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As Mr Hosty has already said the idea of licensing has been chewed over very much - see above. I can't see it working. Take angling as an example. Many, many anglers do purchase their annual license. Others don't - they continue poaching.
I would like to see curators take a bit more of a lead in encouraging co-operation. The above talk about seeding and proactive metal detecting made me think. There are prolific sites out there that continue to be ploughed and are detected piecemeal. The really good sites are targeted by Nighthawks. Say, every year a rescue rally was organised by local socities AND curators on such sites, the (intellectual) rewards for all could be huge. I wouldn't want to see archaeological control per se, but some involvement. Perhaps they might advise on the thorny issue of ploughsoil depth. This is the biggest issue to me - the danger of ripping things up from in situ contexts.
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aching has the issue firmly grasped...
we must work together.. not in control but together.. we could in fact do rather nicely if we did... discovering new sites, recovering artefacts that would otherwise be destroyed, creating a sence of Shared Heritage. etc.
I also want to add that archaeolgoists learning how to use detectors would best learn that skill from detectorists... I have to laugh sometimes at ..
a) Archaeological Contractor using what could only be described as a toy detector...
b) Historic Scotlands own leaflet on MDs showing a fake detectorist with the detector head on the wrong way round and held at above ancle height.
Personally... if I want some one to do osteology I get an osteologist...if I want dendrochronology I get a dendrochronologist IF I want an MD survey I do not get an archaeolgist who has read the instructions of a new machine - I would prefer someone who knows what they are doing.
As to Night hawks... that is a separate issue... like the difference between a Professional Archaeologist and a Tomb Robber.
Feel free to pursue Nighthawks.. you will not be alone in your hatred of them.. detectorists included.
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Just to let you see a glimpse of what detectorists are talking about.. just so you can see that these discussions are a bit behind what is actually going on
Quote:quote:....Better still, I've written up all finds from a particular site of interest into a small booklet with each 'chapter' covering a particular field. Also included are my observations about pathways, roads, field names, field boundaries, soil types, non-metallic finds and topographical features as well as plots and photos of finds. In short, a hundred times more contextual information than would ever be given to the PAS.....
So you see... the thing that detectorists are discussing now is just how much info to record... who to give it to...
the record or not debate (to most detectorists) is old news..
They want to offer there services to development sites and work with archaeologists to help do topsoil scans... hey its gonna go in the back of a dumper truck in the end!
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Have used MDs on sites before and again recently. On two occasions, the guys were known to the mounties over a period of years and came recommended. Was a worthwile exercise. I had the opportunity to natter with an MD t`other day and he had some fairly disturbing things to say. One issue that clearly bristled his fur was the rudeness of some county mounties. It occurs to me that if MDs are making the effort to go that extra mile only to be met with a reception more appropriate to that of Mugabe, is it any wonder that we have nighthawks? Seems to me that as archaeologists we too should be going that extra mile.... as for bristlin fur, site seeding is on my personal list of dislikes as a deterrant...would be nice to see more MDs offering an opinion on here...County MDs anyone?
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tumbleweed!
Don't be shy!
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I think you would find a large number of responsible detectorists who would jump at the chance of working alongside you
Like the archaeological world there are still many dinosaurs - but a large number are on the ball, interested in their heritage and detect and record their finds responsibly
Co
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Welcome to BAJR Co.
nice to see you here.
You are of course quite right.. as we have seen on other forums.
In fact... this time next year!! ... watch this space.
I will also continue to promise the guide, recording sheets and stuff will be ready before I go off in August..[8D]
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Quote:quote:Originally posted by BAJR Host
I will also continue to promise the guide, recording sheets and stuff will be ready before I go off in August..[8D]
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am counting the days David........
http://www.ourpasthistory.com/md/indexa.htm
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yipes!
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