archaeologyexile Wrote:I think the point is dissemination of information......why else would you dig something up other than for personal gain. I'm all for profit but why not combine it with doing the right thing!
You miss the point. Most ''dig stuff up'' because of an interest in history / archaeology. Most don't sell what they find and as material in ploughsoil is usually damaged by ploughing and corroded by modern fertilizers, has little or no commercial value.
How is something sitting in achieve, possibly for years ''disseminating information'' ? If something like a Viking gold ring is found by a MD' er then of course it should go on display in a museum but why should museum storerooms be crammed with every archaeological artefact and coin ever dug up by a member of the public ? Who benefits from that ?