Archeologists and Detectorist Aren't Always Friends

[Tom_in_CA]

Tom in CA post # 31. You had a "civil conversation" with an "Archeologist" ?......I vote Banner.

Haha, yes. Despite my unhealthy fascination and "bee-in-the-bonnet" to want to know the psychology of this. In order to get to the "root of the issue" I behaved myself . To reduce it to a single statement. And study JUST THAT STATEMENT. Get past the name-calling, etc...

So I peppered the conversation with apologies for the admitted past sins that some md'rs do indeed do. And apologies for the admitted locker room talk. And admissions that ... yes it would be cool if every single old item in the ground were for all-the public to benefit by, keep in context , etc...

So once we got past those "givens", I asked him if we could reduce the statement to : "Hobbyist level metal detecting is evil". ? And it went from there. It's all on a blog of his, if anyone is interested to see it. He was kind enough to allow an md'r to chime in from an md'rs point of view. And as anyone here knows: I'm as boisterous for the cause of "help yourself" md'ing as they come. Doh!

 

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[Honest Samuel]

Remember, Archeologists are treasure hunters too. Do not mind them.

 

[NOLA_Ken]

"He said the guy over his club made the rule"?

That doen't sound legal and binding to me... I can make any "rule" I want, but that doesn't mean anyone has to abide by it, just ask my two year old daughter about that.... If the site is not posted or otherwise marked as prohibited, and you have permission, or don't need permission to be there, dig away

 

[Joe-Dirt]

Just tell him you’re looking for grandma’s ring, but leave out the part where she lost it 200 years ago and she ain’t your grandma.

 

[Tom_in_CA]

Just tell him you’re looking for grandma’s ring, but leave out the part where she lost it 200 years ago and she ain’t your grandma.

Sounds good to me. My great grandfather lost a V-nickel and barber dime right around here, according to his diary we just found in the attic.

 

[sprailroad]

Sounds good to me. My great grandfather lost a V-nickel and barber dime right around here, according to his diary we just found in the attic.

And not only that, but I myself should be protected under the antiquities act, being well over the 50yr old mark. In that I should be left un-disturbed while detecting.

 

[FreeBirdTim]

Most of my finds are random finds and not a historical site. That's what the archies don't get. For example, the other day I found a Rev War era stirrup. Checked around that spot for many hours, but that's all that was there. A random relic that was lost over 200 years ago. No need to mark it off and research it. Nothing historical about the spot, just the find. End of story and now I'll move on to the next spot.

 

[Jason in Enid]

But in the eyes of the archies, EVERYTHING is a historic site.