Tulsa World: Feds gather vast collection of Colorado artifacts dealer

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Feds gather vast collection of Colorado artifacts dealer

By PAUL FOY Associated Press Writer
Published: 8/19/2009 10:46 AM
Last Modified: 8/19/2009 10:46 AM

SALT LAKE CITY — A major Southwest dealer is surrendering a vast personal collection of ancient artifacts in another break in the federal investigation of looting and grave-robbing in the Four Corners region.

More than 20 government agents, archaeologists and curators descended early Wednesday on a home in Durango, Colo., to haul away a lifetime collection from 74-year-old Carl "Vern" Crites and his wife.

The Bureau of Land Management says the couple is voluntarily turning over its entire collection, which one agent described as staggering. It will take at least two moving vans to load boxes of items. Court papers say the items include ancient Anasazi prayer sticks, ivory beads and a ceremonial war club.

Crites was indicted on charges of trafficking, theft and grave desecration. By PAUL FOY Associated Press Writer

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	Report Comment Ric, Broken Arrow (8/19/2009 11:33:58 AM) Wow, I collect artifacts... I wonder what the Feds will do with these? Probably never hear about the items or what happened to them ever again.
	Report Comment jess, (8/19/2009 11:41:57 AM) Just plain old grave robbers.
	Report Comment Pastor Reginald Levi Walker, Not in Tulsa but will return soon. (8/19/2009 3:26:49 PM) This what I mean about the insensitivity of some Americans. How would we feel when after America is conquered, someone from the conquering nation raided our love ones grave at one of the many cemeteries in Tulsa then displayed and/or sold the items for profit. However, we treat the dead of other ancient civilization with great disrespect. Taking artifacts like burial clothing, prayer sticks, bones and skulls, or anything taken from a tomb or burial site are plain wrong.
	Report Comment oldrustytulsa, Tulsa (8/19/2009 3:47:02 PM) Ah shucks, the feds will just all them old bones and stuff in Warehouse 13, along with all the other stuff they got.
	Report Comment Arbythree, Tulsa (8/19/2009 3:52:52 PM) Amazing article. I bet that there are more artifacts out there.
	Report Comment Pastor Rich, Tulsa (8/19/2009 5:03:44 PM) Pastor Reginald Levi Walker, I could care less after I'm dead whether someone goes through my stuff. After all I'M DEAD!!! I can't take it with me into the next life anyway! It's just stuff that will be consumed and burned-up when God judges this world, so why make false idols out of things made with human hands?
	Report Comment not your friend 2,,,, missy, no thanks (8/19/2009 11:48:29 PM) lets get the facts straight on this art stuff ok.They dug the dead......ghouloshes tonite on this here page.

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