Der Standard: Antiquities Traders Have Little to Fear of Bulgarian Authorities

Illegal trade in antiquities flourishes in Bulgaria, where "treasure hunters have little to fear of authorities," Austrian newspaper Der Standard says in an article.

"Thousands might be taking part in illegal digs," the author argues [DE], adding that "although there are strict laws against illegal trade in antiquities in Bulgaria, these are hardly implemented. There is seldom anything in the way of plunderers, and they can practice their hobby virtually without legal consequences."

The latest technology is used for such activities to boost efficiency.

With immense reserves and treasures left by Greeks, Macedonians, Romans, Byzantines, Bulgarians, and Thracians, some of the artifacts found in Bulgaria can be dated back to the 5th millennium BC.

Kostadin Kostadinov, who heads the Regional History Museum in Dobrich, Northeastern Bulgaria, has proposed to Parliament an amendment which should allow only civil servants the use of metal detectors. Under his proposal, private use of such detectors without consent would require approval. However, instead of receiving a reply from the legislature, has has become the target of "numerous violence and death threats from illegal archaeologists," the author says.

The structures of this business date back to Communist times, when trade in antiquities was conducted under state protection. "After the [democratic] changes the structures were privatized," Samuel Hardy, an expert in illegal antiquities trade at the American University in Rome.

Treasure hunters make no secret of their activities, having even founded the Bulgarian National Metal Detecting Federation which had a national congress earlier in September, with details about the meeting published openly on Facebook.

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