More than 450 years ago, a three-masted ship sank in a hurricane off the coast of Florida, taking with it France's hopes of colonizing the peninsula."If there had not been this hurricane, who knows?"
I get it, treasure hunters want to be compensated for finding wrecks but understand that if you do find one, that does not make you its owner. If it belonged to France when it sank, the wreck still belongs to France. “Finders keepers” is not a game you want to play with archaeologists.
They are claiming it. It was found in 2016 and since has been in a legal battle for ownership between those who found it and the country it belonged to when it sank. Just because you find a wreck doesn’t entitle you to pilfer it for treasure. Stuff like that belongs in a museum not some private collection.
Wait 450 years and suddenly the sofa becomes an artifact with ownership as well?
If there is historical significance and there is a wish to preserve the item for the public and not let the finder keep the item, the finder should be compensated in cash at fair market value. This is actually done when people find things like viking coins, etc. It’s much more reasonable of an approach.
First of all, the vessel was French and also a warship which qualifies it for the SMCA.
Secondly, there is historical significance. The defeat in Florida resulted in the French colonising Canada. The ship marks the turning point for when Florida was almost held by the French before the Spanish kicked them out.
I get it, treasure hunters want to be compensated for finding wrecks but understand that if you do find one, that does not make you its owner. If it belonged to France when it sank, the wreck still belongs to France. “Finders keepers” is not a game you want to play with archaeologists.
What about legitimate salvage?
What do you define as “legitimate salvage”?
A ship that has been on the bottom of the ocean for 450 years. France had plenty of time to claim it.
They are claiming it. It was found in 2016 and since has been in a legal battle for ownership between those who found it and the country it belonged to when it sank. Just because you find a wreck doesn’t entitle you to pilfer it for treasure. Stuff like that belongs in a museum not some private collection.
Beyond that, it seems the question is whose museum.
Abandoned property is a thing. There should be a reasonable time limit.
Leaving a sofa on your driveway is hardly the same as a 450 year old shipwreck. You can’t claim a historical artefact just because you found it.
Wait 450 years and suddenly the sofa becomes an artifact with ownership as well?
If there is historical significance and there is a wish to preserve the item for the public and not let the finder keep the item, the finder should be compensated in cash at fair market value. This is actually done when people find things like viking coins, etc. It’s much more reasonable of an approach.
Furthermore was Spain actively looking for it??
First of all, the vessel was French and also a warship which qualifies it for the SMCA.
Secondly, there is historical significance. The defeat in Florida resulted in the French colonising Canada. The ship marks the turning point for when Florida was almost held by the French before the Spanish kicked them out.