No I was just reading a story last week about some Irish cats that found a 3.5mil treasure, and they got caught shopping it around. They put them in prison. Based on this article, they stood to get a single digit % of its value eventually had they handed it over to the king's men as required.
UK actually has a great scheme for treasure finders and has worked out very well. Gold and silver must be reported. Other stuff, not required but encouraged.
But, if the items are deemed of cultural or historical importance, museums wil receive the artifacts. And the government is required to pay the value of the found “treasure” to the finder and the landowner, split 50-50. Funds come from the national lottery.
If the items are not “of interest” they are returned and can be sold or whatever.
The guy who found the Staffordshire Hoards and the landowner each got millions of pounds paid to them. And the priceless dark age treasures were restored and are in a museum (I visited it… it is magnificent).
But if you are “night hawking”’as illegal metal detectoring and stealing stuff is called… yeah, you can get in some serious trouble.
Sadly in the U.S. a lot of important historical context is lost as battlefield and other items are picked up for profit and collections.
I’m all for people looking for artifacts and relics. But a lot of times, once the object is removed from its “context” (the battlefield or place it was found) then the history is lost.
Metal detectorists and historians should work together on this stuff. But too many pompous historians regard metal detecting as a bunch of heathens. And the detecting community doesn’t want historians or “gummint”’types annoying them and telling what they can and can’t do.
The UK model Actually works well. But they have put a lot more thought into preserving a long, long history AND they have funded it very generously. Which matters! Because if you make a discovery, you will get compensated. Often with a lot more $$$ than you would get flogging the item on eBay.
I am sure Eastern Europe, however, just says “we’ll take that” and the folks who find it are SOL. Which is wrong… but typical of authoritarian types.
That “chest” is valuable history. And they were right to report it and try and find out more about it. But they should be paid handsomely! Or the next person will melt it down or sell it on the black market… and everyone loses.
What can I say… I’m a historian! But academic historians don’t get their hands dirty or tromp in the woods when they should!!! And they expect “discoveries” to be handed to them so “they” can get the funding to study it and write papers no one reads.
Metal detector folks are at the front lines of history. Academicians should recognize (especially financially)nand work with them… not discourage the folks who are doing the hard work!
Sirhr
