The 60-second answer
Hands off. Photos first. Manager next.
Stop digging, keep the object where it is, photograph the find and surrounding ground, note the location without publishing a sensitive pin, and contact the authority that matches the find.
Protect the clues
Five things to do before identification.
- 01
Stop widening the hole
More digging can damage nearby objects, a protected site, utilities, or evidence.
- 02
Do not clean it
No brushing, acid, electrolysis, scraping, oil, or water. Even gentle cleaning can erase clues.
- 03
Photograph the context
Take an overview, close-up, scale photo, both visible sides, and the undisturbed surrounding ground.
- 04
Record a private location
Save the access, manager, date, and coordinates privately. Do not post a possible archaeological site online.
- 05
Choose the right contact
Use the decision paths below for a lost item, artifact, dangerous object, or possible human remains.
Decision paths
What does the object look like?
Lost ring, phone, watch, or wallet
Report the description and location to local law enforcement. Do not publish unique marks that only the owner should know.
Possible artifact or shipwreck material
Leave it in context and contact the land manager or Florida Division of Historical Resources. State-controlled land and submerged resources have special protection.
Ammunition, ordnance, weapon, or sealed container
Do not touch, carry, strike, or open it. Back away, keep others clear, and contact local authorities.
Bone, burial object, or grave feature
Stop every disturbing activity immediately and call local law enforcement. Do not move or photograph remains more than safety requires.
Why context matters
An object alone tells only half the story.
A coin beside modern bottle caps may be a recent beach loss. The same coin beside pottery, ship timbers, or a cluster of older objects can be part of a protected site. Moving it breaks that relationship.
- Depth
- Record it before the hole changes. Do not dig deeper just to improve the measurement.
- Nearby material
- Photograph without collecting. A group of objects can be more important than one item.
- Land manager
- State, federal, county, city, and private ground can lead to different contacts and ownership rules.
- Water context
- State-owned or state-controlled land, including state sovereignty submerged land, can have protected archaeological resources; a beach-access rule is not enough.
Florida find FAQ
Simple answers before anything is moved.
Can I keep an old coin found on a Florida beach?
Not automatically. The manager, land ownership, age and context, state historic-resource law, and lost-property law can all change the answer.
What should I do if a find looks archaeological?
Stop disturbing the spot. Leave the object in context, take photos without cleaning or scraping it, and contact the land manager or Florida Division of Historical Resources.
Must found jewelry be reported in Florida?
Florida Statute 705.102 requires a person who finds lost or abandoned property to report its description and location to a law-enforcement officer.
What if I find a bone?
If it might be human, stop all activity that could disturb it, move back, and contact local law enforcement immediately. Do not collect or clean it.
Should I clean an old metal object before reporting it?
No. Cleaning can erase markings, residue, corrosion patterns, and context that help experts identify and date it.