Guide
Can You Keep What You Find? Treasure Trove, Explained
Who owns buried treasure once you dig it up? It depends on the law where you found it, and it is rarely as simple as finders keepers.
Treasure trove is the old idea that found valuables can belong to the finder. In practice it varies wildly: some places hand significant finds to the state, some pay the finder a museum reward, some split it with the landowner. Knowing the rule before you dig is half the game.
This is a plain-language starting point, not legal advice. The rules change and vary by county, city, park, and parcel, and federal land carries its own restrictions. Always confirm with the specific land manager or agency before you search, and record and report finds where the law requires it.
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