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| Rally organiser Parry |
The organiser of a charity metal detecting rally [...] said that enthusiasts were helping archaeologists and historians to preserve ancient history. Mr John Parry, from Whitchurch, organises regular rallies on farmland to help raise money for the town's Lions Club [...] Mr Parry is a founder member of the Cornovii Discoverers Metal Detecting Club [...] "We would like to encourage other metal detector users to act responsibly and report their finds to the relevant organisations involved in preserving our ancient history," he said.So the local "Lion's Club" takes money from an informal group that loots the archaeological heritage for money? If that was Syria... but it's not is it? White-skinned people you see.
Now, when, oh when, will British archaeologists get up off their backsides and explain that artefact hunters cherry-picking the archaeological record for collectables to have or sell, is not (in ANY way) "helping archaeologists and historians" (sic) and hoiking collectable bits out of the archaeological record is damaging it, not "preserving" it. When will we see archaeologists explaining that to folk instead of the usual dumbdown? In the case of the hoard these people found then it's not "responsible' to report it, it's obligatory.
Mr Parry explains all his members are "very passionate" about their collecting activities and "are all thrilled to know that our find near Wem will help local academics and others appreciate the value of reporting"... umm. I think they do not really need this guy to tell them that. It's what academics and others expect of the takers. Sadly, it's the heritage grabbers that need to be made to appreciate the need for reporting. So few do.
Mr Parry said he wanted to encourage other landowners to offer land to search as part of responsible digs and charity rallies.Well, of course he does, doesn't he? A responsible dig however is not one that you do just to hoik collectables. He also says that if his pay-to-take group can get more hoiking-land: "It will help us to recovering (sic) more of our lost ancient history and thereby fill more of the dark gaps in our country's long and colourful past.[...] "It will also encourage newcomers to the hobby of metal detecting to join an ethical club who adhere to the laws that govern our hobby." it's either dark or it's colourful, Ms Austin, eh? Equally, it is either ethical or it's just legal. When it comes to artefact hunting, ethical means you don't jolly well do it. So please STOP using words you do not understand, Mr Parry.
3 comments:
You have a total lack of respect of what metal detectorists have contributed to the knowledge of many coins and artifacts found. If it wasn't for detectorists, archaeologists wouldn't know half of what they know. The items found in farmers fields would never see light again if they weren't dug up. Most finds made are from land that has been ploughed over the ages so no ruining the strata. Be grateful and not against. All I can think is that you are extremely jealous that you are not discovering these artefacts yourself. You sir are a grave robber. How's that back at you.
"How's that?" is playground talk.
But "coins and artEfacts" are not "knowledge" any more than spotting a Maserati in the high street adds to our knowledge of engineering or metallurgy or the demographics of who drives them. Who told you they were?
"If it wasn't for detectorists, archaeologists wouldn't know half of what they know. " that is rhetorical ignorant bollocks. In reality, it reveals that you have not the first idea of what archaeologists know and how they know it. How could you find out bout that, I wonder, before making pronouncements like that which only reveal your ignorance?
Conservation is not about shooting all the rhinos so we can see their horns in foreign shops, is it? Why do you think the archaeological resource is not something that requires conservation? Because YOU want to get your hands on all the goodies for yourself, hang the information lost every time when contexts are trashed by keyhole digging by artefact hunters? Context is not just "strata" (a term, you should know, used more in geology than archaeology).
Nothing to be "grateful" to the rhino poachers and bird egg collectors for. Nothing there to "respect". Really.
"Jealous" of those who think it's OK to be an immature, disrespectful and ignorant oaf, gaily destroying what others value, for personal entertainment and profit? No, jealousy does not come into it. I think here you are ascribing your own emotions to others.
and how ironic that the comment appears below a text that exhorts:
"Now, when, oh when, will British archaeologists get up off their backsides and explain that artefact hunters cherry-picking the archaeological record for collectables to have or sell, is not (in ANY way) "helping archaeologists and historians" (sic) and hoiking collectable bits out of the archaeological record is damaging it, not "preserving" it. When will we see archaeologists explaining that to folk instead of the usual dumbdown? "
The reality is that of course ChrisG did not even READ the post before shooting off a comment on it. This was not comment ON the content of the post above, but a reaction to its mere existence. When are we going to see British archaeology explaining to these people what their 'arguments" miss?
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