30th August 2006, 07:14 PM
And here is a reply from Norman, who is organisaing the rally.
I look forward to meeting him and others while down there
I am the man with two heads who has organised the controversial Thornborough Henges rally and having noticed postings on your site I would like the opportunity to defend/promote my hobby.
I am an independent detectorist who is currently assisting in the archaeological research on the roadworks on the A66 and have an excellent woring relationship with the archaeologists involved, and I have worked very closely with PAS at several rallies over recent years, and have formed a strong relationship with them. I am also a strong advocate of metal detection being a part of research on all archaeological surveys, and of archaeologists being present at all detecting rallies.
I feel there are strong objections to my hobby because archaeologists in certain quarters feel the hobby is linked to theft, damage, e-bay and finds not being recorded.I have detected for 10 years and do not know of any detectorist who goes on land or known sites without authority. I know of no detecting rallies that have caused damage to any sites, where detectorists dig to a maximum of 6 inches on land that has been ploughed up to a depth of 2 feet. Detectorists do sell on e-bay but then again Cymru Museum in Wales have displayed up to 1,000 Roman coins for sale on the site this year.(whats the difference).In relation to recording I know of no rallies in the recent few years that were not attended by PAS, except one held by me in Wragby,Lincolnshire, last weekend, when PAS elected to go fieldwalking instead of attending. (whoops, they misssed loads and we found a previously unrecorded Roman site). Never mind they may have found some paottery and flint when fieldwalking!!
Please come to Thornborough, share a few drinks, talk to us, listen to us, observe us, make new friends and maybe you will be pleasantly surprised. We are here to stay and will eventually be part of every archaeological survey. We are a vital facility available to all archaeologists free of charge.
Thanks for listening.
Norman Smith
Another day another WSI?
I look forward to meeting him and others while down there
I am the man with two heads who has organised the controversial Thornborough Henges rally and having noticed postings on your site I would like the opportunity to defend/promote my hobby.
I am an independent detectorist who is currently assisting in the archaeological research on the roadworks on the A66 and have an excellent woring relationship with the archaeologists involved, and I have worked very closely with PAS at several rallies over recent years, and have formed a strong relationship with them. I am also a strong advocate of metal detection being a part of research on all archaeological surveys, and of archaeologists being present at all detecting rallies.
I feel there are strong objections to my hobby because archaeologists in certain quarters feel the hobby is linked to theft, damage, e-bay and finds not being recorded.I have detected for 10 years and do not know of any detectorist who goes on land or known sites without authority. I know of no detecting rallies that have caused damage to any sites, where detectorists dig to a maximum of 6 inches on land that has been ploughed up to a depth of 2 feet. Detectorists do sell on e-bay but then again Cymru Museum in Wales have displayed up to 1,000 Roman coins for sale on the site this year.(whats the difference).In relation to recording I know of no rallies in the recent few years that were not attended by PAS, except one held by me in Wragby,Lincolnshire, last weekend, when PAS elected to go fieldwalking instead of attending. (whoops, they misssed loads and we found a previously unrecorded Roman site). Never mind they may have found some paottery and flint when fieldwalking!!
Please come to Thornborough, share a few drinks, talk to us, listen to us, observe us, make new friends and maybe you will be pleasantly surprised. We are here to stay and will eventually be part of every archaeological survey. We are a vital facility available to all archaeologists free of charge.
Thanks for listening.
Norman Smith
Another day another WSI?