§ 34-1-157 — Ownership of fossils and artifacts

Wyoming § 34-1-157

• Jurisdiction: Wyoming
• Title 34: Property, Conveyances and Security Transactions
• Ch. 1: GENERAL PROVISIONS
• Art. 1: IN GENERAL

Text

(a) The ownership of any fossil, artifact or non-
fossilized animal remains discovered in the strata below the
surface lands and waters of the state is vested in the owner of
the surface estate, unless otherwise governed by W.S. 7-4-106.
(b) When used in any instrument, the term "minerals" does
not include fossils, artifacts or non-fossilized animal remains.
(c) As used in this section:
(i) "Fossil" means any fossilized remains, traces or
imprints of organisms, preserved in or on the earth's crust,
that are of paleontological interest and that provide
information about the history of life on earth, but does not
include coal, oil, gas or other hydrocarbons;
(ii) "Artifact" means any material remains of past
human life or human activities that are of archaeological
interest.