ourpasthistory.com » Metal Detecting
Where can't I detect and dig?
Scheduled Monuments
Some archaeological sites are protected by law - These are called Scheduled Ancient Monuments (SAMs).
These Monuments and areas are of national importance and are protected areas. It is advisable to keep well away from scheduled monuments, not only to stay within the law, but to avoid archaeological remains which may extend beyond the legally protected area. (An exclusion zone around monuments is gradually being introduced) It has been suggested that you stay at least 100 metres from any boundary.
It is an offence to use a metal detector on a Scheduled site without the written agreement of the Secretary of State.
It is a separate offence to remove any archaeological object from a scheduled site by the use of a metal detector. The same restrictions apply to land within zones which have been designated as Areas of Archaeological Importance. (In England these are all areas of historic towns: York, Hereford, Chester, Exeter, Canterbury.)
Always research your permitted site to familiarise yourself with boundaries and scheduled monuments - Find out where Scheduled Monuments are to avoid breaking the law. Please also bear in mind that archaeologists often react guardedly to enquiries about the location of sites, particularly in areas where there is a problem of looting. You may like to consider offering a reference.
A landowner should warn you of the existence and location of Scheduled Ancient Monuments on his/her land - but to be on the safe side, contact English Heritage
English Heritage keep records of scheduled monuments, but you can also find out if a monument is scheduled by consulting the local Historic Environment Record or County Archaeological Service.
Historic Environment Record (HER) - Used to be called the Sites and Monuments Record (SMR)
The information quoted below, comes from "A Survey of GIS Standards for the English Archaeological Record Community" written by Tyler Bell and Andrew Bevan of Oxford ArchDigital. This was a report commissioned by English Heritage and is not totally comprehensive as some HER/UAD did not reply to the survey [76 bodies actually did.]
Page 18 of the report states that:
- 83 % of HERs that responded are not online.
- 5.6% have a searchable online database.
- 5.6% have a searchable online database with a Global Information System attached. (GIS)
- 3.7 % are selective about the data that place online.
- 1.9% have their data available via an ADS data dump.
A lot of these plan to go online in the near future, either by using grants from the HLF or other grant bodies. It is an expensive business.
National Monument Records are also available from English Heritage, RCAHMS, RCAHMW and the Environment and Heritage Agency, Northern Ireland.
In addition ADS also contains a vast listing of records from various sources, including hosting many of the HERs.
To use ADS follow these instructions
Click on this: http://www.magic.gov.uk/website/magic/
click select topic
Click on 'design my own topic and select.
when window opens, select box called scheduled monument then click 'done' in the top right of window.
Click in the circle below called 'place'
Type in the nearest place (village or town) to your field.
click open map
run the cross over to your field and click. This will zoom you in each time you click on the area involved.
If there is a scheduled site there you will see a area highlighted by a red outline and with a beigey coloured infil. Just keep clicking on this and you will see just where it is.
Tags: metal detecting, metal detecting club, metal detecting rallies, metal detector, our past history, portable antiquities scheme, recording
Comment
Navigate for more: How deep is plough soil? How do I find some land to detect on?