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local tv: metal detectorists vs archaeologists
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Paul Barford
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Re: local tv: metal detectorists vs archaeologists
May 29, 2007, 08:11
The PAS is a very successful recording vehicle,
ask any FLO,they are snowed under with finds
waiting to be put through the system

Well, actually Kevmar, the actual number of new and complete records which were completed and entered on the PAS database in the period 1st April 2006 to 1st may 2007 has FALLEN. It was 28 400 (figures still to be confirmed by PAS there seems to be some disagreement how to count incomplete records). This is WELL down from last year's trumpeted 57 000 which prompoted Minister Lammy's ill-judged "heritage heroes" comment. Last year's figures were up - it transpires - mainly because of the reporting of finds by more non-detecting members of the public than previous years rather than the contribution of "detectorists".

It is PAS' failure to instill any idea of best practice in the majority of artefact hunters and collectors in this country, coupled with the obvious progressive and unrecorded erosion of the archaeological resource (shown in a most thought-provoking manner by HA's counter ticking steadily away) which is behind the mounting concern about just what it is that is happening to the archaeological record at the hands of artefact collectors. Sadly, the British archaeological milieu have merely watched on, shouting encouragement from the sidelines or even thick of the scrum. That HA counter obliges THEM to tell us what they think they are up to as much as anyone.

The PAS records had last week a total of 192,317 objects in its nationwide database, the fruits of ten years work, mainly among "detectorists". Now have a look at the figures on the HA counter and tell us what thoughts they would provoke in the mind of a "responsible detectorist" or anyone else? (And dont choose the easy way out and shrug your shoulders and say "they are wrong", if anything I think they are lower than they should be).

Surely even you can see in that light that this cannot be allowed to go on in this way without some VERY serious questions asked and some serious discussion - a discussion which both the artefact hunters and collectors, AND the archaeologists supporting and encouraging them (and that includes the PAS) are avoiding at all costs. At some stage though the running away has to stop and the problems faced, the ONLY question is whether sooner or later.

Paul Barford
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