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THE ANCIENT MONUMENTS PRESERVATION ACT, THE ANCIENT MONUMENTS PRESERVATION ACT, 1904. ACT No. VII of 1904 [18th March, 1904] An Act to provide for the preservation of Ancient Monuments and objects of archaeological, historical or artistic interest. WHEREAS it is expedient to provide for the preservation of ancient monuments, for the exercise of control over traffic in antiquities and over excavation in certain places, and for the pro tection and acquisition in certain cases of ancient monuments and of objects of archaeological, historical or artistic interest ANCIENT MONUMENTS 4. Acquisition of rights in or guardianship of an ancient monument.---‑(1) The (Subs. by the Ancient Monuments Preservation (Amdt.) Act, 1950 (84 of 1950), s. 4, for "Collector".)[Director], with the sanction of the (Subs. by A. O., 1937, for "L. G.".)[Central Government], may purchase or take a lease of any protected monument. (2) The (Subs. by the Ancient Monuments Preservation (Amdt.) Act, 1950 (84 of 1950), s. 4, for "Collector".)[Director], with the like sanction, may accept a gift or bequest of any protected monument. (3) The owner of any protected monument may, by written instrument, constitute the (Subs. ibid., for "Commissioner".)[Director] the guardian of the monu ment, and the (Subs. ibid., for "Commissioner".)[Director] may, with the sanction of the (Subs. by A. O., 1937, for "L. G.".)[Central Government], accept such guardianship. (4) When the (Subs. ibid., for "Commissioner".)[Director] has accepted the guardianship of a monument under sub‑section (3), the owner shall, except as expressly provided in this Act, have the same estate, right, title and interest in and to the monument as if the 3[Director] had not been constituted guardian thereof. (5) When the (Subs. ibid., for "Commissioner".)[Director] has accepted the guardianship of a monument under sub‑section (3), the provisions of this Act relating to agreements executed under section 5 shall apply to the written instrument executed under the said sub‑section. (6) Where a protected monument is without an owner, the (Subs. ibid., for "Commissioner".)[Director] may assume the guardianship of the monument.