26th December 2005, 12:56 AM
Quote:quote:Originally posted by troll
I personally can`t stand the concept of metal detecting as a "hobby".
It is your right to have this opinion/belief Troll, no responsible detectorists would say otherwise. No more that some detectorists(myself included) are horrified to see JCB's driving over protected sites and ripping the topsoil off (usually going through Medieval 'layers' in order to get to their target which is usually the Roman 'layer'.
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I also find it disturbing that any dialogue between the two camps seems to always come down to an assumption on the part of MDs that archaeologists assume total control of the nations heritage.
So who would you have controlling the nations heritage? Certainly not any 'unqualifed' or 'inexperienced' Civil Servant. You then go on to say:
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.....it is high time that central government moves to introduce effective legislation to protect the historic environment from the ravages of modern development and, metal detection as a hobby...
Which, I suspect, would rule out Metal Detectorists in general
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Rather than seeing this thread as an arena where archies and MDs defend eachothers position-could we not move in one direction? Preferably one that involves seeing the nations heritage as the main focus?
This was my original intention Troll. However, as you, PMP and T.I.M. have pointed out, not all archaeologists 'approve' of MD's, in fact, you'd like to see us banned as a 'hobby'. If we were to be banned as a hobby, what would you have us do then? Work for archaeological units? Join a queue in the hope that one day some archaeologist might do us the honour of calling on us to help out at a dig?
I suspect that there is a lack of understanding on the part of some archaeologists on what makes a Metal Detectorist tick. Whether this is through ingnorance or a 'could not care less' attitude, I don't know. But one thing is for sure, if the archaeological community, as a whole and not just those who are already working with MD's, want the 'co-operation' of detectorists in recording and protecting our heritage, then I would suggest that some of you try to get some understanding, because using the heavy hand of legislation will not do anything to help. As soon as it is known that the archaeologists are trying to get this done, there will be opposition, which will drag on - and on. In the meantime, a lot of information will be lost because detectorists will realise that they have been wasting their time trying to work with the archaeologists, and that all we've received for out efforts is a stab in the back.
Please don't take this as a 'threat'. I am merely pointing out a senario that could occur because of a lack of understanding. Negotiation is the art of compromise. Any party which says 'play by my rules or I take my ball home' is not negotiating but demanding, which will only result in the other party walking away.