sound to some citizens we must remember that it is not our job, nor our duty to go and search for these items. We must remember that keeping pieces of the Columbia Space Shuttle is illegal. So what do you do if you find a piece of the shuttle? According to the NASA website if you find a piece of the Columbia you need to call the Columbia Recovery Office at 866-446-6603 (toll free) or contact the Nacogdoches Police Department. All pieces of debris are United States Government property and should be reported to the right people just like what was done when a piece of the Columbia Shuttle was found in Lake Nacogdoches.
We must also remember to treat any Native American artifacts that we find with the proper respect. This should not be viewed as a treasure hunt; many of these artifacts hold cultural and spiritual value to the Native American people. There are many designated State Archeological Landmarks (SAL) that have been established on public property that is owned by a city or county, much like parts of Lake Nacogdoches. These SAL’s are protected by certain legal sanctions. Any Native American artifact found on public property is protected under the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) or other state and federal laws and improper removal or sale of these items could result in criminal penalties. Any items found should be reported to the Nacogdoches Historic Sites Department at 936-560-4441 or the Stephen F. Austin State University Social and Cultural Analysis Department at 936-468-2306.
These artifacts can tell researchers a lot about early East Texas, but they can do nothing for our town if they are taken home. It is not only wrong to disturb these items but you will be stealing history from East Texas. Please be aware and respectful of your surroundings while enjoying our East Texas lakes and trying to beat the heat.
For more information contact the Historic Sites Department at 936-560-4443 or by email at brayb@ci.nacogdoches.tx.us.
