10th August 2006, 09:11 AM
Quote:quote:Originally posted by DAZ 1900
Hi all, Not sure about holding a Rally in such an area that is Archaeologically sensitive but at least a PAS/Archaeologist presence will be maintained for recording purposes be it Lithics or Metallic so i would like to wish David and the Team all the best and hope that the Detectorist's in attendance will welcome them. Hope it goes well!!
Why are you as a responsible detectorist not "sure" about holding an artefact collection rally in an archaeologically sensitive area like this? It seems a pretty cut and dried case to me. The only justification that can be offered is the self-centred attitudes of a number of people determined to ride roughshod across any other concerns to fulfil their own personal acquisitive "needs". I would have thought a responsible detectorist would be "sure" that (archaeological presence or not), this is a rally that they should not support in any way.
As for "at least", no matter how hard they try the PAS, David and his "Team" will be in a less than satisfactory situation to do what is required to produce archaeologically useful results. It is highly irresponsible to set up a rally as this one was without adequate provision from the outset for full and proper recording (funny how nobody seems to have hurried to answer my point about the Corfe Castle Rally "working together"). Inviting a few token archaeologists along is no resolution of the problem on this site, or any other, nor helpful in getting a resolution of the overall problems produced by the artefact-hunting "Rally Season" (see thread in the Understanding Detecting section).
While I do not doubt for a moment David's good intentions, I personally feel that the archaeological presence here will only legitimise the despoilation of a particularly sensitive (and controversial) part of the archaeological record. This can only have negative results alongside the postive ones of "getting a few of the finds on record" before they disappear into a multitude of scatered personal collections. While I am sure we all wish them the best of luck in getting as much information as possible from the artefact hunters before the weekend is over and it disappears, I dont think this should be allowed to obscure the wider issues.
Steve may try using faecal metaphors to crudely dismiss these concerns, they nevertheless are real and require open discussion. It is only on the basis of such openness and free exchange of a variety of opinions that one can even begin the process of "working together". So yes, let's light those candles and take a good HARD look at what lies in the darkness around the artefact hunting issues. Let's bring them out into the light and take a good hard look instead of just stumbling around in the half light or turning a blind eye.
And a few BAJR archaeological observers going along to Thornborough may encourage this sort of serious exchange of views instead of the head-patting and blind-eye-turning we so often see from the PAS and other parts of the pro-detecting lobby.
Paul Barford
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