Cultural Heritage

@kirispupis provided a link (to LeFigaro.fr)
which lead to other links by clicking on its tag "treasure."
https://plus.lefigaro.fr/tag/tresor?page=1
A couple of reports of French finds mention splitting the value between the finder and the property owner.

Here are some links to reported finds:

(Report of October, 2021) 53 late Roman gold coins found in the Mediterranean off Spain:
https://www.lefigaro.fr/culture/la-...iterranee-par-des-plongeurs-amateurs-20211002

(Report of Sept. 2021, google translations) An old house restoration yields "It is a real treasure, made up of 239 gold coins, struck during the reigns of Louis XIII and Louis XIV, "
https://www.lefigaro.fr/flash-eco/u...ecouvert-dans-un-manoir-du-finistere-20210902
"This treasure "is considered to be the fruit of savings, no doubt from a wealthy trader or a farmer" , explains the expert who will put the pieces on sale on September 29. The proceeds from the sale, estimated at between 250,000 and 300,000 euros, will be split in half, half for the three craftsmen who discovered the treasure, half for the owners, according to the law in force until July 2016. Since then, according to a new law, the archaeological heritage belongs 100% to the State [my emphasis] But, in this case, it is the date of purchase of the manor, in 2012, which is authentic and not the date of the discovery." [I think there are some words in the google translation that are incorrect, such as "authentic".]

(Report of Sept. 21, again google translation) "Pre-Viking gold hoard discovered in Denmark"
https://www.lefigaro.fr/culture/un-tresor-d-or-pre-viking-decouvert-au-danemark-20210907
"Discovered by a duly authorized detectorist, 8 kilometers from the archaeological site classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the unexpected find consisted of 22 coins: a few coins, a bracelet and above all about fifteen gold bracteates."
I did not see any mention of potential compensation to the finder.

 

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I believe here is a link to the law mentioned. My reading of this is that the state doesn't necessarily keep perpetual ownership of the object. The object is initially the property of the state, but at some point (no later than 5 years) it must determine if the object is "de l'intérêt scientifique."

If that is the determination, then the state keeps the objects. Otherwise, it seems like it's returned. This determination may be challenged.