Published: Less than 10 min ago
The meteorite hunters want to keep their find.
But a count interested in space firmly claims that the stone belongs to him.
Soon it will be decided who has the right to the meteorite that crashed outside Enköping two years ago.
– I have a great interest in space, that’s right, but regardless, it’s a matter of principle, says Count Johan Benzelstierna von Engeström.
One Saturday evening two years ago, the sky was suddenly lit up by a mysterious light phenomenon. Hundreds of people, from Örnsköldsvik to Öland, contacted the editors with their testimonies.
It turned out to be a bolide, a bright meteor. As the light died down, a rumble was heard. A meteorite struck near the village of Fjärhundra outside Enköping.
The news prompted space rock hunters to make a pilgrimage to the site. After two weeks of searching and calculating, geologists Andreas Forsberg and Anders Zetterqvist managed to find the 14-kilogram iron meteorite in a forest area.
– It was a revelation I had not had before. I have previously found meteorites in Sweden and abroad, but this surpasses everything. An emotional moment that turned into a state of shock, says Andreas Forsberg SVT News.
The Count: “A matter of principle”
Then the conflict arose. The meteorite struck land belonging to Count Johan Benzelstierna von Engeström. He considers the stone to be his and has taken the matter to court. On Monday and Tuesday, negotiations were held in the district court in Uppsala. The verdict will be announced on December 20.
Why do you want to keep the meteorite?
– Because it is not part of common law to take valuable things from other people’s land. It requires the landowner’s permission. It is a matter of principle, says Benzelstierna von Engeström.
You see yourself as a representative of what is right and real here?
– I have a great interest in space, that’s true, but regardless, it’s a matter of principle. I have many examples from the property where the meteorite was found where they abuse the property by raising road barriers, poaching moose, using wheat fields as bridle paths.
Now it’s a meteorite that has hit. Is it possible to compare?
– That is absolutely true. But just because an event is unique, it does not mean that public rights apply. It is crystal clear.
What do you want to do with the meteorite?
– I want it to benefit research and as soon as possible end up in a Swedish museum to increase interest in space and research, especially for the young generation.
The space stone hunters: “All people’s right”
However, there is no clear legislation for the ownership of meteorites. Space rock hunters Andreas Forsberg and Anders Zetterqvist do not believe that meteorites should automatically be considered the property of the landowner.
On the contrary, the geologists believe that the public right should apply, among other things because meteorites lack a “permanent connection” to the ground.
– Traditionally, the finder has always been able to keep meteorites. It should be the common man’s right that applies, just as you are allowed to pick individual stones in nature when prospecting for ore, says Andreas Forsberg to Uppsala New Newspaper.
The Space Stone is currently at the Natural History Museum in Stockholm, awaiting a decision on the ownership issue. The geologists want it to stay there.
The stone, the third iron meteorite found in Sweden, has been given the temporary name “Ådalsstenen”.
“Due to a conflict over the ownership of the meteorite, scientific investigations have not begun and for this reason the meteorite does not yet have an official name,” writes Sweden’s Geological Survey.
Aftonbladet has applied for Andreas Forsberg and Anders Zetterqvist.