National Monuments Act, 1930

Restriction of excavation for archaeological purposes.

26.—(1) It shall not be lawful for any person, without or otherwise than in accordance with a licence issued by the Commissioners under this section, to dig or excavate in or under any land (whether with or without removing the surface of the land) for the purpose of searching generally for archaeological objects or of searching for, exposing or examining any particular structure or thing of archaeological interest known or believed to be in or under such land or for any other archaeological purpose.

(2) The Commissioners may at their discretion issue to any person a licence to dig or excavate in or under any specified land for any specified archaeological purpose and may insert in any such licence such conditions and restrictions as they shall think proper.

(3) Any person who digs or excavates in or under any land in contravention of this section shall be guilty of and offence under this section and shall be liable on summary conviction thereof to a fine not exceeding twenty-five pounds.

(4) Nothing in this section shall apply to or render unlawful digging or excavation in, or under any land for or in the course of any agricultural or industrial operation nor shall a licence under this section operate to render lawful the doing of anything which would be unlawful if this section had not been passed.