What would you do?

slowburner

.........if you were digging in your garden (or someone else's) and you found a horde of golden artifacts?
Would you contact 'Cash for Gold.com' or the National museum?

DeepSleeper

Nearly 24hrs gone without reply.... OK, I'll bite!

I'd be on the phone to the National Museum of Ireland quicker than you can say 'How much is that worth?' !!!

Why? Well, (short answer) because it would be illegal not to call them... but more importantly, (longer answer) because the gold wouldn't really be mine or wouldn't belong to the owner of the land either - it would belong to the people of Ireland and I firmly believe that the best place for an archaeological horde is the National Musuem where it can be cared for, examined, and kept safe for everybody (including future generations...) - archaeological artefacts are part of our heritage and I wouldn't rest until the NMI were on site to see what had turned up.

Not everyone would agree, but at least I have the law on my side:pac::pac::pac:

slowburner

DeepSleeper wrote: »

Nearly 24hrs gone without reply.... OK, I'll bite!

I'd be on the phone to the National Museum of Ireland quicker than you can say 'How much is that worth?' !!!

Why? Well, (short answer) because it would be illegal not to call them... but more importantly, (longer answer) because the gold wouldn't really be mine or wouldn't belong to the owner of the land either - it would belong to the people of Ireland and I firmly believe that the best place for an archaeological horde is the National Musuem where it can be cared for, examined, and kept safe for everybody (including future generations...) - archaeological artefacts are part of our heritage and I wouldn't rest until the NMI were on site to see what had turned up.

Not everyone would agree, but at least I have the law on my side:pac::pac::pac:

Quite apart from the law and the fact that the find would belong to the nation. Imagine the horrific thought of some priceless artefact being melted down. Imagine what might be learned and what would be lost forever to make some other hoor rich.
I often wonder how much stuff has actually gone the smelting route.

DeepSleeper

slowburner wrote: »

Quite apart from the law and the fact that the find would belong to the nation. Imagine the horrific thought of some priceless artefact being melted down. Imagine what might be learned and what would be lost forever to make some other hoor rich.
I often wonder how much stuff has actually gone the smelting route.

True enough... but I guess we're preaching to the converted here on the Archaeology forum! Might get a broader range of views on After Hours...

slowburner

DeepSleeper wrote: »

True enough... but I guess we're preaching to the converted here on the Archaeology forum! Might get a broader range of views on After Hours...

You're right too. I just thought a bit of life in the forum wouldn't go amiss.
Threw it up in After Hours for the heck of it
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056447483

mocmo

A hoard of gold artefacts, found by accident in your garden and not on a site would actually get you a fairly hefty reward from the NMI. After all the legal wrangling the finder of the Derrynaflan hoard (and landowner I think) got about 25,000 each and that was in the 80s.....cash4gold prices are supposed to be rubbish

Wibbs

mocmo wrote: »

A hoard of gold artefacts, found by accident in your garden and not on a site would actually get you a fairly hefty reward from the NMI.

Would it though? My take was that much of the Derrynaflan situation was down to the Irish Gov at the time wanting to avoid paying anything out? The UK seems to be more on top of this kinda thing in general.

mocmo

Well to the best of my knowledge NMI finders rewards are based on the value of the object found (within reason given that its all priceless!!). More 'everyday' or common finds like a stone axe might get you a couple of hundred euros. I know that someone who found a fairly rare prehistoric metal object was rewarded several 1000...based on that I would guess a hoard of gold would fetch a substantial sum. The NMI do it entirely to encourage reporting but only I think if they are certain the discovery was accidental and not the result of illegal metal detecting etc

slowburner

Wibbs wrote: »

Would it though? My take was that much of the Derrynaflan situation was down to the Irish Gov at the time wanting to avoid paying anything out? The UK seems to be more on top of this kinda thing in general.

You're not wrong there http://finds.org.uk
Is there a similar scheme here?

slowburner

The (small) poll on this topic in After Hours is currently showing 70% in favour of selling or keeping the hoard (not horde )

Riamfada

Enough said

mocmo

There is a scheme here, doesn't have a website like the UK but it definietly exists, mentioned here on the NMI website

http://http://www.museum.ie/en/list/antiquities.aspx

...of course cash4gold could also be considered such a scheme

slowburner

mocmo wrote: »

There is a scheme here, doesn't have a website like the UK but it definietly exists, mentioned here on the NMI website

http://www.museum.ie/en/list/antiquities.aspx

...of course cash4gold could also be considered such a scheme

That's good news. Not too sure what was wrong with the link in your post apart from the double http:// but it seems to work now in the quote above

doctor evil

Probably ring the National History Museum, would not be impressed if it was packed away in a box out of sight after being catalogued. I'd want to be able to see it on display with a little printed card beside it

If I was in absolute dire straits than I am not sure what I would do.

slowburner

Riamfada wrote: »

Enough said

Is that you in the white jacket in the foreground along with a heap of After Hoursies bringing along their finds for export to Ibiza?

68% in favor of keeping/selling
32% would report the find :eek:
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056447483

cfuserkildare

I know its only slightly relevant, but my local jeweller pays almost double what Cash for gold pays.

Also it would be a crime morally never mind legally.

marknine

DeepSleeper wrote: »

Nearly 24hrs gone without reply.... OK, I'll bite!

I'd be on the phone to the National Museum of Ireland quicker than you can say 'How much is that worth?' !!!

Why? Well, (short answer) because it would be illegal not to call them... but more importantly, (longer answer) because the gold wouldn't really be mine or wouldn't belong to the owner of the land either - it would belong to the people of Ireland and I firmly believe that the best place for an archaeological horde is the National Musuem where it can be cared for, examined, and kept safe for everybody (including future generations...) - archaeological artefacts are part of our heritage and I wouldn't rest until the NMI were on site to see what had turned up.

I totally agree
I am up to my eyes in debt, with no job and it feels like I have no prospects at the moment. Still, if I found a horde, the first thing I would do is call the National Museum. I have found a stone axe head before in Northwest Donegal, on the banks of Lough Swilly. The national Museum were able to find that it was manufactured and exported from the Rathlin islands. Cant remember how old it was. That information was worth more than any money.

slowburner

slowburner wrote: »

.........if you were digging in your garden (or someone else's) and you found a horde of golden artifacts?
Would you contact 'Cash for Gold.com' or the National museum?

My bad
It is of course, a hoard - not a horde.

slowburner

marknine wrote: »

I totally agree
I am up to my eyes in debt, with no job and it feels like I have no prospects at the moment. Still, if I found a horde, the first thing I would do is call the National Museum. I have found a stone axe head before in Northwest Donegal, on the banks of Lough Swilly. The national Museum were able to find that it was manufactured and exported from the Rathlin islands. Cant remember how old it was. That information was worth more than any money.

Thank you.