An 18-year-old student in Belgium discovered a hidden gold stash valued at approximately ₹99 crore (€9 million) while working at a construction site. The treasure, consisting of coins and bullion, was found in a sealed section of a cellar wall beneath a former brewery during routine sewer trench digging, according to livemint.com.
The student, who was employed for summer work, came across the stash while digging trenches for a sewage system. The gold appeared to have been deliberately concealed, indicating it was intentionally hidden. However, Belgian law does not grant ownership of buried treasure to the finder automatically, meaning the student cannot keep the gold, The Guardian reported as cited by livemint.com.
This discovery highlights the legal complexities surrounding found treasure in Belgium, where ownership typically remains with the state or property owner. Comparable cases in Europe have often resulted in authorities claiming such finds, underscoring the importance of legal frameworks in managing historical artifacts and valuables uncovered during construction or excavation.
The gold was uncovered in a cellar wall of a former brewery, a site that may have historical significance. The authorities are expected to take custody of the treasure, with further investigations likely to determine its origin and rightful ownership, livemint.com reported.