ourpasthistory.com: Metal Detecting

ourpasthistory.com » Metal Detecting

Metal Detecting ...What's it all about?

Metal detecting and field-walking are probably the most popular and accessible types of amateur archaeological activity.

Every year thousands of archaeological objects are discovered, many of these by metal detector users, but also by people whilst out walking, gardening or going about their daily work. These discoveries offer an important source for understanding our past.

Metal detectorists have recovered a huge amount of material for archaeological research - progress could be even greater if more finds were reported. While thousands of items are found each year by detectorists, even today only an small proportion are recorded.

There has been a lot of work to promote voluntary recording - In the absence of mandatory reporting of all finds in England and Wales, it's down to us as responsible detectorists to correct this imbalance by recording our finds.

If you do unearth an archaeological object it is very important that it is recorded.

Even for those of us who do follow the metal detecting code of practice, there still remain problems - many detectorists lack the specialist resources to conserve their finds, and may unintentionally treat them in ways that harm them.

There are ethical dilemmas about whether it is right to amass personal collections of material inaccessible to more detailed research, or to sell such collections on the open market. Looting still takes place.

There are also concerns that the payment of rewards for 'Treasure' finds sends out a questionable message.

But it is crucial to work through these issues, so that in the long term we all gain a greater understanding of our archaeological inheritance.

The reason for these web pages is to encourage metal detectorists of the importance of voluntarily recording and reporting finds with the Portable Antiquities Scheme while at the same time suggesting what constitutes good practice together with the reasons why certain other practices are not desirable.

This site also includes information on the responsibility of the finder for the artefacts that they have in their care. This is simply to encourage detectorists to record and to help stem the drain on 'lost' artefact's not being recorded .

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Metal Detecting ...What's it all about?

When a find is made it holds no real importance until it has been identified and recorded

Metal Detecting ...What's it all about? - contents

Getting Started

Where can I detect?

Metal Detecting Clubs

Identify your finds

Researching your site

Record your finds with PAS

Use the PAS Database

Find spot location

Preserve your finds

NCMD and FID

Code of Practise

Standards in Detecting

Selling your finds?

Whites MXT

My Treasure Diary

The Perfect Partnership

Getting involved