Earthworks Artifacts ONLINE Appraisals now available! (information 1/2 way down page)
If you have an artifact you would like authenticated, please contact us first by phone or e-mail so we know to expect your package. Cost of Authentication Service is $20.00 per artifact, plus return shipping cost (see below for current shipping and handling costs). Turnaround time is usually about 1 to 2 weeks depending on our workload. Appraisal Service is also available for a cost of $5.00 per item, if needed in writing. Earthworks Artifacts has provided Authentication services since 1999. We have over 40 years combined experience in examining artifacts and judging their authenticity. Our state of the art diagnostic equipment includes halogen lamp-lighted stereo binocular and digital microscopes, a "Mantis" boom-mounted viewer that offers a highly illuminated, extra-wide magnified field of view that is ideal for examining larger artifacts, and of course, Ultraviolet-LW/SW . Earthworks Artifacts was the first Authentication service to offer “virtually foolproof” certificates by combining so many security features onto a single certificate (see below). A numbered and recorded Certificate of Authenticity will be issued for each artifact submitted for review and deemed authentic. A written explanation of why we felt the artifact was not authentic will be provided for artifacts that do not pass our examination of authenticity.
Here's an example of our "standard" Certificate of Authenticity, measuring about 8-1/2" x 5". They fit nicely in a standard ring-binder "half-page" sleeve. The artifact is first photographed using our professional photography equipment. Then the photo along with the information are printed onto premium photographic paper. Next, we sign and stamp the certificate and finally we laminate over the entire certificate using heat-bonded crystal clear laminating sheets. All who see our certificates are impressed with thier quality and comment that ours are the best COA's they've seen. Duplicate copies of all Certificates of Authenticity are retained by us for future reference or in the event that an original is destroyed or damaged we can provide a new one for you. I wouldn't say that any COA made my anyone is completely "foolproof", but as you can see we've taken extra steps to make it very hard and time-consuming for ours to be counterfieted.
Return Shipping and Handling Charges for Artifacts sent for Authentication based on total value of Artifact(s) in package.
You must let us know what YOU determine the value of your item(s) to be or what level of shipping/insurance you desire. We ship one of two ways – USPS Priority Mail with delivery confirmation and insurance, or USPS Registered & Insured Mail with delivery confirmation; see your local US Post Office for further details on these two options. Below are our current standard shipping and handling rates based the on total value of Artifact(s) in package. Please include the amount shown below in addition to the standard Authentication Service fee(s):
$200 or less. $8.00 per package return shipping and handling via USPS Priority Mail with delivery confirmation and insured as requested.
$201-$500. $10.00 per package return shipping and handling via USPS Priority Mail with delivery confirmation and insured as requested.
$501-$1,000. $20.00 per package return shipping and handling via USPS Registered & Insured Mail with delivery confirmation and insured as requested.
$1,001-$5,000. $25.00 per package return shipping and handling via USPS Registered & Insured Mail with delivery confirmation and insured as requested.
$5,001-10,000. $35.00 per package return shipping and handling via USPS Registered & Insured Mail with delivery confirmation and insured as requested.
$Over 10,000. Call or e-mail for quote. Extremely valuable, multiple Artifacts may require shipping and insuring two or more packages separately.
***** EARTHWORKS ARTIFACTS ONLINE APPRAISALS NOW AVAILABLE! *****
Another first from Earthworks Artifacts! We now offer a simple, cost effective online artifact appraisal that does not require you to send your artifacts through the mail! Everything is done ONLINE!
Here's how it works. First, please contact us by e-mail to let us know what kind of artifact you have to be sure it falls within our area of expertise. Second, send payment of $7.50 through PayPal to us. Third, e-mail photos and information for the artifact (see details below). That's it! We then e-mail you your appraisal. Depending on our schedule and workload, turnaround time can vary from less than an hour to several days. Please be patient.
What is required from you:
PayPal payment of $7.50 per artifact.
Your name and mailing address.
Good, clear photos of both sides of the artifact, and an edge view. Up to (5) photos maximum, please, and sized no larger than 1500 pixels and no smaller than 500 pixels, maximum dimensions. I'm sorry but we cannot accept large, un-resized, un-compressed photos taken by today's high mega-pixel cameras due to limitations from our internet service provider.
Accurate measurements for maximum length, height, and width in inches. Just length by width is adequate for most chipped lithic artifacts.
Description and condition of artifact including the following: Material (if known), collection/owner history, where found and by whom (if known), any characteristics not readily apparent in photos such as translucency, restorations/repairs, broken & re-glued, etc. Even if you feel it's apparent in the photos please also mention it.
What you get from us:
When your ONLINE Appraisal is completed, we will e-mail it to you in the form of a printable JPG image. If you are unable to receive the JPG image then as a last resort we can mail it to you through the US Post Office; remember, we want to keep it simple to keep it cost effective for you.
Our ONLINE Artifact Appraisal form contains the following message: "VERY IMPORTANT: Please be aware that this ONLINE Artifact Appraisal was performed at the client's request using only the photographs and information provided by them. No actual "hands-on" evaluation of this artifact has been performed and no claims for or against the authenticity are made or implied by this document. The accuracy of value relies solely upon the information given by the client."
We give an estimate of value for your artifact as both authentic and as a reproduction. Questions and comments regarding authenticity are not addressed and will not be discussed with the ONLINE Artifact Appraisal; even if the artifact is reported to be authentic. Authentic artifact appraisals are only available through our regular mail-in Authentication Services for an additional fee.
Here's an example of our "standard" Certificate of Authenticity, measuring about 8-1/2" x 5". They fit nicely in a standard ring-binder "half-page" sleeve. The artifact is first photographed using our professional photography equipment. Then the photo along with the information are printed onto premium photographic paper. Next, we sign and stamp the certificate and finally we laminate over the entire certificate using heat-bonded crystal clear laminating sheets. All who see our certificates are impressed with thier quality and comment that ours are the best COA's they've seen. Duplicate copies of all Certificates of Authenticity are retained by us for future reference or in the event that an original is destroyed or damaged we can provide a new one for you. I wouldn't say that any COA made my anyone is completely "foolproof", but as you can see we've taken extra steps to make it very hard and time-consuming for ours to be counterfieted. 
