Oregon Revised Statutes Chapter 358 § 358.905 — Definitions for ORS 358.905 to 358.961; interpretation
Oregon Revised Statutes Chapter 358 ·
Oregon Code § 358.905·Enacted ·Last updated March 01, 2026
Statute Text
Definitions for ORS 358.905 to 358.961; interpretation.
(1) As used in ORS 192.005,
192.338, 192.345, 192.355, 358.905 to 358.961 and 390.235:
(a) Archaeological
object means an object that:
(A) Is at least
75 years old;
(B) Is part of
the physical record of an indigenous or other culture found in the state or waters
of the state; and
(C) Is material
remains of past human life or activity that are of archaeological significance
including, but not limited to, monuments, symbols, tools, facilities,
technological by-products and dietary by-products.
(b) Site of
archaeological significance means:
(A) Any
archaeological site on, or eligible for inclusion on, the National Register of
Historic Places as determined in writing by the State Historic Preservation
Officer; or
(B) Any
archaeological site that has been determined significant in writing by an
Indian tribe.
(c)(A) Archaeological
site means a geographic locality in Oregon, including but not limited to
submerged and submersible lands and the bed of the sea within the states
jurisdiction, that contains archaeological objects and the contextual
associations of the archaeological objects with:
(i) Each other;
or
(ii) Biotic or
geological remains or deposits.
(B) Examples of
archaeological sites described in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph include
but are not limited to shipwrecks, lithic quarries, house pit villages, camps,
burials, lithic scatters, homesteads and townsites.
(d) Indian tribe
has the meaning given that term in ORS 97.740.
(e) Burial
means any natural or prepared physical location whether originally below, on or
above the surface of the earth, into which, as a part of a death rite or death
ceremony of a culture, human remains were deposited.
(f) Funerary
objects means any artifacts or objects that, as part of a death rite or
ceremony of a culture, are reasonably believed to have been placed with
individual human remains either at the time of death or later.
(g) Human
remains means the physical remains of a human body, including, but not limited
to, bones, teeth, hair, ashes or mummified or otherwise preserved soft tissues
of an individual.
(h) Object of
cultural patrimony:
(A) Means an
object having ongoing historical, traditional or cultural importance central to
the native Indian group or culture itself, rather than property owned by an
individual native Indian, and which, therefore, cannot be alienated,
appropriated or conveyed by an individual regardless of whether or not the
individual is a member of the Indian tribe. The object shall have been
considered inalienable by the native Indian group at the time the object was
separated from such group.
(B) Does not mean
unassociated arrowheads, baskets or stone tools or portions of arrowheads,
baskets or stone tools.
(i) Police
officer has the meaning given that term in ORS 181A.355.
(j) Public lands
means any lands owned by the State of Oregon, a city, county, district or
municipal or public corporation in Oregon.
(k) Sacred
object means an archaeological object or other object that:
(A) Is
demonstrably revered by any ethnic group, religious group or Indian tribe as
holy;
(B) Is used in
connection with the religious or spiritual service or worship of a deity or
spirit power; or
(C) Was or is
needed by traditional native Indian religious leaders for the practice of
traditional native Indian religion.
(L) State police
has the meaning given that term in ORS 181A.010.
(2) The terms set
forth in subsection (1)(e), (f), (g), (h) and (k) of this section shall be
interpreted in the same manner as similar terms interpreted pursuant to 25
U.S.C. 3001 et seq. [1983 c.620 §1; 1993 c.459 §1; 1995 c.588 §1]
Plain English Explanation
This Oregon statute addresses Definitions for ORS 358.905 to 358.961; interpretation. AI-powered analysis coming soon.
Key Points
01Part of Oregon statutory law
02Referenced as Oregon Code § 358.905
03Subject to legislative amendments
04Consult a licensed attorney for application to specific cases
Frequently Asked Questions
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