12th September 2005, 12:42 PM
Control of Md's! It is a complex problem, and one that has been long debated. I remember years ago discussing this issue over many tea breaks. The solution was not that dissimilar, namely, that all MD users would have to be licenced, applied for in retrospect by existing users and by newcomers at the point they purchase thier machine. once in place and DC officer, policeman or eager archaeologist upon seeing a MD at play could ask to see their ID (wouldn't stop nighthawks)...
MD's have and do play a vital role in archaeology. Many sites would not have been found without them. Also God knows how many artefacts would not have been recovered without their use (usually from the spoil heap). The big problem I have found with MD's is their innate secrecy. They will happilly show you their finds, but when asked where they came from, silence. This code of silence even extends to their clubs and their fellow MDs. They are terrified of their sites being looted by their colleagues, or the site being sechduled.
They expect (quite rightly) to be acknowledged by the archaeological profession, but want to give very little in return.
A case in point is a MD turned archaeologist (and a very good one), and now a Finds Liason Officer. Dispite their position this individual still has a HUGE private collection (not conserved or properly recorded). They still detect, but with an increased knowledge Poacher turned GameKeeper ??
It's a thorny problem, and one that needs to be addressed. We need MDs but at what cost...
MD's have and do play a vital role in archaeology. Many sites would not have been found without them. Also God knows how many artefacts would not have been recovered without their use (usually from the spoil heap). The big problem I have found with MD's is their innate secrecy. They will happilly show you their finds, but when asked where they came from, silence. This code of silence even extends to their clubs and their fellow MDs. They are terrified of their sites being looted by their colleagues, or the site being sechduled.
They expect (quite rightly) to be acknowledged by the archaeological profession, but want to give very little in return.
A case in point is a MD turned archaeologist (and a very good one), and now a Finds Liason Officer. Dispite their position this individual still has a HUGE private collection (not conserved or properly recorded). They still detect, but with an increased knowledge Poacher turned GameKeeper ??
It's a thorny problem, and one that needs to be addressed. We need MDs but at what cost...