I've read everyone's comments and, surprisingly, I agree with everyone despite different viewpoints. I guess in an ideal world, if discoveries in the modern era are found, those artifacts will hopefully be SHARED by both the finder and the host country (no more hauling away the pharoah's loot as in the past). I do think the finder should get a share of the find, however (think Mel Fisher and also this most recent treasure find that's causing so many bad feelings). The whole spoils of war and highest bidder think still turm my stomach, but that's part of life. I think the main emphasis in my orininal thread (sorry! Side-tracked
), was the destruction of the moa, or the Sphinx or the Acropolis, should have enormous penalties to dissuade it. If it's war, it should be a war crime. It's just like our namby-pamby laws with DUI. Overseas, the penalties are much harsher. Being a health-care provider, I can tell you the results of such activities. Same should go with the destruction of artifacts. I'm reminded of the American Art Deco period (1920's-30's) where many antiques were destroyed and made into 'objects de art'. I have seen Ming Dynasty bronze temple urns sawed in half and turned into lamps, swords cut down into candle sticks and in one of Fagan's catalogs, a 3 tiered lamp with welded Kula Khed helmets for shades. What a shame...