4th December 2005, 02:15 PM
Call me naive (or Hilda if it really gives you pleasure) but in the grand scheme of things, what is the difference between an archaeologist and a metal detectorist? Archaeologists aren't called trowellists!
To me, a metal detectorist is an archaeologist that specialises in the use of a particular non-intrusive shallow depth technique. Or it be viewed as assisted fieldwalking... They are by definition studying the human past by its material remains. As such, this is an excellent example of an area of fieldwork based research where the amatuer (i.e. non-paid) can make a real and valuable contribution - actually only the amateur can do it, in practice.
So why regard it is an us and them situation, instead of a technique like res and mag etc? OK it's not the same but you get my drift. Why not encourage MD and bring it right INTO the practice of archaeology?
Of course there are nighthawks and unsavoury types, and sellers of antiquities: these have nothing to do with MD or archaeology, they just happen to use the same instrument.
We owe the dead nothing but the truth.
To me, a metal detectorist is an archaeologist that specialises in the use of a particular non-intrusive shallow depth technique. Or it be viewed as assisted fieldwalking... They are by definition studying the human past by its material remains. As such, this is an excellent example of an area of fieldwork based research where the amatuer (i.e. non-paid) can make a real and valuable contribution - actually only the amateur can do it, in practice.
So why regard it is an us and them situation, instead of a technique like res and mag etc? OK it's not the same but you get my drift. Why not encourage MD and bring it right INTO the practice of archaeology?
Of course there are nighthawks and unsavoury types, and sellers of antiquities: these have nothing to do with MD or archaeology, they just happen to use the same instrument.
We owe the dead nothing but the truth.