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Marcus's avatar

Goes to show that most people don't understand what is “right under their nose” unless they are educated and there's nothing more important than the quality of our basic-grade-school education system (which hasn't been great across the West for a couple generations). Anyone graduating from grade/high school should recognize that object as probably Ancient Roman and report it to the authorities.

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Petros Koutoupis's avatar

While I agree, certain countries have not been so kind to folks who are sitting on archaeologically “rich” land. For instance, if that land belongs to a farmer who actively uses it to make a living, the government would buy it for pennies and the farmer would forever lose the land that put food on their tables and a roof over their heads. So, when they dig up a statue or others artifacts/structures, they immediately dispose of it. It is extremely unfortunate because we are losing so much history in the process.

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Marcus's avatar

Valid point and sounds like laws related to this matter should be improved. I've always said that the “rule of two” should apply to any government expropriation; i.e., twice market value. Regardless, the government should not have the right to expropriate land because someone dug up an artifact on their land; that attitude alone would save artifacts.

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Petar Petrov's avatar

This story is very embarrassing for me as a Bulgarian.

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Petros Koutoupis's avatar

As a Greek, I could say the same thing about how ancient objects or structures have been misused or misunderstood in more modern times but I wouldn’t be embarrassed. Not everyone has an appreciation for the old as you and I or many others.

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