The price of the past?

The Isle of Purbeck 3

Image by GLADMAN

ryaner Jan 22, 2008 10:29:15

"At that point, the landowner and finder will receive a reward to the sum of the market value of the hoard, believed to be about £80,000."

Quoted in the news item Rhiannon posted about the finding of 500 Bronze-age axe heads http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pag[...]p;in_page_id=1770&ito=1490

Question: £160 per axe-head – is that a fair price?
Question: Who decides the 'market-value' for these objects?

I was under the impression that when a hoard like this was found they're national treasures and that we all own them so there is no market value as such. I'm writing from Ireland and this may be case here (correct me if I'm wrong), so I find it bizarre that an individual can claim ownership of something of such importance. Do the landowner and finder have to hand them up? I guess that must be the case if they are to "claim their reward" but then where does the "market value" come in?

confused!

ryaner Jan 22, 2008 10:30:29

Replying to ryaner

Sorry about the ball-up with the link. It's the one at the top of the news items.

nigelswift Jan 22, 2008 10:53:54

Replying to ryaner

Hi ryaner, here's the complete link http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=509542&in_page_id=1770

As they are defined as treasure under the Treasure Act they do belong to the Crown but the Act allows payment of rewards (half to the landowner and half to the finder usually) - the museums have to raise the dosh and there's a Treasure Valuation Committee that decides how much (though the heroes can appeal, and frequently do, and invaribly moan they were robbed).

I'm with you I can't see why they need rewarding for complying with the law (i.e. reporting the find, not keeping it.) Surely they're all responsible and wouldn't break the law and try to sell Crown property on Ebay claiming it came from an old collection and therefore didn't need to be reported?

One pair got £750k reward last year. Detectorists are all moaning that PAS funding will be short by £50K next year. Doh!

moss Jan 22, 2008 10:55:21

Replying to ryaner

It falls under the Treasure Act of 1996 whereby you have to reveal your 'treasure', which I suppose relates to all metal objects. Valuation is set by a committee.
How do you value bronze axes? could be the current market of 'acquiring' heritage from the past, big question should these bronze age axes remain in this country and be brought by a museum, or should they go on the open market.
Who owns national treasures, no one, they are a 'common' inheritance to be passed on....

http://www.britarch.ac.uk/cba/potant15.html

nigelswift Jan 22, 2008 13:04:00

Replying to ryaner

It has been suggested to me that it's possible (and has been theorised) that hoards might not have been meant to be recovered and were offerings to Mother Earth or, in the case of grave goods, were for the use of the deceased in the next world.

So modern Pagans might have views on whether detectorists (or archaeologists on non-essential digs) should remove them? This would seem to be broadly consistent with people feeling ancient human remains ought to be left alone unless it is unavoidable. Seems pretty strange to respect a person's bones yet disrespect the symbols and tokens they took with them to their grave and to hoik them all out.

Anyone know anything written about this or anyone I could ask?

Vicster Jan 23, 2008 14:32:55

Replying to ryaner

ryaner wrote:

"
I was under the impression that when a hoard like this was found they're national treasures and that we all own them so there is no market value as such. I'm writing from Ireland and this may be case here (correct me if I'm wrong), so I find it bizarre that an individual can claim ownership of something of such importance. Do the landowner and finder have to hand them up? I guess that must be the case if they are to "claim their reward" but then where does the "market value" come in?

confused!

Hey there Andy

When I was in Mayo last August, my cousin John received a call from the Museum of Ireland informing him that he would receive a "substantial" payment for the BA bow which had been found on his farmland nr Ballina. As I understand it, they had requested to look on his land and had found the bow (amongst other finds) so I guess there is a system of payment in Ireland but I am not sure what would've happened had John stumbled upon it himself and then asked for a "reward" to relinquish "ownership"?

btw, am still trying to find out more about the bow - it was (allegedly) one of the finest ever found!