Disgraceful moment couple caught stealing archaeological artifacts from 1800s cowboy camp in Utah

National park rangers are searching for two suspects filmed ransacking a more than 200-year-old cowboy camp.

The incident took place at Utah's Canyonlands National Park on March 23 and constitutes 'archaeological theft,' according to the presiding park service.

Trail cameras captured the male and female suspects in the act, with the man seen guzzling beer in the closed-off portion of the park before making off some unspecified artifacts from a cabinet.

Once a place for cattlemen to take a load off, the site dates back the late 1800s, and the contains a great deal of material abandoned when the site became disused.

The man and his female accomplice - who was photographed laughing after entering the 'signed-as-closed area' - stole several of these artifacts, park rangers said in a statement, in which they pleaded with the public for help identifying the thieves.

National park rangers are searching for these two suspects, who were allegedly filmed ransacking a more than 200-year-old cowboy camp less than two months ago

The incident took place at Utah's Canyonlands National Park on March 23 and constitutes 'archaeological theft', according to the presiding National Park Service

'Law enforcement park rangers at Canyonlands National Park are seeking information from the public to help identify suspects involved in an archeological theft incident at Cave Spring Cowboy Camp in the Needles district of the park,' the Wednesday bulletin began. 

'In a video recorded at the archeological site, the individuals entered a signed-as-closed area, removed artifacts from a cabinet, and handled historic harnesses in a manner that had potential to damage them,' it went on.

'Information from visitors is very helpful to investigators. Law enforcement park rangers are asking the public for help. 

'If you were in the area of Cave Spring Cowboy Camp at approximately 5:30 pm on March 23 or if you have information that could help identify the suspects, please contact investigators. Tips can be anonymous.'

The official news release contained stills of the suspects from the surveillance video. 

They show the pair exploring the old line camp site once operated by the Scorup-Sommerville Cattle Company in sunglasses and vacation-wear, with the man holding a beer.

At some point during the visit, they removed the unspecified artifacts objects from the cordoned off area, rifling through cabinets stationed for decades along the cave-like shelter's walls.

Trail cameras captured the male and female suspects in the act, with the man seen guzzling beer in the closed-off portion of the park before making off some unspecified artifacts from a cabinet

Stills of the video show the pair exploring the old line camp site once operated by the Scorup-Sommerville Cattle Company in sunglasses and vacation-wear, with the woman seen here reclining. Neither have been identified

Photos show the artifacts, consisting of tin cans and other kitchen appliances used by cowboys before the turn of the century, as well as a plethora of picnic tables, benches and even drawings etched into the surrounding rocks.

As of writing, it remains unclear whether any of the historic artifacts left behind were actually damaged, and officials did not specify exactly how many objects were stolen.

Descendants of the cattlemen who frequented the site, moreover, still live in the region, the park service wrote on its website - adding that they 'consider the spring a sacred place. 

'Help protect our heritage by not entering the spring,' the web page warns.

'Do not touch or mark the rock markings. It is a violation of federal law to deface pictographs.'

The more recent statement suggests the suspects did not deface these decades-old drawings, but could still be charged federally for the other offenses.

Once a place for cattlemen to relax, the site dates back the late 1800s and still contains a great deal of objects and furniture abandoned when the site went into disuse

The man and his female accomplice - who was photographed laughing after entering the 'signed-as-closed area' - stole several of these artifacts, park rangers said in a statement

Descendants of the cattlemen who frequented the site, moreover, still live in the region, the park service wrote on its website - adding that they 'consider the spring a sacred place'

The park added in a particularly strongly worded follow-up, 'National parks are some of the most special, treasured, and protected areas of our country.' 

'To protect their natural and cultural resources for this and future generations, all visitors to national parks are expected to follow park laws and regulations and practice "Leave No Trace" principles to minimize their impact on park lands.'

As of Thursday, their investigation was still ongoing.