TCA § 11-6-104 — Excavated artifacts — Property of state — Availability and care

All artifacts and other materials excavated, discovered, donated, or otherwise acquired by the division of archaeology acquired in pursuance of this program shall be the property of the state of Tennessee and be placed under the custodianship of the division of archaeology. The state archaeologist has primary responsibility to assure that the material is properly and adequately safeguarded and available at all reasonable times to interested scientists and to the public insofar as funds and good scientific practices permit. The state archaeologist may, whenever it is consistent with good scientific practices and in the furtherance of the aims and purposes of the division, approve and permit the loan of such objects and materials to nonprofit scientific organizations, public agencies, museums, and institutions of higher learning both within and without Tennessee for purposes of research or public education. There shall be no public exhibition or display of Native American Indian human remains held by the division.