美國有線電視新聞網20日報道，兩名登山者在捷克東北部地區爬山時，意外發現一箱財寶，估計價值超36萬美元（約合人民幣259萬元）。

這兩名登山者在爬山時，注意到一面石墻內有一個箱子，里面裝著10個金手鐲、17個金屬雪茄盒、一個粉盒、一把梳子和多達598枚金幣。

Ten gold bracelets, 17 cigar cases, a powder compact, a comb, and a whopping 598 gold coins: the items are all part of a valuable and somewhat mysterious stash, found by chance by two hikers in the northeastern Czech Republic.

The hikers, who wish to remain anonymous, were taking a shortcut through the forest in the Krkono?e Mountains — a popular hiking spot — when they saw an aluminum box sticking out of a stony wall.

圖源：東波西米亞博物館

兩人趕忙把寶藏送去附近小鎮的東波西米亞博物館鑒定。博物館考古部門負責人米羅斯拉夫·諾瓦克說，錢幣專家看到上述物品后曾前往發現地調查。目前，這些財寶主人的身份和藏匿原因仍有待商榷，但有一點可以肯定：藏寶時間最多100年出頭，因為其中距今最近的一枚硬幣鑄造于1921年。

After they opened it and discovered the loot, they immediately took it to the Museum of Eastern Bohemia, in the nearby town of Hradec Králové, according to Miroslav Novak, the head of the archaeological department at the museum.

Who may have hidden the treasure and why is still up for debate, but one thing is certain: the stash can't be more than about a century old, because one of the coins is dated 1921. As for the rest, there are only hypotheses, for now.

經專家研究，598枚金幣的重量達3.7公斤，價值36萬美元。有兩個雪茄盒無法打開，眼下尚不知道里面裝著什么。

克爾科諾謝山位于捷克與波蘭邊境地區。諾瓦克說，這些財寶的發現地附近曾經居住著捷克人和德國人，之所以有人藏起這些財寶，可能與第二次世界大戰有關：戰爭開始前以及結束前后，曾有大批捷克人、德國人以及猶太人離開該地區。

但是，這些金幣“一半來自巴爾干地區，另一半來自法國”，并沒有本地金幣的身影，這更引發了人們對其來源的好奇。

"It is most likely related to the turbulent period before the start of World War II, when the Czech and Jewish population was leaving the border area, or to 1945, when the Germans were leaving," Novak said.

Speculation is fueled by the fact that, oddly, there are no local coins in the mix. "Half are of Balkan origin and the other half of French origin," Novak said. "Central European coins, such as German ones, are completely missing. But the find is located on the former ethnic border between the Czech and German populations."

圖源：東波西米亞博物館

英國卡迪夫大學現代史教授瑪麗·海曼則認為，這些財寶被埋藏的時間距1921年不遠。在她看來，“那是一個不穩定的時期，經濟下滑，失業現象普遍。因此，當時有人想到埋藏黃金并不奇怪”，若是埋藏于二戰前后，則應該有那一時期鑄造的金幣。

It's significant that the most recent coin in the stash is from 1921, according to Mary Heimann, a professor of modern history and an expert of Czechoslovak history at the University of Cardiff in the United Kingdom.

"It was an unstable period, there was a downturn in the economy and widespread unemployment. For that reason, it's not that surprising somebody would think of burying a stash of gold at that time," she added.

這批神秘財寶引發了當地民眾關注。博物館方面接到很多熱心居民的電話，希望能為它們的來源提供線索。

有人猜測它來自周邊某個名門望族，有人認為它是某場戰爭的戰利品，還有人認為它的主人是收藏家、博物館工作人員甚至江洋大盜。

待專家對這批財寶的分析完成后，博物館將為它們舉辦一場短期展覽。

諾瓦克說，根據捷克法律，考古所得屬于當地政府財產。

他說：“將這批財寶移交給博物館的做法十分正確。發現者有權獲得經濟獎勵，獎金取決于這批財寶的經濟或歷史價值。”

According to Czech law, Novak said, archaeological finds are the property of the local regional administration from the moment of discovery.

"In this case, the treasure was correctly handed over to the museum," he said. "The finder is entitled to a financial reward, which depends on the value of the metal or historical appraisal."

編輯：左卓

見習編輯：裴 禧盈

實習生：楊婧怡

來源：美國有線電視新聞網 新華社 環球時報 南方都市報

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