Divers plunder Greece's sunken treasure troves

Guardian ^ | Friday 30 January 2009 | Helena Smith

[SunkenCiv]

For centuries they have lain forgotten and untouched in the murky depths of the Mediterranean. But the sunken glories of Greece are now threatened by modern treasure hunters, who are targeting their riches since the lifting of a ban on coastal scuba-diving. At risk, say archaeologists, is an unseen part of the country's cultural patrimony, comprising thousands of shipwrecks dating from Classical, Hellenic, Roman, Byzantine and early modern times and their priceless cargoes of coins, ingots, weapons and gold... Until recently divers were allowed access to just 620 miles of the country's 12,000 mile coastline, but in an attempt to boost tourism, the conservative government opened the country's entire coastal waters to underwater exploration in 2003. Since then, looting has proliferated, say archaeologists... One US-based diving company offers on its website an exhaustive list of "underwater treasures" which have been discovered by scuba divers, including sculptures, jewellery, warrior helmets, Phoenician beads, vases, and a variety of personal items reflecting life in the region in ancient times, from oil lamps to medical supplies.

[SunkenCiv]

subtitle: Government move to boost tourism backfires as looters descend on antiquities

[SunkenCiv]

· join list or digest · view topics · view or post blog · bookmark · post a topic ·
	Gods Graves Glyphs	To all -- please ping me to other topics which are appropriate for the GGG list. GGG managers are SunkenCiv, StayAt HomeMother, and Ernest_at_the_Beach
· Google · Archaeologica · ArchaeoBlog · Archaeology · Biblical Archaeology Society · · Discover · Nat Geographic · Texas AM Anthro News · Yahoo Anthro & Archaeo · · The Archaeology Channel · Excerpt, or Link only? · cgk's list of ping lists ·

[goat granny]

I think it should be finders keepers, losers weepers...Thats what it was when I was a little girl...:O)

[GSP.FAN]

Looters?

These are poor people, who are driven to desperate measures due to the economy that has been destroyed by Bush and his oil rich capitalist pigs..

[SunkenCiv]

:’)

[Verginius Rufus]

Conservatives are to blame. Wouldn’t you know it.

[poindexter]

So artifacts buried on the sea floor now and forever where nobody will ever see them are archeological treasures, but when they are brought up by private individuals where they can be seen, enjoyed, and studied they are stolen loot.

[SunkenCiv]

Glad someone else noticed it. I almost boldfaced it. :’)

[aMorePerfectUnion]

archaeologists=treasure seekers with PhDs

[AZLiberty]

Message to archeologists: if you’re so concerned about these artifacts, put on a snorkel and dive in.

[gigster]

I have some very nice furniture (tables), that I made of
shipwreck wood here in northern Lake Michigan.
There are other very nice things if you spend some time down there.
It is, finders keepers,as far as I’m concerned.

[SunkenCiv]

/bingo

[SunkenCiv]

Hey, how can anyone get a big fat government grant to spend six months of the year in the Aegean if vacationing scuba divers are grabbin’ everything? ;’)

[Fresh Wind]

archaeologists = grave robbers with PhDs

[Cold Heart]

I retired from plundering Lake Michigan 35 years ago. I’m down to beach scavanging on the Oregon Coast now. I have made some nice stuff from a close ring old growth driftwood redwood log though.