Treasure

Treasure (from Greek θησαυρος; thesaurus, meaning "a treasure of the chest", is a cognate) is a concentration of riches, often one which is considered lost or forgotten until being rediscovered. Some jurisdictions legally define what constitutes treasure (such as in the English Treasure Act 1996).

The phrase "blood and treasure" or "lives and treasure" has been used to refer to the human and monetary costs associated with various (usually state-initiated) endeavours such as space exploration or war.

Treasure hunting

Searching for hidden treasure is a common theme in legend and fiction, but real-life treasure hunters exist, and seek lost wealth for a living. Spanish treasure lost from the Spanish treasure fleet consisted of gold, silver, jewels (especially emeralds) and also cocoa, vanilla and brazilwood. [Cynthia Zarin, "Green dreams: A mystery of rare, shipwrecked emeralds", The New Yorker, November 21, 2005, pp. 76–83]

Archaeologists are sometimes described as treasure hunters, especially those from the 19th Century, although they themselves rarely wish to be associated with the term. Treasure hunters are often accused by archaeologists of pillaging ancient sites in their quests, destroying valuable information in the process.

Legally permitted shipwreck salvage under the direction of qualified archaeologists and the subsequent sale of artifacts and treasure by the salvors has been defended as ethical by pioneer underwater archaeologist E. Lee Spence. Spence argues that properly supervised treasure hunting can be a way to fund archaeology and save shipwrecks before they are destroyed by looters and/or lost or destroyed through manmade or natural forces. Spence casts the argument in terms of capitalism versus socialism in underwater archaeology. [* [http://www.shipwrecks.com/ethics_in_underwater_archaeology.htm Ethics in Underwater Archaeology (Capitalism versus Socialism in Underwater Archaeology) by E. Lee Spence] ]

Illegal sales of antiquities to foreign buyers are also attributed to illicit treasure hunting.

References

ee also

* Buried treasure
* Hoard
* Treasure trove
* List of treasure hunters
* Leprechaun
* Lost mines
* Metal detector
* Romanian Treasure
* Thirteen Treasures of the Island of Britain
* Confederate gold
* Schatzkammer
* Spanish treasure fleet
* Środa treasure

Famous "hidden treasures"

* See
* Captain Kidd
* Oak Island
* Treasure of the Knights Templar
* Rennes le Château
* Štěchovice Treasure of the Czech Republic
* Beale treasure
* RMS "Republic"
* Amber room
* Treasure of the Llanganatis
* Lost Dutchman's Gold Mine
* Treasure of Nagyszentmiklós
* Preslav treasure
* Treasure of the Changes Khan
* Treasure of the Lost City Drwarika - An Indian mythological city
* Treasure of the Alexandria
* Treasure of the Maya

Treasure in film and literature

* Nibelungenlied
* The treasure of Monte Cristo (1844)
* "Treasure Island" (1882)
* "The Maltese Falcon" (1930)
* "Treasure Island" (1934)
* "The Treasure of the Sierra Madre" (1948)
* "The Treasure series" (1958)
* "Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
*"Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)
* "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)
* "The Goonies" (1985)
* "" (2003)
* "National Treasure" (2004)
* "" (2007)
* "One Piece
* "Fool's Gold (film)

External links

* [http://www.shipwrecks.com/ethics_in_underwater_archaeology.htm Ethics in Underwater Archaeology (Capitalism versus Socialism in Underwater Archaeology) by E. Lee Spence]
* [http://www.civilisations.ca/tresors/tresorse.asp The Canadian Museum of Civilization - Treasures section]
* [http://www.treasurecenter.com Treasure Center] Treasure and archaeological adventure site. Treasure and archaeological exhibits from around the world, lost treasures, treasure hunting tips, and the latest in fascinating treasure and archaeological news from around the world, updated daily.
* [http://www.pirates-shipwrecks-treasure-diving.com/ Treasure recoveries and sunken treasure]
* [http://historyhunters.coolasmustard.com/ Discovering history through archaeology and treasure hunting]
* [http://www.ScrollQuest.com] Armchair treasure hunting and treasure lore site.
* [http://forum.treasurenet.com/ International Treasure Hunting forum. Real people, real treasure]
* [http://www.traki.hit.bg/treasures.htm The ancient gold and silver treasures found on the territory of Bulgaria.]