19th November 2008, 03:50 PM
Not too surprising for the following reasons:
1. If archaeologists find 'treasure' during an excavation it will go, via their finds and archives procedures, straight to the museum, not via the PAS
2. Much metal detecting occurs on on farmland - which is not necessarily the same type of land earmarked for development and therfore investigated by archaeologists.
These are my main and serious comments on the PAS report, but if i'm being really cynical (I will now stand very far back with body armour)
3. Perhaps some of the treasure reported by metal detectorists (and i'm not aiming this at any one at all) actually came from sites that archaeologists are not allowed to investigate ie. protected. Change the cordinates, report to PAS and hey presto, its a legitimate find!
and before I get shot, I'd like to say that I do believe most metal detectorists are very responsible and do a great job.
1. If archaeologists find 'treasure' during an excavation it will go, via their finds and archives procedures, straight to the museum, not via the PAS
2. Much metal detecting occurs on on farmland - which is not necessarily the same type of land earmarked for development and therfore investigated by archaeologists.
These are my main and serious comments on the PAS report, but if i'm being really cynical (I will now stand very far back with body armour)
3. Perhaps some of the treasure reported by metal detectorists (and i'm not aiming this at any one at all) actually came from sites that archaeologists are not allowed to investigate ie. protected. Change the cordinates, report to PAS and hey presto, its a legitimate find!
and before I get shot, I'd like to say that I do believe most metal detectorists are very responsible and do a great job.