It is sometimes hard to not pick up the trash you see out on the trail. But after 50 years, our trash becomes protected by the antiquities act and part of the archeological heritage of our nation. It may be hard at first to recognize the archeological value of a beer can or plastic bag, especially when we consider that some of our trash becomes environmental pollutants, but it does place into perspective better the pottery shards, arrowheads and other trash our ancient ancestors left behind. Humans produce trash, and those humans who study humans and human history especially need to be able to look at the evidences our society leaves behind to understand not only where we have been, but where we are going.
So, before you pick up the trash, consider whether it is of archeological value.
