Friday, May 05, 2006

UK/Detectorists update Watching the detectorists
Many archaeologists believe they are a vital part of their work, while some dismiss them as mere treasure hunters. Now a new code of conduct is recognising the role of metal detector enthusiasts in mapping the UK's history.

For anybody who encountered one in childhood, the strange whistles and beeps of a metal detector conjured up a special kind of magic.

Each noise from the contraption would generate a wave of excitement that would subside only when one realised that the unearthing of a rusty horseshoe or drinks can would not lead to a call to be the next Indiana Jones.


This is a far more detailed article on the agreement and history than an earlier one posted here. Note the following:

Since 1996, the legal position has been easier for detectorists. That year's Treasure Act makes the process for gold and silver finds over 300 years old absolutely clear.

The finders and landowners can expect to be paid market value for their discovery - after an inquest and valuation - which has led to some big rewards and given a great incentive for the most valuable finds to be reported.


Don't know who is doing the paying, presumably the gov't.

But for most the pleasure of finding something historic is all they need. Mr Baldock says his favourite item was a Bronze Age axe head.

"It was 4,000 years old, and finding it was a great thrill. There is no [cash] value in the item, except it is one of the oldest metal items around.


Earlier, the article refers to potential benefits of having an Army of Archaeological Davids (that phrase is going to get old so fast):

Finds as spectacular as the Ringlemere Cup are vanishingly rare, but thousands of items, many mundane, and many not metal, are reported to the Portable Antiquities Scheme - based at the British Museum - every year.

Archaeologists, except for specific cases of survey research and CRM work, don't generally go out looking for isolated finds and that can skew one's view of overall landscape use.

This could well appeal to a large number of amateurs in the US as well. Unclear what percentage of relic hunters are strictly into it for the profit (true looters) and how many are okay with the money and/or having a cool old artifact to put on their mantle. I suspect most of the latter would probably be anal-retentive enough to report and record the items they find since it's kind of an odd person who would spend that amount of time poking around looking for stuff in any weather anyway.

So maybe this might be a good model to use in formulating a policy in the US. It's sure to draw fire, especially the part about who is going to pay for items. But, as commenters and correspondents have noted, perhaps the regular market could take care of that.