It's a tough question to answer. Is it the person or organization who owns the land that it was found on? Perhaps the person who found it owns it? -- Finders Keepers?? Is it the national government's possession, because of the cultural heritage? Or perhaps the local community? If one of these groups should sell the artifact to an art dealer or museum, is then the property of the purchaser if they purchased it solely from the finder and did not compensate the land owner or community?
Depending on your point of view the answers to these questions can vary greatly. I personally believe that each case should be considered individually. An overarching policy would not represent everyone fairly.
Lately this question of ownership has come into the limelight. Countries across the world are requesting the return of artifacts that have been residing in foreign countries. Peru has been trying to get some artifacts found in Machu Picchu from Yale University. Greece wants to have the Parthenon Frieze returned from Britain. Egypt has been trying to collect pieces from around the world, especially the bust of Nefertiti in the Berlin Museum.
Ancient artifacts can be the source of great political tension. Recently Egypt has threatened to start a "scientific war" with Germany. Greece is doing this because Germany will not allow the bust of Nefertiti to go on a temporary tour to Egypt. Germany is saying that the piece is not in a condition to be safely transported to Egypt. Egypt believes that Germany is using this as a cover and that they are afraid Egypt won't return the bust when the tour is over.
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