They discovered a treasure in their gardenNovember 2008, earlier this month in Saint-Germain-les-Arpajon (91). In the garden of Mr and Mrs X, they dig like crazy. Purpose of the operation: get rid of a mound misplaced. Workers do not have to think long. They are wrong, because in the middle of their work they will do a hell of a discovery: a hoard buried here over 1700 years!
Their pickaxe emerge first from the earth a few small slices green, big as your thumbnail ... Stoics, our men are in As aside. But soon, they fall squarely on a ceramic jar that explodes on impact from the pile and spread on the land of thousands of these little pucks! Neither one nor two, they decided to stop everything, leaving the ceramic in place and notify the owner. It then calls the mayor. Who illico inform the Regional Directorate of Cultural Affairs ( DRAC ), which dispatch on-site archaeologists.
Once on the scene, the scientists of the DRAC and the National Institute of Preventive Archaeological Research ( INRAP ) have breath. Because these washers, they are copper coins dating from the time of the last Gallic emperors! More importantly, there are an impressive number.
While searching, scientists have indeed found a second behind the first jar. They removed carefully, without breaking it. In total, there would therefore be about 80-90 kg of coins, 30 000-40 000 pieces: it is the biggest monetary treasure discovered to date in the Ile-de-France!
At that location, scientists do not expect an archaeological: no ancient villa or palace known in the neighborhood. According to Christian Piozzoli, an archaeologist at the DRAC, so this is a booty buried discreetly in the corner once isolated by the Gallo-Roman worried. In Roman Gaul of these 280s, times are difficult: to force invasions, we do not know what sauce they too may be eaten ... So when we got money as a precaution we prefer to put aside. And later, they have apparently put a package! It must be said at that time the currency keeps losing value. So that to make a little money, it always takes longer. And even today, these copper washers are not worth very expensive: a few thousand euros at most.
But in fact, who owns the treasure? For half the workers who have found, and the other owners of the garden: it is what the law says any chance discovery on a particular field. Currently, it is however in the hands of archaeologists from the DRAC. For the law also provides that the State can requisition archaeological objects discovered in a private, for a maximum of five years to study them scientifically. After this period, it will be entirely its discoverers. Unless the State moves to assert its "preemption" on documents he deems exceptional, he can then redeem them at the price set at an expert or amicable.
The loot should not lose his head ... no question Mr and Mrs X to look for other pieces in their garden without uttering a word. Because it is strictly forbidden by law! Whoever wants to excavate the soil, including its own ground, must apply to the Ministry of Culture in explaining why and how. If he has good scientific reasons to do so, it will normally regulatory approval. But it is in protecting our common heritage. Indeed, individuals in search of a treasure generally have no expertise in archeology. So they do not reflect the archaeological
levels where they found the remains, making it difficult to be dated later. In addition, they usually do not know how to treat them to keep them so that these objects deteriorate very quickly once the air. Result: when these antiques are not scattered over time and estates, and they often end up simply ... in the trash! A loss to archeology.
In any case, experts are categorical. In the field of Saint-Germain-les-Arpajon, there is no longer a part: they have checked the metal detector. And then, as they point out, the workers as the owners of land have shown a remarkable civility. It is therefore very unlikely that they decide to return once again the earth. Especially today, the garden is beautiful!
Good reading
Luc
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