Report an Artifact Discovery

If you find an artifact on land, in the water, or while metal detecting, you can help document Maryland’s history by reporting it to the Maryland Historical Trust (MHT). This page explains how to report artifact discoveries, what happens next, and how your find contributes to the state's archaeological records.  

Why reporting matters 

Artifacts are nonrenewable materials that can provide important information about history and prehistory. If they’re removed or disturbed without documentation, their context — the clues that tell us where and how people lived — is lost. 

By reporting your discovery, you help MHT: 

• Identify and track historic and archaeological resources across Maryland
• Add your find to the statewide record of historic properties
• Document new or previously unknown archaeological resources
• Protect sensitive areas from future disturbance or looting
• Support state and local planning through accurate cultural resource data 

Your report may become part of Maryland’s archaeological records — helping preservation planners, local governments and archaeologists make better decisions. 

What to do & what to avoid 

Do: 

• Document the location before moving any object.
• Take clear photographs of the item and its surroundings.
• Report your find, even if you’re unsure what it is.
• Avoid disturbing clusters of artifacts or digging in the area. 

Do not: 

• Remove or disturb features if burial markers or human remains are present.
• Use heavy digging equipment on a suspected site.
• Remove artifacts from submerged or land sites without proper permissions. 

How to report your discovery 

1. Choose the right tool 

• Individual artifact find? Use the mdFIND app or its web version to report individual artifacts, such as a bottle, projectile point, or artifact found while hiking or metal detecting.
• Larger site or multiple items? Contact the Archaeological Registrar for direction. You may be asked to use the Maryland Inventory Archaeological Site Form - DOCX 132.78 KB to report a historic site, structure, or cluster of artifacts that may represent a larger archaeological location.  

2. Gather your information 

Prepare the following before submitting: 

• Photos of the artifact(s) and/or site (up to 5 for mdFIND)
• GPS location or map coordinates
• Item type or brief description (optional but helpful)
• Your contact information (optional) 

3. Submit your report 

• For individual finds: Use mdFIND
• For site discoveries: Contact the Archaeological Registrar. 

MHT reviews all submissions. If your find is part of a site, MHT may assign it an official site number and add it to the Maryland Inventory, which supports ongoing archaeological survey and heritage documentation efforts across the state. 

Special notes for specific activities 

• If you are metal detecting, learn about rules and best practices for metal detecting in Maryland.
• If you discover a ship timber or other submerged wooden structure, learn how to safely report shipwreck timbers.