Export of cultural assets from Denmark to other countries or the Faroe Islands and Greenland requires a written permission from The Danish Commission on the Export of Cultural Assets if it concerns:
* Cultural objects of the period before 1660.
* Cultural objects of a value of DKK 100,000 or more and older than
100 years.
* Photographs of a value of DKK 30,000 or more (regardless of age).
The license is required for permanent as well as temporary export.
Objects of the past made from gold and silver are always official treasure troves (danefæ), however, objects of lesser valuable materials may - depending on type and conditions under which they were discovered - be of such importance that they also classify as treasure troves. The following categories of objects are always classified as treasure troves:
Gold and silver
+ All objects made from gold and silver are treasure troves
+ Bronze objects from antiquity and medieval times are treasure troves.
- Undated bronze melt lumps, bronze sheet fragments etc. are not treasure
- Simple bronze objects from the period after 1536 are generally not treasure troves.
Lead
+ Lead weights, cast models, spindle whorls, pilgrim signs, runic letters, seals and cloth seals are treasure troves.
- Undated melt lumps, sheet fragments etc. are not treasure troves.
- Simple lead objects from the period after 1536 are generally not treasure troves.
Iron
+ Iron weapons and tools from antiquity and medieval times are treasure troves.
- Undated horseshoes, nails, spikes etc. are not treasure troves.
- Simple iron objects from the period after 1536 are generally not treasure troves.
Bones, tusk and antlers
+ Rare or exceptionally well-preserved objects of bone, tusk or antlers are treasure troves
+ Ornamented objects of bone, tusk or antlers are treasure troves.
- Simple tools made of bones and antlers, rough bones, tusk/teeth, marrow-split bones etc. are not treasure troves.
Amber
+ Amber jewellery and other objects found at the beach or in the soil made from processed amber are treasure troves.
- Unprocessed nature amber is not treasure troves (but may be fossil troves)
Flint
+ Hoards (where several flint objects are found together) are treasure troves.
+ Unusually large or specifically formed flint tools are treasure troves.
- Individual flint axes, daggers and other flint tools are generally not treasure troves.
Stones/precious stones
+ Imported stone objects from e.g. amphibolites, steatite, jet and crystal are treasure troves.
+ Metal jewellery with encrusted precious stones is treasure troves.
+ Stone sculptures and very specific forms of stone tools are treasure troves.
- Ordinary stone axes, millstones, crushing stones, whetstones etc. are not treasure troves.
Pottery
+ Basins and shards of unusually decorated or imported ceramics are treasure troves.
+ Figurines and beautifully modelled objects in ceramics or brick are treasure troves.
- Ordinary potsherds are not treasure troves. Building brick, large medieval brick and roofing slates are not treasure troves.
Figurines
+ Figurines and beautifully modelled objects made from stone, metal, bones, amber, ceramics and wood are treasure troves.
Ornamented objects
+ Stone, bones, amber and other objects that are beautifully decorated or have engraved ornaments are treasure troves.
- Ornamented potsherds from ordinary antiquity or medieval ceramics are generally not treasure troves.
Runic inscriptions
+ Stones and other objects with runic inscriptions are always treasure troves.
Rock engravings
+ Stones with rock engravings are treasure troves.
- Stones with (only) cup sculptures are generally not treasure troves
Skeletal remains and textiles
+ Textile remains, human skulls and skeletal remains from humans found in bogs and wetlands are treasure troves.
- Unprocessed animal bones are not treasure troves (but may be fossil troves)
Fossil troves:
The term fossil trove (Danekræ) covers nature created objects of unique scientific value found in Danish soil. Like treasure troves, fossil troves belong to the state and must be handed over to one of the Danish state's natural history museums (e.g. the Zoological Museum and the Geological Museum). Among the fossil troves e.g.:
1. Rare or exceptionally well-preserved fossils (fossilised animals and plants).
2. Whole animal skeletons or large parts thereof, and rare whole skulls or parts of skulls from the Ice Age and the time thereafter.
3. Minerals with a rare composition or a rare deposit manner and crystals of an extraordinary size or shape.