One of the themes in my historical fiction novel Wolf Catcher, which was just rereleased by Next Chapter Publishing, is the problem of archaeological looting. Of course, this issue isn’t new. Humans have been rifling through ancient sites for thousands of years, mostly plundering burials for financial gain. But, before my reporting job took me to Arizona, I had little knowledge of the issue.
The state is vast, with a lasting history of the Native Americans who have populated this land for thousands of years. In the late 1800s grave robbing, especially in the western U.S., became the norm. The idea that the Native American culture was dying gave looters the ridiculous idea that stealing pottery, jewelry, and other funerary objects was perfectly fine, so the wonton destruction of ancient sites—looters have been known to employee backhoes and other large equipment to rip through pueblo dwellings and burials—is sadly common in the American Southwest.
While archaeological looting today is a crime, the law is very hard to enforce. Here I will let some of the characters in Wolf Catcher explain.
“How can this happen?” Kate asked.
Cooper placed his arm around her shoulders, all the levity and earnest excitement that had permeated their time at the site having evaporated into the chilled air. A thick bank of dark clouds blocked out the sun. “I have an idea that the problem of catching pothunters has to do with manpower, am I right?”
George spoke as he scanned the ground for evidence of looting. “Manpower is a great deal of the problem. First, the question is who is responsible for a specific site? A ruin could be on land controlled by National Park officers, Bureau of Land Management investigators, tribal authorities, U.S. Forest Service rangers, Bureau of Indian Affairs agents, or state investigators.”
“It sounds to me like you have too many people involved, not too few,” Kate said as she too searched the ground for clues.
“Consider this,” George said. “The BIA, which watches over about five hundred seventy tribes nationwide, currently has just one investigator assigned to looting. Here in Arizona, just two investigators cover looting on trust lands. That area covers nine million acres. BLM officers cover more than a million acres each.”
“The other problem is the sheer number of ruins,” Rebecca explained. “In Arizona, we have catalogued more than a hundred thousand sites, but most of them haven’t been inventoried, so we don’t even know what’s in them. How, then, can we know what’s missing?”
So manpower and vast areas of rugged wilderness make catching looters difficult. But prosecuting them is even more of a problem. The way the laws are written, those caught looting can play dumb and act as if they had no idea they were breaking the law. Often, they get off with little more than a warning.
Not only do we need to install harsher penalties for archaeological looting, we need to change the way we think about it. Looting is a crime against all of us, because once you’ve removed an artifact from its resting place, you’ve destroyed its sense of time and place. Our ability to understand its historical significance is then lost forever.
What can we do? Be very careful when you consider acquiring an ancient object. Even if it comes from a tony Scottsdale shop, ask about its provenance: Where and when was it harvested and by whom? And, when you’re out hiking, stop and think about picking up that pretty pottery shard or arrowhead. It’s best to admire the object then walk away.
Wolf Catcher
Anne Montgomery
Historical Fiction
Released August 4, 2025
The past and present collide when a tenacious reporter seeks information on an eleventh century magician…and uncovers more than she bargained for.
In 1939, archaeologists uncovered a 900-year-old tomb at the Northern Arizona site called Ridge Ruin. The man, bedecked in fine turquoise jewelry and intricate bead work, was surrounded by hundreds of extraordinary funerary objects, including wooden swords with handles carved into animal hooves and human hands. The Hopi workers stepped back from the grave, knowing what the Moochiwimi sticks meant. This man was a magician.
Sixty-five years later, investigative reporter Kate Butler discovers evidence that The Magician looked notably different from those who buried him. Her quest to discover The Magician’s origin carries her back to a time when the high desert world was shattered by the birth of a volcano and into the present-day dangers of archaeological looting where black market sales of antiquities can lead to murder.
Bookstores, libraries, and other booksellers can order copies directly from the Ingram Catalog.
Praise for Wolf Catcher
“Blending archaeology and Native American mythology, “Wolf Catcher” by novelist Anne Montgomery is an original, exceptionally well written, and compelling work of historical fiction…” – Midwest Book Review
“The author’s ability to interweave the past and the present was masterful. The characters were complex and interesting, especially with the underlying theme of rethinking the history of worldly human migration … A real page turner and I am wondering when the movie is going to be made!” – Alicia Williams Goodreads
“The story is very well-paced, reaching a page-turning, action-packed climax to the end. This story has all the elements of a great suspense drama centered around a historical mystery.” – Heidi Slowinski Author
“I was deeply and thoroughly embroiled in this imaginative novel… (that) melds seamlessly much of fact with fiction. Totally recommended! “ – V. Williams Vine Voice
“What a journey! What a story! A truly epic tale that grabs you by a throat and moves your soul. Highly recommend for the readers of all age groups.” – Marina Sardarova Author
“Boy, didn’t this one grip me quickly and keep me glued to the pages! Loved the cliff-hanging chapter endings. Well researched, well-plotted and paced…Trust me, you’ll love it. Totally recommended and out now!” – Rosepoint Publishing
“Once again the author has created a beautiful story with a powerful message. She took a piece of history and brought it to life. I just can’t say enough good things about Wolf Catcher.” – Megan Salcido Wildwood Reads
Anne Montgomery’s novels can be found wherever books are sold.
Author Anne Montgomery 