Dwarfs remove and "drop" any non-tradeable good from a container before bringing it to the depot. Non-tradeable goods include artefacts, wild animals and hostile prisoners. The item will be dumped on the ground. Move quickly, or some helpful hauler will re-bin it.
If you don't want to wait for the next caravan, you can simply make a finished goods stockpile anywhere that accepts artefact quality goods (preferably only such goods, so it doesn't get swamped with x<troll fur loincloth>x) and forbid artefact quality in the stockpile you want the item removed from. Dwarfs will even take items out of bins to store them in a non-bin stockpile if item permissions force the item out of the old and into the new pile. I just re-checked this in .40.16, it still works flawlessly.
Stockpile "s"ettings are a great tool to configure and re-configure your piles.
I wasn't aware about the first part...that is good to know.
The second part isn't working for me.
I have one Bin in my entire fortress. yes, one single bin. It has five artifact weapons in it.
the bin is sitting atop a 1x1 weapons stockpile, set to allow one bin.
the weapon stockpile settings are set to allow only exceptional quality weapons for both Core and Total Quality (so, no artifacts should be allowed in this stockpile).
I have several stockpiles set to allow only Artifact Quality Weapons and set to take from Anywhere, and set for No Bins.
The weapons are still sitting in the Bin, untouched, and have been for about 10 minutes.
Thoughts?