6th December 2009, 12:49 PM
The Act says
The reward may be payable to?
(a) the finder or any other person involved in the find;
(b) the occupier of the land at the time of the find;
© any person who had an interest in the land at that time, or has had such an interest at any time since then.
The Code of Practice says
81. Rewards will not be payable when the find is made by an archaeologist or anyone engaged on an archaeological excavation or investigation. In cases of uncertainty archaeologists are recommended to require any individuals for whom they are responsible, or to whom they have given, or for whom they have sought, permission to search, to sign a statement waiving their right to a reward. If there is doubt as to whether the finder was an archaeologist (or a person engaged on an archaeological excavation or investigation) the Treasure Valuation Committee shall decide. This will not affect any interest that the occupier or the landowner may have in any reward. The proportion of any reward payable to an eligible landowner (or occupier) is 50 per cent. (See also paragraph 52.)
I am not sure why archaeologists are treated in this way. Fair enough no reward should be paid if the archaeologist or the fieldwork is paid for by the public purse. It would be an absurdity if the diggers working in the Staffordshire hoard site were paid a reward for example. But what about when the landowner is paying for the work? In effect there is a 50% tax on the value of treasure when archaeologists are doing the work.
Peter Wardle
The reward may be payable to?
(a) the finder or any other person involved in the find;
(b) the occupier of the land at the time of the find;
© any person who had an interest in the land at that time, or has had such an interest at any time since then.
The Code of Practice says
81. Rewards will not be payable when the find is made by an archaeologist or anyone engaged on an archaeological excavation or investigation. In cases of uncertainty archaeologists are recommended to require any individuals for whom they are responsible, or to whom they have given, or for whom they have sought, permission to search, to sign a statement waiving their right to a reward. If there is doubt as to whether the finder was an archaeologist (or a person engaged on an archaeological excavation or investigation) the Treasure Valuation Committee shall decide. This will not affect any interest that the occupier or the landowner may have in any reward. The proportion of any reward payable to an eligible landowner (or occupier) is 50 per cent. (See also paragraph 52.)
I am not sure why archaeologists are treated in this way. Fair enough no reward should be paid if the archaeologist or the fieldwork is paid for by the public purse. It would be an absurdity if the diggers working in the Staffordshire hoard site were paid a reward for example. But what about when the landowner is paying for the work? In effect there is a 50% tax on the value of treasure when archaeologists are doing the work.
Peter Wardle