Archaeologists have found thousands of mainly metal historical items in a burnt down flat in Prague, Miroslav Dobes from the Academy of Sciences' Archaeological Institute, who is exploring the finds, has told CTK.
The extensive collection includes prehistoric stone axes, Germanic bronze buckles, arrow tips, fragments of weapons, parts of armour as well as medieval spurs.
Nevertheless, their scientific value is negligible since concrete localities where the finds come from are unknown.
Dobes said the collection resulted from illegal activities of amateur "metal hunters" not only in the Czech Republic, but maybe in other central European countries.
The items were collected by a man who died in fire in the flat in Prague 10 in 2005. Since he had no relatives, the collection ended up in state hands. The Culture Ministry then transferred it to archaeologists.
Dobes said the private collection comprised more metal items than a number of Czech museums had gathered during their entire existence. Unfortunately the items are not described as unlike archaeologists, metal hunters usually do not register valuable data about their finds, he added.
Though Czech law bans such amateur activities that cause immense cultural damage, metal hunters usually escape punishment.
Dobes pointed out that his foreign colleagues also face problems with amateur "treasure hunters" who work with more and more advanced metal detectors that are able to uncover items deep under the ground.
From: Prague Monitor.com
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