Question about treasure find

Usually most contries will allow the salvaging of a vessel as long as the primary country is awarded their fair share of the treasure. In this case, Spain is not willing to share any of it. This is wasn't make any sense. They do all the work and carry all the risk and they get nothing for thier work!!!!.

 

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I'm not entirely sure that Odyssey are the darlings of the salvage industry that they'd like to be known as. They know how to protect their sites up to a point and they did utilize their private jets to get a lot of salvaged material away from pirates and local government authorities before they caught on. Spain may be in the bully position but there's a lot of wealth here and everyone wants too much pie. The same old problems over loot persist.

 

And I suppose the various chieftains of the Mayans, the Toltecs, the Aztecs, and the Incas want their share too! And the mestizos, who get half the share of the Mayans, Toltecs, Aztecs, and Incas...

 

I hope their descendants get a fair share. What's left of them are living in poverty now.

 

Which brings up a question I have been pondering for some time -
These people that do metal detecting and post the beautiful pics on line of a one of a kind ring - If I owned that ring could I legally demand it back? Or it is fair game?

 

Right....just like the descendants of the people in power in Spain during that time...that country has seen no turmoil or upheaval since the ship sunk...unreal...it is a huge money grab and the pie was never big enough for any of the parties involved.

 

Do you honestly think they will? Most likely they wont.

My point was one could drill down ad infinitum in terms of provenance / "rightful" ownership.

 

We don't really have to look at other countries for current event info like this. I live in the 4 corners region and there is an artifacts case going on right now in Blanding, Ut. It now includes suicide, murder, espionage and artifact looting. Sadly, the Native Americans in the area will not see a dime of proceeds, and for the most part, they don't care. I'm not saying none of them care, but most of them are totally oblivious to the actual case and the feds trying to "scalp" them. (yes, I dig irony)

link...

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=106091937

Yes, it's npr, but this case is unreal, surreal and just flat out scary...many of the agents involved can't or don't even believe they are involved in this...they won't talk about it, other than to speak about disillusion and lack of job scope and direction....

Sorry if I went OT on you, but it really isn't that far OT.

 

I'm afraid you're right, everyone fights over the treasure and the only ones who see any real profit/benefit from this are the lawyers.

 

Governments spend all that time dropping millions bullying investors and treasure hunters of the High Seas and on private property, and at the end of the day, I'm sure all of those priceless artifacts are sitting right next to the Ark of the Covenant*, in some stadium-sized government warehouse somewhere...

(*cynical joke from Indiana Jones movie)

 

I edited my post and suggest you check it out, cheetahcats...

 

I think it's important that I clarify - I was referring to treasure found on the High Seas (as per the OP), and stuff found on private property whereby the owner possesses all property rights thereof.

 

If I was in the salvage business, I would try to make a standing % deal with local countries PRIOR to my efforts. TC

 

Actually, originally the company just filed their claim for the treasure--

and the US courts granted it to Spain, who had not even claimed it until then.


Idiots.

 

Why should Spain be entitled to any of it? After all, they stole it from the peoples of South and Central America in the first place.

The judge who ruled in favor of Spain should be removed from the bench.

Chris

 

agreed!

 

These kind of finds never get solved as there are always people from all nations wanting the profit while there are those who look at the historical value of the find. These to types usually blurr and the salvage teams and hunters are left in the hole. By the way did anyone read Coinworld this month? Way cool ancient hammered copper plate currency artical in their.

 

I believe it boils down to: finders keepers, losers weepers....

 

Couldn't agree with you more, Doug....that's why nobody has heard of my roll of 1916D Mercury Dimes that my grandma left me....whoops! I let that cat out of the bag! LOL!