US Scavengers Spot Legendary Warship

US firm tracks long-lost cargo

(NEWSER) - Here's an alternative way to fix the deficit: Find long-lost treasure beneath the waves. Sounds like a fairy tale, but the British government has contracted a US firm twice this year to track down the remnants of shipwrecks. One is the British steam ship Mantola that sunk in 1917, carrying 20 tons of silver—$18 million worth by today's standards, the New York Times reports. Odyssey Marine Exploration says it's identified the ship using a robot. More»

Rare British find expected to fetch a fortune at auction

(NEWSER) - An amateur treasure hunter in Britain has unearthed a Roman helmet expected to fetch at least $460,000 at auction. The bronze helmet—only the third of its kind ever found in Britain—has a face mask and is topped with a griffin. Experts say the helmet, found in a field with the help of a metal detector, would have been worn at sports parades instead of in combat, the BBC reports. More»

Anglo-Saxon gold unearthed by jobless searcher this summer

(NEWSER) - An amateur British treasure hunter and the owner of the field where he struck gold are in for a big payday: His find turns out to be a 7th-century Anglo-Saxon cache of the precious metal. The collection is worth about $5.4 million, British Museum tells the AP . The treasure—all 1,500 pieces of it—was found this summer in Staffordshire and generated much excitement among British archaeologists. Two central England museums hope to acquire it jointly. More»

Brit with metal detector uncovers 7th-century Anglo-Saxon jackpot

(NEWSER) - The biggest stash of Anglo-Saxon gold and silver ever found has been unearthed in a farmer's field in Staffordshire, England, by an amateur treasure hunter using a metal detector. The hoard, estimated to date back to the 7th century, includes weapons, helmets, and gold coins. Archaeologists are stunned both by the size—some 1,500 pieces—and the workmanship of the treasure, which brought tears to one expert's eyes. More»

(NEWSER) - A California man who used Google Earth to locate a 19th century Spanish treasure ship is suing for the right to excavate on private land, ABC News reports. Nathan Smith drove to Refugio, Texas, after spotting evidence—what it was isn’t clear—from a satellite photo. The case of Smith v. Abandoned Ship has landed in federal court, where his lawyer hopes maritime law will fall on their side. More»