Which item is NOT a legally binding imperative for safeguarding cultural property?

• A. Archaeological Resources Protection Act
• B. Posse Comitatus
• C. National Historic Preservation Act
• D. UNESCO Convention on Illicit Traffic in Cultural Property

Answer: (B)

Safeguarding cultural property relies on laws and treaties that create concrete duties to protect artifacts and historic sites. The Archaeological Resources Protection Act is a federal law that prohibits unauthorized digging or removal of archaeological resources on public and Native American lands, with penalties for violations. The National Historic Preservation Act requires federal agencies to consider the effects of their projects on historic properties and to involve appropriate stakeholders in preservation planning. The UNESCO Convention on Illicit Traffic in Cultural Property is an international treaty that binds ratifying states to combat looting and illicit trade in cultural property and to take steps to recover stolen objects.

Posse Comitatus, in contrast, governs the use of federal military personnel in domestic law enforcement and does not establish obligations or procedures for protecting cultural property. It isn’t a mechanism aimed at safeguarding artifacts or sites, which is why it is not a legally binding imperative for this purpose.