9th December 2005, 12:17 PM
I knew there was paranoia within the MD world about PAS, but didn't realise it went as far as that [:0]
I think (personally and I don't mean to offend) that this boils down to the fact that many MDs still don't realise that the artifacts are not all that important, and often us archs couldn't care less about them. It is the context of the artifacts that is important and it is that which many arcaheologists fear that MDs are damaging. Of course there are some archs who are blindly opposed to MDs, but there always will be.
I agree that there is a right to metal detect, and don't believe that any kind of licencing would solve anything. There will always be people who break the rules as there is in archaeology.
I am happy to see that you intend to work closely with us HERs and PAS, and hope that when the time comes we have a good working relationship. I also hope that this does not undermine PAS, but there will always be room for flexibility (I hope) on all sides should problems occur.
I think (personally and I don't mean to offend) that this boils down to the fact that many MDs still don't realise that the artifacts are not all that important, and often us archs couldn't care less about them. It is the context of the artifacts that is important and it is that which many arcaheologists fear that MDs are damaging. Of course there are some archs who are blindly opposed to MDs, but there always will be.
I agree that there is a right to metal detect, and don't believe that any kind of licencing would solve anything. There will always be people who break the rules as there is in archaeology.
I am happy to see that you intend to work closely with us HERs and PAS, and hope that when the time comes we have a good working relationship. I also hope that this does not undermine PAS, but there will always be room for flexibility (I hope) on all sides should problems occur.