A jobless man on welfare found one of the most important treasures of the century, according to British archaeologists. Over 1,500 pieces of Anglo-Saxon gold and silver work from the seventh century were found in a farmer's field. (The Anglo-Saxons ruled England from the 400s to 1066, when the Normans invaded.) The treasure hunter earned his luck by using a metal detector for 18 years before he made this discovery. The treasure included gold and silver sword fittings, crosses, dagger hilts, and parts of swords and helmets worth at least $1.6 million. The treasure belongs to the government, which will sell it to museums. The money will be shared; half to the farmer who owned the land, half to the finder.
Hunters with metal detectors and bottle diggers may damage historic sites, so they are scorned by archaeologists in the U.S.A. There are trespassing and other laws to prevent them from searching. Perhaps there should be a way to legalize what they do and to pay them for what they find so museums get the artifacts, finders get the money, and there is less damage and theft at sites that should be studied (see last week's ezine).
16 comments:
I want to say as one that actively uses a metal detector, I find it very frustrating that the archaeologists think that they "own" everything and that no one else has any right to find it. It seems that they'd rather the items rot in the ground than have anyone else find them. I'd love to work with archaeologists to show them how much help a metal detector (in the right hands) can be. I think England has it right in having detectorists and archaeologists work together.
Unfortunately allowing digging of artifacts by amateurs is not a good solution as too often only the "goodies" are recovered. Archaeology is a science that involves the recording of changes in soils, collecting of soil samples, photographing and recording locations of artifacts and land features, and lastly the interpretation of all of this information to help us better understand cultures before us. The artifacts are important, but the excavation and the context in which the artifact is found is often more important to understanding our past and preserving our future.
................."Perhaps there should be a way to legalize what they do and to pay them for what they find so museums get the ...."
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u r absolutely correct! I have been metal detecting for many years and would love to see this legalized...
Duke
I thoroughly agree with you on the thought that "Treasure Hunters" within the United States not be penalized for looking-for and finding artifacts.
Since it is illegal to use metal detectors in may areas, those who "sneak" into the areas and do find something, keeps it to themselves. My thought is that if "Treasure Hunters" were rewarded for their finds, everyone would benefit.
Archaeologists would be made aware of possible unknown sites, the government would receive artifacts for state and federal museums, and the finder would be rewarded in some way for the find.
My vote is "Yes" to change the antiquities laws in the United States, otherwise may artifacts and "Treasures" will end up in dusty boxes in the attic or basement.....Thanks......Roy
I think if you find a treasure it is no business of the goverment . That should be yours you worked for it and the goverment has no business telling you what to do you worked for it and not their lazt bottoms.
I don`t know about you but if I were the farmer and landowner on whose land these items were found, I`d be pretty upset if some jobless bum came onto my land and walked off with $800,000 of what should legally be my property. In England, even if the government has legal ownership of the historic items taken from my property, the entire value of them should go to me regardless of who sneeks onto my land and finds them. Ever hear about trespassing?
The farmer who owned the land was the FRIEND of the man who found the treasure, and they will share EQUALLY in the money.
staffordshirehoard.com for LOTS of info and pictures and comments from viewers on this topic. j
Actually make that
http://staffordshirehoard.org.uk/ Sorry about that. j
First of all great find. History unfolds as the modern metal detectorist/archeaologist find valuable items, and the current government wants their share. I find this rather strange considering the fact the government is only in it for the money, the "finder" is in it for the prize, and the people is in it for the history. Thousands of years from now people will dig you up out of your grave along with your valuables and say "wow! looky what I find." Strange.
First of all great find. History unfolds as the modern metal detectorist/archeaologist find valuable items, and the current government wants their share. I find this rather strange considering the fact the government is only in it for the money, the "finder" is in it for the prize, and the people is in it for the history. Thousands of years from now people will dig you up out of your grave along with your valuables and say "wow! looky what I find." Strange.
Archeologists go to immeasurable trouble to move down through layers and record what is found where, so that a continuous, meaningful picture of life at the site can be built up carefully. This is the opposite of metal-detection as a hobby, where the goal is to ignore all context, grab the "goodie," and go, recording nothing for the sake of scholarship. What usually follows is just enough "research" to figure out what the market will bear for the artifact found in this manner.
Reputable archeologists go to great lengths to ensure that ownership of artifacts is conferred on the party with the highest lawful claim. Antiquities are the largest dollar-volume of worldwide smuggling, behind only drugs of abuse. Archeologically rich countries have clamped down on looting and smuggling in a big way.
Why is it that ownership of a metal detector confers entitlement to cruise around on private (or worse, actually, publicly-owned) property and play a childish game of "finders keepers?" If your metal detector is so much fun, go buy some land and metal-detect your own acreage to your heart's content.
Not mad at anybody, and I have good friends who metal-detect all the time. Just trying to depict the differing goals of archeologists versus metal detector hobbyists.
I'm not sure what the law requires in Britain upon finding archaeological remains, but I am happy that the gentleman alerted the archeaologists as soon as he realized that he had stumbled onto something historically important. It is absolutely essential that a site this important be excavated in context. What would information might be lost in a wholesale looting?
Archaeologists do use metal detectors as well as ground penetrating radar and other tools to help find sites. Unfortunately, there are too few archaeologists (or, more to the point, funding for them) and too many sites. Amateurs and professionals do need to work in tandem.
In the United States, we also have to be congnizant that the antiquities laws protect cultural violation as well as looting. Many sacred native american sites are as off limits to professional scholars as they are to the amateurs.
When I lived in Peru, I saw the horrible damage that indescriminant treasure hunting caused. Peru has strict antiquities laws but limited ability to enforce them. Whole fields were dug up looking for in-tact ceramics. Everything else, including human remains, were strewn about like garbage. No, not all detector users work this way, but enough do to give pause and caution.
I have been "dirt digging" for years on my acre property, that is over 100 years old. I have dug up a lot of interesting things. I also know of a few people that have returned lost items like high school rings. Some of us are not out for ourselves. I leave no holes and the "trash" I throw away.
We as metal detectors are very limited to where we can go. I went to a place last year and found a 1796 large cent. I had only started metal detecting about 2 months before. I found the coin and words could not tell you the rush I got. I went back the next day to detect some more and I was told to leave!! It was a state park, which I didn't realize. To me it looked like a walking trail. I know you can not metal detect in state parks and I as most of us do as metal detectors abibe by the rules!! We ask permission from owners to go on their property if it's farm land or even a friend's yard that we think we may find something. We leave the spot we dug as we found it- dig-put the grass aside-take out the soil until you find the find-put the soil back-and put the grass back! It's a hobby and we enjoy it!!!! When we hear that beep, we don't care if it's a penny, it's just the fact that we found something!! Yes, hopefully something great but it's fun and relaxing, just like fishing. I think I got a good one, just to find out it's a catfish!!
Thanks for taking the time to discuss this, I feel strongly about it and love learning more on this topic. If possible, as you gain expertise, would you mind updating your blog with more information? It is extremely helpful for me.
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