Treasure. What is the treasure of ships and treasure in the earth?

One of the most romantic activities is the search for historical artifacts. Everything found in the earth or a hiding place is usually called the familiar word "treasure." What is gold, silver and precious metals - everyone knows, but is this only considered a treasure? To begin with, let's look at the meaning of the concept.

The general meaning of the concept of "treasure"

What is a treasure in the broadest sense? These are valuable items hidden in any way. Their owner is unknown or has lost the right to them. However, this designation is everyday. There is another concept that relates to archeology.

The treasure (what does it mean in archeology, we will consider) has its own peculiarities:

• Occupies a significant territory;
• Consists of objects of the same period;
• It includes tools, utensils, weapons and everything that was created by a person of a specific archaeological culture.

Scientists-archeologists are interested in all the subjects of the historical layer they are studying. Those who are engaged in excavations for the sake of profit, are only interested in valuable exhibits. Most often these are products made of precious metals. Everything else is thrown back like garbage.

What does the law say?

Legislation of different countries relates to the found treasures in its own way. Most often, the owner of the find is the one to whom the land belongs, and the one who found it. In Russia, for example, the landowner and treasure hunter divide all equally. But if the object has artistic value, the state takes it to itself, and the landowner and seeker who finds it find half of the cost, which the expert will indicate.

In England, it is necessary to notify the find within 14 days so as not to bear criminal responsibility afterwards. Experts are studying the treasure, and according to their conclusions, the state pays the landowner and treasure hunter a monetary compensation in full or returns the find to the one who found it.

In many US states, a treasure of more than 100 years, found on the land of the state, is considered an archaeological value. It belongs to the authorities of the state where it was discovered.

In the world of the found treasures, there are different stories. The treasure in them, as a rule, represents either material or artistic value. The presence of these finds is not always a confirmed fact.

Archaeological treasures

The bulk of the treasure was discovered in the XIX-XX centuries. European archaeologists have explored the territories of ancient civilizations in Egypt, India, South America.

The most impressive treasure (what is - we already know) was found in 2011 in India. It is assumed that he belonged to the rulers of Travancore, who for thousands of years had been storing jewelry in the temple. The find is estimated at 20 billion US dollars.

Another not less impressive is the treasure of the tomb of Tutankhamun. The entrance to it was discovered in 1922, but only one year later it was possible to enter. The finds were intact. They consisted of works of art, precious jewelry, a sarcophagus of pure gold, in which was the body of the pharaoh, and much more. Today, the entrance to the tomb is closed to tourists due to changes in the outer layer of its walls.

"Treasures of Priam" is a classic treasure in the land. They were discovered by Henry Schliemann in 1873 during the excavation of the legendary Troy, but the find does not belong to this period, it existed a thousand years before it. Today the so-called treasure of Troy is located in Moscow (Pushkin Museum).

Treasures of sunken ships

Besides sushi, a lot of treasure is on the bottom of the seas and oceans. With the spread of shipbuilding, people began to transport precious cargo along the water. Some of them drowned in due time due to storms, sabotage on board or capture by pirates, which also represent a treasure.

The ships that sank are still great on the seabed. It is much more difficult to find them, because the current constantly displaces them from the crash sites. Complicating the task and the cost of the expedition along the seabed.

Nevertheless, the following ships with treasures on board were found:

• The Spanish frigate, sunk in 1804. His discovery by the American company is considered the most valuable in history among the underwater treasures. On board in 2007, tons of gold and silver were found with Spanish coins. The cargo had to be returned to the Spanish government in 2012.
• Treasures of the galleon "Atocha" (Spain), which were discovered in 1985 by Mel Fischer. Hundreds of gold and more than a thousand silver ingots, ornaments, weapons of the 17th century were found.
• The load of the Russian galliota "Saint Michael" was found in 1961 on the territory of Finland. On the ship were products made of precious metals and stones that were destined for Elizabeth Petrovna: a collection of gold snuffboxes, a collection of gold and silver watches, Meissen porcelain, a carved gilded carriage. Today all this is in Finland.