Featured Interesting article re French metal detectorist

https://www.artandobject.com/news/officials-seize-27000-artifacts-looted-french-metal-detectorist

I guess people who use metal detectors are called detectorists. In any event, that practice is apparently illegal in France. Belgium, okay. Don’t pretend you found something in Belgium when you found it in France.

 

Indeed. It is usual practice to obtain permission from the land owner first before using a detector, and in some cases anything found or excavated has to be reported.

 

recently saw a report on German TV about some Dutch that were caught in Bavaria and told the alarmed Heimatschutz (Cultural Heritage Protection) that they found their stuff in Thüringen, because there you don't need a permission and can keep the whole. as the authorities didn't trust them, they called the police for the next morning and confiscated the whole and threatened them to open a case with investigation of clinging earth etc. - yokel CSI - so the Dutch gave in. they were lucky because the Bavarian Police proposed a deal - leave us everything and get lost forever.

 

It is no small wonder that 'most' detectorists don't seek permission or report any findings. One of my cousins found a nice horde of silver coins and she informed our local authority. They took charge of the coins and she received nothing in return. Where is the incentive to be honest??? I've also been told that if you're "lucky" enough strike a Gold mine or Oil in your back yard, it doesn't belong to You! I don't know if that's true, but it does make you wonder! Anyway, I'm hanging on to "The Amber Room" (and keeping quiet about it) and I'm not telling a living soul...

 

here what the Bavarian police does with more harmless people...
view it to the bitter end, Bavarian sleighride...

 

Silly video!