A question of ownership - Spanish Treasure
An interesting question. A commercial treasure-hunting company goes and finds a ship. Who gets to keep the loot?
From the
BBC:
Spain awarded shipwreck treasure
A deep sea treasure-hunting company has been ordered by a US judge to hand over half a million gold and silver coins to the government of Spain.
The company, Odyssey Marine Exploration, raised the haul from a shipwreck in the Atlantic, suspected to be that of a Spanish naval vessel.
The Spanish government argued that the treasure formed part of the country's national heritage.
But Odyssey intends to appeal, saying it has a claim to the treasure.
Valid points on both sides of this but I am siding with Odyssey Exploration. Spain certainly has the information on where their ships went down, they have all of the logs and charts in their museums. Why didn't they go out and find it -- it is profitable otherwise Odyssey would not be in business. Odyssey found it and they have been more than gracious in preserving the archaeological value of the items and letting experts examine and document the artifacts. They are not melting these treasures for spot gold prices. What would the Spanish government do?
Posted by DaveH at June 4, 2009 9:42 PM