I posted this in Galba 68's brick thread but since it is an interesting little story I thought I'd repeat it...it touches on the issue of what is legal and what isn't I've got a couple of pot sherds and an amulet from Hermopolis Magna (Egypt). They came from near the temple of Thoth. This was a site with very long habitation from pre-Pharaonic through Ptolemaic and Roman periods. The town is now called El-Ashmunein and it is on the west bank of the Nile. Across the river and 2km to the north is the site of the ill-fated city Antinopolis, named after Hadrian's favorite. The guard insisted I take them as a gift after he walked me around the site, and after I had paid him 100 Egyptian pounds as baksheesh. Since he was carrying around an AK-47 I thought that it was a good idea to do what he said. I also sat down for awhile near the temple gateway and smoked a shisha (water pipe) with two policemen. It's an area that's off the beaten path for tourism, so they don't get too many visitors. There also were some very nice Greek inscriptions remaining near the center of the old city, carved in stone, and piles of mud-brick everywhere. The ancients wrote that the city had five and six story buildings back in early Roman times. I thought of going to the ruins of Antinopolis but it is mostly off limits to visitors since the locals believe it to be haunted by evil jinn. Photo to be posted later on...when I get home.
we, guys who doing metal detecting in europe, most of us, think of terminology "roman site" as a place, field, OUT of state protected areas, like archaeological excavations sites, ancient roman villas, towns, heritage sites, etc etc , where you can find roman coins or artefacts..it is misunderstood, when l said 'he find on roman site" that is means he find on protected areas..
Oooh. I would not post this publicly, though it would depend on when this story transpired. While the laws are complex, its pretty certain that if even slightly recent you may leave yourself open to legal issues.
OK. It was years ago, actually. And there was no intention of re-selling the items, which were more or less a gift, though you make a good point. The story is merely illustrative of experiences that can happen when you get off the beaten path of the tourism industry and find yourself in communities that are seldom visited. On that particular trip I spent four months in Egypt, crisscrossing the country and visiting various remote places. I've got lots of stories to tell, but this was one of the more unique ones.
Well, we have to be careful in this day and age. In many cases laws have changed, and one could find themselves in a bit of trouble. In my collection I have a few items: Hadrians Wall. A small chunk, taken from the wall, small but from between the larger stones. Collected in the 1980's. Great Wall of China. Another small piece, 1990's, a friend of mine was nearly arrested for getting it for me, but ultimately it was OK. Berlin Wall. Well, we all know there isn't any issue now, I assume there are still many thousands of pieces out there. But, what laws will be passed in the future? I have no documentation for any of it.
Pot Sherds...........what comes to mind is Shepard's Pie. Don't ask me why (perhaps I'm hungry?). Carry on, fellows........
