Here are some of the coins discovered at the royal Anglo-Saxon site at Rendlesham near Sutton Hoo.
Archaeology Magazine |
A blog commenting on various aspects of the private collecting and trade in archaeological artefacts today and their effect on the archaeological record.
Archaeology Magazine |
3 comments:
Hi Paul,
Appreciate not post related but couldn't find a contact me button.
In regards to metal detecting and archaeology I was wondering what 'end point' for want of a better expression you would like to see. Is it say all detectorists banned, licensed, working with Archie's etc. should the pas be expanded, abolished, replaced etc.
I just wondered what model, again for the want of a better word, you think society should use to find and record its history. That is based on the assumption that as a society we should go looking to 'find' more about our history.
Hope that makes some sense.
"Is it say all detectorists banned, licensed, working with Archie's etc.,
Not "banned" but working within a proper framework in a systematic manner to ensure full public benefit, and in a way that excludes the cowboys and others who detract from the image of the hobby.
"should the pas be expanded, abolished, replaced etc."
expanded, given a proper place within the legislative framework of heritage management, with powers which give it clout instead of the passive approach it is forced to have now.
"I just wondered what model, again for the want of a better word, you think society should use to find and record its history
There is obviously an important a place for amateur archaeology, as there always has been in Britain, but that has to be archaeology, not wanton pilfering of sites for collectables. For this there has to be information and the possibility for people to get proper information and even (voluntarily) trained. The situation is favourable in Britain, due to the enormous amount of 'how to' archaeology books out there (in stark contrast to many other countries).
In general, and I've published a couple of things on this, the ideal would be something like the system of systematic searching and inventorying we have in Poland (Archeologiczne Zdjęcie Polski) rather than the ad hoc and rather bumbling "people show us a little of what you've hoiked" approach. Such a scheme would easily incorporate amateurs and volunteers (as well as students) and yes, metal detector surveyors.
I hope that answers your question.
Thank you Paul. Just good to see what different professionals think.
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