I've tried to explain the Byzantine laws surrounding the discovery of Mayan artifacts on one's property in Belize, but I fear I am not explaining it properly. Is it true that if one discovers relics on his property, he is "required" to notify a certain government body, who then evaluates the significance of the site. If an important discovery is made, or if the soil hides a considerable amount of artifacts, then that land owner may be re-located by the government to another parcel. Because there is such a concentration of ruins in Belize, a high percentage of land owners are at risk of being re-located, therefore when one stumbles upon an artifact on his own property, he typically covers it back up discretely, and goes about his business.

Is my summary accurate?

More often sold on black market

Unfortunate (long live eBay, eh?). But given that people can be unwillingly uprooted from their home by the goverment, I cannot say I blame anyone from circumventing the law.

We had a guy come by our house one day when we had first bought and he had some "artifacts". We thought it was a crock, but Butch gave him some $ for it because the guy looked hungry.
Months later, I had a policeman visiting. He saw the "arrowhead" and made a HUGE deal out of it saying it was illegal to privately own it.
We were told that anything of historical value had to be "declared".

Interesting. How was your situation finally resolved?

I plead the fifth
Cheerz!

Belize is not that big. If a high concentration of people are sitting on historical sites, and all were moved, then the govt. would end up owning more and more of the country. Who's to say that where you were moved to, didn't also have buried artifacts. Getting my drift here? Eventually the whole country would be owned by the government. Scarey.......

Government only wants the saleable artifacts

I found an old Belikin bottle once.

it must be mine, i had one once

If they only want the salable artifacts, why do they relocate you????? Can't they just confiscate the stuff and leave your home alone? I think it sounds awful.

No one ever gets relocated. They just confiscate your artifacts and threaten you to keep you quiet.