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A UK metal detectorist tells his guffawing mates a tall tale of how he and his colleagues baited an archaeologist back in the Old Days, by irresponsibly misleading the County Archaeologist into thinking they were going to plunder an area next to a Scheduled site:
I really do not see what, from the point of view of archaeology and general preservation, is at all "wrong" with saying "Stop Taking Our Past". Maybe somebody would like to explain it to us.
An archaeologist (a county archaeologist) on learning that a group of three artefact hunters, with an aggressive attitude to archaeologists, was intent on going out to a Roman site with a mechanical excavator to rip a hole in it to extract collectables (which, from what we are told, they indicated they intended to sell off). On learning that, he went out and had a word with the landowner. I see nothing "wrong" in him doing that. It is his job. In fact, I think most members of the public on learning of this would say he was NOT doing his job if he did NOT go out to alert the landowner of the issues this raises. In this case, however, because a group of metal detectorists was playing a trick, the landowner knew nothing of these 'plans' and was surprised to get such a visit.
Neither, therefore, do I see anything "funny" in a group of metal detectorists deliberately misleading heritage professionals, wasting their time and creating friction with a landowner. But then I am not an irresponsible guffawing metal detectorist.
The "funny story" is published on a blog accompanied by a vintage-looking photo of an old man in a conservatory with a grin on his face and a spade in his hand, and in front of him on the table a scatter of metal-detected items. Where did they come from and where are these objects now?
UPDATE 14.10.12
"what business is it of yours?" is the response to that last question from the blog-owner. That of course depends on whether one sees the historical record as something that can be robbed-out solely for private entertainment and profit, or whether it is something that belongs to everybody and should be shared by those who exploit it. Collectors suggest there should be more "transparency" from the preservationists, but we can see here that they do not feel any responsibility whatsoever to reciprocate. I suggest that with "rights" come "responsibilities".
Those (including the defiant US blog owner) who suggest that artefact hunting produces "benefits" by "rescuing" (sic) and "bringing to light finds" seem to be missing the point that it is neither if the artefacts and information associated with them then disappear from the face of the earth within a couple of decades or so of being dug up by an artefact hunter. What ultimately happens to the hundreds of thousands of metal detected artefacts is indeed a concern of archaeological conservation, and should be a matter of public concern also. It it turns out that most are lost comparatively rapidly (compared to the thousands of years some of them lay safe in the ground, and the centuries or millennia they could have remained there if not hoiked out) this is a matter where there should be wider concern. So yes, it is "my business" to raise this question. I cannot see any artefact hunters raising it, still less proposing a solution.
So where are all the artefacts that were being dug up in those "good ole days" when everybody thought it was a great laugh baiting archaeologists instead of sharing their concerns?
A UK metal detectorist tells his guffawing mates a tall tale of how he and his colleagues baited an archaeologist back in the Old Days, by irresponsibly misleading the County Archaeologist into thinking they were going to plunder an area next to a Scheduled site:
A couple of days later, Ron, me and another co-conspirator [...] strode into the museum where the reptile hung out. “We’d like to see the plans and extent of **** ******.” [a roman site at the northern end of the County].“Of course,” says the secretary, and we follow her to the inner sanctum.Can you imagine a metal detectorist showing any kind of detailed map of "his" findspots in similar circumstances, either then or now? So, even when the tekkie lore says there was a "war" being waged by the archaeologists against artefact hunters, when three of them walk into a museum out of the blue asking for such information, they were not refused? What kind of anti-detectorism is that? Maybe instead the story of ubiquitous active hostility of archaeologists against artefact hunters is at least in part a tale concocted by some anti-archaeological detectorists like this writer tell to scare the newbies off collaboration with the heritage professionals, and to explain the chip on the shoulder they themselves have about archaeologists. In fact research I have done with Nigel Swift suggests that the degree of reporting of finds by metal detectorists going on before the PAS was set up to institutionalise it, was in fact at by no means as low a level as supporters of the PAS would like to make out. Again, the story of the "nasty arkies of the past" serves to enhance the image of the "approachable non-judgemental PAS Arkies" who want so desperately to be "partners" with artefact hunters.
I really do not see what, from the point of view of archaeology and general preservation, is at all "wrong" with saying "Stop Taking Our Past". Maybe somebody would like to explain it to us.
An archaeologist (a county archaeologist) on learning that a group of three artefact hunters, with an aggressive attitude to archaeologists, was intent on going out to a Roman site with a mechanical excavator to rip a hole in it to extract collectables (which, from what we are told, they indicated they intended to sell off). On learning that, he went out and had a word with the landowner. I see nothing "wrong" in him doing that. It is his job. In fact, I think most members of the public on learning of this would say he was NOT doing his job if he did NOT go out to alert the landowner of the issues this raises. In this case, however, because a group of metal detectorists was playing a trick, the landowner knew nothing of these 'plans' and was surprised to get such a visit.
Neither, therefore, do I see anything "funny" in a group of metal detectorists deliberately misleading heritage professionals, wasting their time and creating friction with a landowner. But then I am not an irresponsible guffawing metal detectorist.
The "funny story" is published on a blog accompanied by a vintage-looking photo of an old man in a conservatory with a grin on his face and a spade in his hand, and in front of him on the table a scatter of metal-detected items. Where did they come from and where are these objects now?
UPDATE 14.10.12
"what business is it of yours?" is the response to that last question from the blog-owner. That of course depends on whether one sees the historical record as something that can be robbed-out solely for private entertainment and profit, or whether it is something that belongs to everybody and should be shared by those who exploit it. Collectors suggest there should be more "transparency" from the preservationists, but we can see here that they do not feel any responsibility whatsoever to reciprocate. I suggest that with "rights" come "responsibilities".
Those (including the defiant US blog owner) who suggest that artefact hunting produces "benefits" by "rescuing" (sic) and "bringing to light finds" seem to be missing the point that it is neither if the artefacts and information associated with them then disappear from the face of the earth within a couple of decades or so of being dug up by an artefact hunter. What ultimately happens to the hundreds of thousands of metal detected artefacts is indeed a concern of archaeological conservation, and should be a matter of public concern also. It it turns out that most are lost comparatively rapidly (compared to the thousands of years some of them lay safe in the ground, and the centuries or millennia they could have remained there if not hoiked out) this is a matter where there should be wider concern. So yes, it is "my business" to raise this question. I cannot see any artefact hunters raising it, still less proposing a solution.
So where are all the artefacts that were being dug up in those "good ole days" when everybody thought it was a great laugh baiting archaeologists instead of sharing their concerns?
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