""When the men found the treasure, they didn’t notify the farmer who owned the field or the authorities, ""
Metal detecting 101
E, they should have asked before going hunting. If they notified after then the finds would be the property of the farmer. Im guessing 'because the treasure was seized' its worth or itself wouldnt be returned to the lawfull owner, the farmer.
England has a pretty interesting system for this. You get cash, they keep the artifacts. That way people don't melt down priceless treasure. Not sure I agree with it, but that's why these guys are being sent to jail. They tried to keep the find for themselves. Because you know.... They found it and it was probably on their land.
[–] AnotherGrayman ago (edited ago)
This is why colonists fought a revolution.
If you find something deep in the ground that's been lost so long everyone who knew about it has died, and then people kidnap you and lock you in a cell because you didn't give your find away to them, you are a slave.
[–] WhiteWolfSS ago
Every metal detectorist knows the law in England. Sounds like the guys tried to Jew the owner of the land, which to me is worse than them trying to fuck over the government.
10 years is too harsh though. A fine and being forced to share the appropriate amount with the land owner would have been plenty fair.
[–] Adarcer ago
“The treasure belongs to the nation,” not exactly true judge.
The treasure belongs to my ancestors therefore it belongs to Normans
I am not surprised you're trying to take money from people who may have genetic ties to the money
so you can use it to pay for your failing policies