Power of State Government to notify areas as protected

(1) If the State Government are of opinion that excavation for archaeological purposes in any area should be restricted and regulated in the interests of archaeological research, the State Government may, by notification specifying the boundaries of the area, declare it to be a protected area. (2) From the date of such notification all objects of archaeological, historical or artistic interest buried in the protected area shall be the property of the Government and shall be deemed to be in the possession of the Government and shall remain the property and in the possession of the Government until ownership thereof is transferred; but in all other respects, the right of any owner or occupier of land in such areas shall not be affected.