English law requires the reporting of treasure finds to the coroner, who determines ownership. To qualify as treasure, an item must contain at least 10% precious metals and be over 300 years old. Finders are compensated if the Crown claims the treasure. Failure to report a find has legal consequences. Many countries have strict laws […]
Important fossil finds include the discovery of a mosasaur by Georges Cuvier, giant armadillos and sloths by Darwin, the dinosaur bird Archeopteryx, Burgess Shale fossils, and the Mistaken Point Assemblage. The 19th century saw a renaissance in fossil discoveries, with major dinosaur groups and plant fossils found. Recent finds concern the dawn of animal history, […]
