14th December 2005, 04:41 PM
...and the bickering between the two of you showed quite clearly that any form of cohesion in the metal detecting world is a long way off indeed.
A metal-detector is a geophysical survey tool and can be used to great effect as part of an archaeological project. However to me the most irritating aspect of metal detecting is the emphasis on 'bling' at the expense of non-precious metals and context. The failure of most metal detectorists to understand this over two years ago was the main reason for my withdrawal from the Britarch discussion list. I am not going to repeat history again, so this will be the last thing I have to say on the matter.
To look at the past through the keyhole excavation of certain metals is to my mind absolutely bonkers.
Ferrous metals (for example) are completely excluded from the minds of metal detectorists as they have no monetary value. Yet they have an archaeological value - a scattering of nails and bolts might betray the location of an old house or fence, a large lump of iron might be the base of a bloomery or smithy. Only by careful plotting and proper excavation can these slight traces of human existence in the landscape be detected.
A metal-detector is a geophysical survey tool and can be used to great effect as part of an archaeological project. However to me the most irritating aspect of metal detecting is the emphasis on 'bling' at the expense of non-precious metals and context. The failure of most metal detectorists to understand this over two years ago was the main reason for my withdrawal from the Britarch discussion list. I am not going to repeat history again, so this will be the last thing I have to say on the matter.
To look at the past through the keyhole excavation of certain metals is to my mind absolutely bonkers.
Ferrous metals (for example) are completely excluded from the minds of metal detectorists as they have no monetary value. Yet they have an archaeological value - a scattering of nails and bolts might betray the location of an old house or fence, a large lump of iron might be the base of a bloomery or smithy. Only by careful plotting and proper excavation can these slight traces of human existence in the landscape be detected.