Focus on UK Metal Detecting: Keep it Quiet, They're On To Us.

"I think you're asking to become the latest expose'
in a forum not far from you with comments  
like that Goldpanner. Just  sit
back  and wait and see."
Today at 09:14:17 AM 

Yes, the eyes of the world are on you, tekkies. And some of us do not like at all what we see. So what's happening on a metal detecting forum near you? Take a look. Today a lot of UK tekkies say they are "gutted" (highly disappointed). You see a two-day commercial artefact grabbing rally they were busily organizing near Ashcott, Somerset was cancelled at the last minute by the landowner (which is his prerogative of course). It was announced by "Tafflaff (Rob)"  (August 30, 2013, 09:51:12 PM  - "cancelled due to circumstances beyond my understanding"). List administrator "Neil" ("Superhero Member", Reply #2 on: August 30, 2013, 10:32:07 PM) adds:

Rob has worked tirelessly over the past 2 days to try and find an alternative farm to hold the 2 day rally on, unfortunately with no luck. It's basically been out of our control. We had the farm secured for the past two months and they have suddenly just decided no. This is despite a conversation this week on Monday with the farmer, when they were more than happy to be having us. We are unable to offer an explanation for their decision now not to want a rally. It's a real shame and beyond our control. We really don't understand what has happened to change their mind. Apologies to all members for this bad news [...]

Good news for a bit of the archaeological heritage though isn't it?  "Goldpanner" ("Newbie", Reply #11  Today at 08:54:51 AM) comes up with a conspiracy theory and conceives how the 'victims' could counter the preservationsis:

I think theres more to thes cancellations that meet the eyes. Several rallies over the last few weeks have been cancelled. Are there some people working against us? Friend of mine in Essex has had a permission on a farm for the last 10 years only to be told last week they dont want any detectorists any more. Should we keep rallies a bit more secret in future, closed list? I.E. IF THEY DON'T KNOW ABOUT IT THEN THEY DON'T KNOW WHEN IT'S DAMIGING SO THEY CAN'T TELL THE BLOKE.

So just sort of sneak furtively up on it and "damige" it a bit (lot) and then scarper before the "bloke" gets told by the arkies that he's let a load of 'eritidg damiging oiks knacker the buried history of his land? A cunning plan indeed. Not very public-spirited though is it, keeping "the Bloke' in the dark. Still that's what their official "partners" tend to do a lot of these days too.

This seems to be the event:

140 acres of pasture in prime Roman/ Medieval settings.[...] We will also be inviting an FLO for id'ing finds.[...] The location of the rally will be sent by private message to everyone who has signed up the day before the rally.

So it looks like it was being kept a secret anyway. Just so preservationists don't "tell the Bloke"? But it seems possible that somebody did... If so, good for them. While prior observation suggests there's not much chance of that, it'd be nice if it was the PAS guy or gal. That is after all what their job should entail, advising the public impartially on portable antiquity issues, and no IfA card-holding archaeologist would be condoning (can condone) a commercial artefact hunting rally, PAS recording or no PAS recording.

If "Goldpanner" does not understand what the problem is with commercial rallies, then he or she can always ask their local PAS officer, can't they? I'd love to be a fly on the wall with a Dictaphone when that one is answered.

"Are there people working against us?" asks the hapless newbie.  Well, there are a few, yes, but not nearly enough.