Article 1:
This Law shall be called the Law of Antiquities No. 21 for the year 1988 as amended by Law No. 23 for the year 2004 and shall be put into effect as of the date it is promulgated in the Official Gazette.
Article 2:
The following words and terms set out in this law shall have the meanings assigned to them below unless the context denotes otherwise.
1- The Minister:The Minister of Tourism and Antiquities.
2- The Department: The General Department of Antiquities.
3- The Director: The Director General of Antiquities.
4- The Council of Trustees: The Council of Trustees of the National Museum.
5- Chairman of the Council of Trustees: The Chairman of the Council of Trustees.
6- The Director of the Museum: The Director of the National Museum.
7-Antiquities:
a-Any movable or immovable object which was made, written, inscribed, built, discovered or modified by a human being before the year AD 1750 including caves, sculpture, coins, pottery, manuscripts and other kinds of manufactured products which indicate the beginning and development of science, arts,
handicrafts, religions, traditions of previous civilizations, or any part added to that thing or rebuilt after that date.
b- Any movable or immovable object as provided for in Clause "a" of this definition which dates back after AD 1750 and which the Minister requests to be considered an antiquity by a decision published in the Official Gazette.
c- Human, animal and plant remains which date back before AD 600.
8- Antique site:
a- Any area in the Kingdom that was considered as historic site under former laws.
b- Any other area that the Minister decides that it contains any antiquities or that is related to important historical events, provided that his decision shall be announced in the Official Gazette.
9- Immovable antiquities: These are fixed antiquities that are connected to the ground whether built on it or existing underground including antiquities underwater, and those in territorial waters.
10- Movable antiquities: These are antiquities separated from the ground or from immovable antiquities whose place can be changed without causing destruction to them, to the antiquities connected thereto, or to the place where they were found.
11- Searching for antiquities: To carry out the activities of excavation, probing and inquiry aimed at finding movable or immovable antiquities. However, the discovery and finding of antiquities by chance shall not be considered as searching.
12- Trader: Any person or entity that carries on trading in antiquities.
13- Season: It is a period of the year during which searching is stipulated to be performed continuously
pursuant to the provisions of this Law.
14- Antiquities Protectorate: An area of land that contains archaeological remains or human or natural remains that have been designated and announced by a decision of the Cabinet. This decision is based on the recommendation of the Minister supported by a recommendation by the Director General.
These include the terms and conditions necessary for the preservation of things present therein.
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Article 9:
It is prohibited to destroy, ruin, disfigure or cause damage to antiquities including the change of their features, the separation of any part thereof, transformation thereof, affixing of notices thereon or displaying of signs on them.
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Article 14:
Despite the provisions of any other law, no person or entity will be allowed to carry out any excavations in antique sites in search of gold or other hidden treasures.
