Monument protection; application for compensation or a reward for an archaeological find

Discoverers and landowners can claim a monetary payment for archaeological finds above a certain object value and under legal circumstances.

Since 01.07.2023, ownership of archaeological finds generally belongs to the Free State of Bavaria. Under certain conditions, those on whose land the find was made (landowners) and those who made the find (discoverers) are entitled to a monetary payment from the Free State of Bavaria. This is called "compensation" for landowners and "reward" for discoverers. The conditions include, above all, a certain object value and legal discovery circumstances.

• If applying by proxy: Power of attorney

  Only when applying by proxy.

• A ground monument or part thereof has become the property of the Free State of Bavaria pursuant to Art. 9 para. 1 sentence 1 BayDSchG.
• Its market value is EUR 1,000 or more.
• Its discovery and recovery were not carried out in violation of statutory provisions.
• The applicant discovered the archaeological monument or parts thereof or is the owner of the property on which the archaeological monument was discovered.

Administrative court action

• The application must always be submitted electronically to the Bavarian State Office for Monument Preservation using the online procedure provided.
• The Bavarian State Office for the Preservation of Monuments will check the requirements in consultation with the relevant lower monument protection authority if necessary.
• It is supported by the State Archaeological Collection in determining the value.
• The Bavarian State Office then decides on the application by issuing a decision.

The benefit only applies to finds made in the territory of the Free State of Bavaria since 01.07.2023. The claim for compensation or reward arises 24 months after the handover to the State Office for the Preservation of Monuments.

Due to the novelty of the service, there is currently a lack of experience regarding the usual duration of the procedure. The average duration of proceedings is expected to be between 4 weeks and 3 months. In cases where the decision requires extensive investigations or difficult legal examinations, the duration of the proceedings may be longer.

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