Lord Advocate v University of Aberdeen and Budge

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Lord Advocate v University of Aberdeen and Budge (1963 CSIH 1) is a Scots property law case about treasure trove, in which the Court of Session held that treasure trove is bona vacantia, and therefore belongs to the Crown. [1]

Background

St Ninian's Isle is a small tied island off the cost of Mainland, Shetland, connected by a tombolo. [2] In 1955, a University of Aberdeen archeology team started excavating the Isle, trying to locate ruins of a medieval church. The excavation was taking place with the consent of the landowner, Mr Budge. [1] In 1958, the team found several artifacts, including a porpoise bone and some objects made of silver alloy. [3] A question arose whether the treasure, named "St Ninian's Isle Treasure", was owned by the Crown or the University and Mr Budge.

References

  1. 1 2 Miller, DL Carey (2002). "Treasure trove in SCots aw". Fundamina:A Journal of Legal History. 2002 (8). Retrieved 24 December 2025.
  2. ↑ St Ninian's Tombolo. Archived 23 October 2008 at the Wayback Machine J.D. Hansom, Coastal Geomorphology of Great Britain (2003). Extract from the Geological Conservation Review.
  3. ↑ Lawrence Fellows (12 September 1962). "Celtic Treasure is Won by Crown; Scotland's Law Supersedes Shetland's Norse Custom". The New York Times . Archived from the original on 9 March 2018. Retrieved 24 December 2025.
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