The Southwest Detectorist UK metal detecting club that was intending to target the nationally-important archaeological site at All Cannings in a commercial event apparently became aware of the criticism their activities provoked once people became aware of them (despite their planning them through a closed group on social media). Overnight, they have changed the name of the group and its logo. Saturday, when the decision was taken to call the rally off, there were no new posts on the FB page, but on Sunday morning a few more discussing the alternative arrangements for that rally and how to get the money back.
This however is not a coup, the organizers remain the same guys that were planning to pilfer artefacts from the All Cannings site - Danny Patrick (Also: South-Coast Relics Metal Detecting UK, Hammy Hunter, David Willett (Salisbury), Ryan "Skinny" Clarke (Andover), Shawn Chant (Salisbury "Hi I’m looking for land to get my metal detecting club on we pay handsomely")
Why did they change the name? Very probably it was concern for their commercial activity. Until now, if a farmer they approached for permission to enter their land and take away any historical collectables they fancy had googled their name, they'd have found very little on the internet, just a 'members-only' Facebook page and a few totally unappealing videos of rally japers that I defy anyone to watch through to the end. It is difficult to avoid coming to the impression now that this is entirely deliberate. A landowner seeing this would have little possibility of determining what that group and its 3800+ members actually represent. Once Twitter, Facebook and some archaeoblogs started drawing attention to what Danny, Hammy, Davey, Ryan and Shawn were prepared to do to get their money, the chances of a landowner finding out what they are up to increases, hence the name change to The Detectorists Metal detecting uk. This group, The Detectorists Metal detecting uk has changed its name to hide its association withe the All Cannings rally. But I think that if they are a group of "responsible metal detectorists", there should be no need to hide their activities, not admit to past mistakes, and show they can be trusted by being transparent and opening their social media to general view,. What have they got to hide? What questions can they not answer? How firm is their commitment to the Code of Best Practice for Responsible Metal Detecting in England and Wales? Show yourselves, 'The Detectorists Metal detecting uk'.
UPDATE 29th Sept 2019
It is interesting to note that four members have left the group since this morning today. Did they leave in disgust or were they pushed?
UPDATE UPDATED 30th Sept 2019
Now the 'closed group' has abandoned all pretence of transparency in favour of isolationist tribalism and become a 'secret group'. UK metal detecting officially becomes part of the Dark Web.
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