Rhode Island General Laws Title 42. State Affairs and Government § 42-45.1-4. Property and investigative rights of state

(a) The state of Rhode Island  1 to itself the exclusive right and privilege of field investigation on sites owned or controlled by the state, its agencies, departments, or institutions, in order to protect and preserve archaeological and scientific information, matter, and objects. All the information and objects derived from state lands shall remain the property of the state and be utilized for scientific or public educational purposes.

(b) Furthermore, subject to any local, state, or federal statute, the title to all bottoms of navigable waters within the state's jurisdiction in the territorial sea, and the title to any underwater historic properties lying on or under the bottoms of any other navigable waters of the state, is hereby declared to be in the state, and the bottoms and underwater historic properties shall be subject to the exclusive dominion and control of the state.