// FOSSIL FINDER GUIDE

Chile

◆ No — fossils are protected heritage

Before you dig. This guide is general educational information, not legal advice. Fossil laws vary by country, state, and even by individual site — and they change. Always confirm the current rules with the relevant authority and the landowner before you collect anything. See our Terms for more.

THE SHORT VERSION

In Chile, fossils and the places they're found are protected National Monuments. You generally cannot collect or excavate them: any prospecting or digging needs prior authorization, and that's granted only to qualified paleontologists.

The legal landscape

Under Law No. 17,288, paleontological pieces and their sites are National Monuments, safeguarded by the Consejo de Monumentos Nacionales (CMN). Any paleontological prospecting or excavation — on public or private land — requires prior authorization from the CMN (Supreme Decree 484 of 1990), and permits are granted only to paleontologists who meet the Council's professional profile. Damaging heritage or excavating without authorization carries criminal penalties, including fines and possible imprisonment, and exporting fossils without permission is prohibited.

Golden rules

Treat any fossil you find as protected heritage — don't dig, remove, or buy/sell it.
Prospecting and excavation are for authorized paleontologists only.
Don't attempt to take fossils out of the country — export is restricted.
When in doubt, look but don't touch, and report it.

If you find something important

Think you've found a fossil? Don't extract it. Note and photograph the location and report it to the Consejo de Monumentos Nacionales — you may have found something scientifically important.

Official resources

// PALEODEX

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