SgtSki in MI
Hero Member
- Oct 14, 2007
- 813
- 59
- Detector(s) used
- Minelab Explorer XS & Explorer II, Fisher 1236-X2
- Primary Interest:
- Metal Detecting
Hey I don't doubt you a bit caver! Our State Archaeologists in Michigan are much the same way. If you ask me the sort of mindset that most of these State-Level Archies seem to subscribe to does more harm to the Field of Archaeology than an army of trespassers with detectors onto a designated site could ever hope to do.
I'd even venture to say that they aren't even "real" archaeologists. They may have some piece of paper from some university saying that they are, but they departed from the field of legitimate study long ago. Now it's all about how much power they can wield, how much they can manipulate a lawmaker, and most importantly how much money they can make. And as you said, not only do they attacke detectorists, they refute the finds of less lofty archaeologists who are not as well-connected as they are.
They care less about what they can learn from a site than they do about seeing how quickly they can gain control of it and keep everybody away from it until "professionals" can study the site......which usually turns out to be NEVER.
Like I said, we need to find a way to level the battlefield against these clowns and make them fight us on OUR terms. Take the fight into THEIR front yards instead of having to defend ours all the time.
What's sad is that Archaeology can positively benefit from MD'ers (WITHOUT swooping in and shutting everyone out) like they do in England, but Bureaucracy-Level Archies in the States are way too drunk on power to even see it.
If I wind up coming to Campbell, I'm fully intending to make life a living hell for this Pollack character, his live-in conflict-of-interest shack-job girlfriend, and the entire Kentucky Hissy-Fit Commission (within the lettter of the law, of course......but there's lots of ways to stay within one's legal boundaries and be a royal pain in the a$$!!). PsyOps is a very fun and effective tool to make small groups of people craaaaZZeeeee!!!
-SgtSki
I'd even venture to say that they aren't even "real" archaeologists. They may have some piece of paper from some university saying that they are, but they departed from the field of legitimate study long ago. Now it's all about how much power they can wield, how much they can manipulate a lawmaker, and most importantly how much money they can make. And as you said, not only do they attacke detectorists, they refute the finds of less lofty archaeologists who are not as well-connected as they are.
They care less about what they can learn from a site than they do about seeing how quickly they can gain control of it and keep everybody away from it until "professionals" can study the site......which usually turns out to be NEVER.
Like I said, we need to find a way to level the battlefield against these clowns and make them fight us on OUR terms. Take the fight into THEIR front yards instead of having to defend ours all the time.
What's sad is that Archaeology can positively benefit from MD'ers (WITHOUT swooping in and shutting everyone out) like they do in England, but Bureaucracy-Level Archies in the States are way too drunk on power to even see it.
If I wind up coming to Campbell, I'm fully intending to make life a living hell for this Pollack character, his live-in conflict-of-interest shack-job girlfriend, and the entire Kentucky Hissy-Fit Commission (within the lettter of the law, of course......but there's lots of ways to stay within one's legal boundaries and be a royal pain in the a$$!!). PsyOps is a very fun and effective tool to make small groups of people craaaaZZeeeee!!!
-SgtSki
