13th December 2005, 01:07 AM
Sniper. I fully agree with your concern over the treatment of human remains that are found by detectorists. The various organisations which exist for Metal Detecting, have their own code of practice/conduct. Each one I have seen emphasises that any human remains that are discovered should be reported IMMEDIATELY to the authorities, even if there is doubt whether they are human or not.
The problem lies in relying upon the detectorist to follow the code. It is known, and in some cases documented, that destruction of cemetery sites has occured. There have been cases where Anglo-Saxon brooches, the type normally found as grave goods, have been found by detectorists in soil which has been transported from another site.
Proving that the cemetery was destroyed deliberately is nigh on impossible, as is proving that detectorists have acted other than as the code of practice suggests. There has to be a certain amount of trust that the correct procedure is being followed in all cases where such finds are made.
One solution to the problem of 'protecting' sites like you mention, is to organise a 'field day'. Basically, a day/weekend where archaeologists and detectorists meet up with the intent to go over, literally, every inch of the area concerned. Once the area has been searched like this a couple of times, and make sure it is highly publisised, there will be nothing (or at least very little) for the 'nighthawks' to find. It won't be worth their effort. In the meantime, the local archaeologists have had much to record, the detectorists have had their day(s) out detecting, and the area has now become undesirable to those who would plunder the site.
The problem lies in relying upon the detectorist to follow the code. It is known, and in some cases documented, that destruction of cemetery sites has occured. There have been cases where Anglo-Saxon brooches, the type normally found as grave goods, have been found by detectorists in soil which has been transported from another site.
Proving that the cemetery was destroyed deliberately is nigh on impossible, as is proving that detectorists have acted other than as the code of practice suggests. There has to be a certain amount of trust that the correct procedure is being followed in all cases where such finds are made.
One solution to the problem of 'protecting' sites like you mention, is to organise a 'field day'. Basically, a day/weekend where archaeologists and detectorists meet up with the intent to go over, literally, every inch of the area concerned. Once the area has been searched like this a couple of times, and make sure it is highly publisised, there will be nothing (or at least very little) for the 'nighthawks' to find. It won't be worth their effort. In the meantime, the local archaeologists have had much to record, the detectorists have had their day(s) out detecting, and the area has now become undesirable to those who would plunder the site.