Reading Practice 18

[1] Metal detectors are used to find metal. Sometimes, a metal detectorist might find something valuable, such as a historical relic or artefact. A metal detector might discover something of great importance. For example, in 2000, two sets of Iron Age jewellery was discovered by Kevan Hall’s. His discovery was followed by an excavation. In 2001, Cliff Bradshaw in Kent discovered the Ringlemere Cup, a Bronze Age artefact. His find led to an exaction funded by English Heritage.

 

[2] However, due to a recent survey on metal detecting in Britain, only a small percentage of discoveries are actually being reported to museums. Additionally, many protected, archaeological sites were raided and damaged by metal detectorists. In the 1980s, bronze artefacts were stolen from a Suffolk site and in the 1990s, a Surrey site was plundered. The result of such activity is that essential information about these sites is lost. Archaeology depends on understanding the location of an artefact, the terrain it is found in and the connections between the item and key evidence. While radiocarbon dating can give us the age of an object, we still know very little about it without information about the context and location of the artefact. On the other hand, knowing the location and surrounding evidence of an object can help us interpret further the origin and meaning of an object. Because of this, certain archaeologists have encouraged stricter regulation on metal detectorists while others suggest better communication and education among the metal detecting community.

 

[3] An archaeologist called Tony Gregory in Norfolk collected a group of detectorists to survey the Roman temple site at Caistor St Edmund. The purpose was to estimate the damage done by groups of treasure hunter robbers who were plundering by night and to stop further damage. Through this type of constructive cooperation, detectorists are more open in revealing their findings. For example, Iron Age and Bronze Age artefacts in England have been recovered and reported to the Portable Antiquities Scheme.

 

[4] Metal detecting research has also led to useful information in the area of battlefield archaeology. The work done for BBC’s Two Men in a Trench is an example of this. On the other hand, disorganized metal detection has led to a loss of information. Most metal detection takes place on cultivated land, which leads us to understand about ploughing in these sites. The findings of Anglo-Saxon grave goods in East Anglia have led to archaeologists’ pinpointing new sites and the effect of ploughing on the disappearance of remains. Additionally, metal detection has revealed attrition on the land and that the use of chemicals on cultivated land has damaged many artefacts buried in the earth.

 

[5] Regulation about the reporting of finds varies in different parts of the country. ‘Treasure Trove’ law in Scotland requires that all discoveries are reported, and the law in Northern Ireland is now stricter than before. In the rest of the UK, regulation is not very strict and under the Treasure Act, only some categories must be reported. However, finders are motivated to report with a reward for their discoveries. In 1997 a pilot scheme began where Finds Liaison Officers were appointed to have archaeological finds identified and recorded. Initially, it was very successful – 37,518 artefacts were recorded in the year 2000-2001. In 2002, Lottery funding was provided to expand the Scheme across all of England and Wales.

 

[6] Combining GPS with information from geophysical surveys and aerial photography has resulted in increased findings. Research the Civil War siege is now underway at Grafton Regis, Northamptonshire thanks to this technology.

 

[7] Despite new procedures and improvements, metal detectorists still lack the expertise to conserve their discoveries, and may damage them. There are ethical questions to consider regarding the collection and sale of such material, and there are some questions whether the payment of rewards for findings is appropriate or not. Nevertheless, we must address these points so that we can learn to appreciate our archaeological inheritance.