17th December 2005, 07:57 PM
Steve-B wrote:
Quote:quote:
Not really John, because you are talking absolute bollocks, that displays a distinct lack of understanding of even the basics of the hobby or the technology invloved... but in usual fashion you, on behalf of your masters will undermine any real laison that individuals attemp.
I've been trying to work out what point is being about made here about my understanding (or lack thereof)...is it?
a. Detectors do not have the capability of detecting items at a depth of up to 15".
b. Neither Steve-B nor GaryBrun are capable of giving technical information about the existance of a machine that is rumoured to reach greater depths.
c. Real liason that individuals attempt...(which individuals?)
d. That I have a master???
Please be more explicit. And I will be waiting with baited breath for your reply to Troll's recent post...[8D]
Troll wrote on another thread:
Quote:quote:This in itself is an open admission that monitoring of standards has been, and still is, virtually impossible to carry out nationwide to an acceptable standard.
Which is what I have been saying regarding the expecting detectorists to adhere to a set of guidlines which have no authority. If they can't be enforced then the reliance is upon the 'member' to be vigilant in maintaining those standards.
With regards to your most recent post. I am probably more interested in how your opinion was evolved. What circumstances or experiences have occured to cause you to equate detectorists with rapists? And if you are of the opinion that the entire country should be put under a Law making it illegal for anyone to dig his/her garden without first consulting an archaeologist. Or that archaeologists are the only people who have the right to dig anything out of the ground.
Now let me take a different stance from detectorist for a moment. What right do you have, to tell a farmer that he isn't allowed to plough certain parts of his land. There may be an ancient monument on his land, but so what. It's his land....not yours. No more than he has the right to go to your home and tell you that you have to paint your door a certain colour, or that you're not allowed to hang washing out to dry, or park your car in the driveway.
My point? The inference here is that only the archaeologists have the right to say what should or should not be done with regard to the land. That no-one has the right to dig for anything without the permission of an archaeologist. The 'heritage' I hear you say? That isn't going to put bread on a farmers table. It isn't going to feed and cloth his children. Therefore you have to rely on the government to pay him for the loss of income from not farming the land where there is an ancient monument. A payment that is made up of money paid to the government by people like myself as tax-payers.
I, for one, do not believe the heritage of this country is the sole responsibility of the archaeological community. The only reason there is any interest in heritage is because a large number of people, who are not archaeologically minded, have an interest in history. An interest which varies between "oh, I wonder how they built Stonehenge" to people like yourselves, for whom it becomes a vocation. But, in the great scheme of things, history takes a backseat to putting food in the shops etc.
So, it may be that, because I enjoy going on the occasional rally, you perceive me as a 'rapist'. That is your opinion, and you are entitled to it. But don't expect detectorists to fall into line and tip their collective forelocks as you pass them by...
..Nor is it an opinion I'd be too quick to repeat to the detectorists who have volunteered to work on the site you are excavating...Petethedig has told of his experiences in dealing with archaeologists, and the aparent lack of interest shown. Perhaps someone can explain to us just what the consensus of opinion is regarding who should be approached with information regarding the protection of a site.
Like Steve-B, I didn't come on this forum to create, or get involved in, an argument. But I do think equating me with a rapist is a bit close to the wind, and that I have the right to put the record straight.