Treasure hunting

"Treasure hunt" and "Treasure hunters" redirect here. For other uses, see Treasure hunt (disambiguation) and Treasure hunters (disambiguation).

Treasure hunting is the physical search for treasure which has been a notable human activity for millennia.

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In modern times

In recent times, the early stages of the development of archaeology included a significant aspect of treasure hunt; Heinrich Schliemann's excavations at Troy, and later at Mycenae, both turned up significant finds of golden artifacts. Early work in Egyptology also included a similar motive.

More recently, most serious treasure hunters have started working underwater, where modern technology allows access to wrecks containing valuables which were previously inaccessible. Starting with the diving suit, and moving on through Scuba and later to ROVs, each new generation of technology has made more wrecks accessible. Many of these wrecks have resulted in the treasure salvage of many fascinating artifacts from Spanish treasure fleets as well as many others.

Treasure hunting is condemned by a growing number of nations, and UNESCO issued a chart for the protection of the underwater cultural heritage in 2001.

Notable treasure hunters

Popular culture

See also

Further reading