Overview
- The Neuville-sur-Saône resident uncovered five gold bars and numerous coins, wrapped in plastic and valued at about €700,000, during pool excavation.
- After the discovery, the homeowner alerted local officials, and DRAC assessed the find for archaeological significance.
- Police dated the items to roughly 15–20 years, used unique numbers to trace them to a Lyon-area refinery, and found no link to local theft.
- Local reporting cited France’s civil code to say the finder could keep the treasure because it was discovered by chance on his own property.
- A lawyer quoted in new coverage warned heirs of the previous homeowner, now deceased, could still stake a claim, and no final legal resolution has been documented.