Archeologists and Detectorist Aren't Always Friends

[bayhawk2]

I ran into an Archeologist the other day while out hunting a public park.
We got to talking and I told him I had found some old stuff at an old
public park in another location.Though he was friendly he did tell me that
it was off limits to metal detectors.I told him there was no signs nor markers
saying so.He said the guy over his club made the rule.Now I know history
should be preserved,however I also know that I'm an advocate for Detectorist
rights.By all means if a place has been marked legally by the proper process to
be an actual historic site is one thing,but just to say so,to me,is not enough.
So how would you guys approach this?

 

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[lookingharder]

Sounds like you got one of those guys that has a "title" and thinks if his group isn't the ones looking or finding old items, than nobody should. I would hunt it until someone "official" tells me otherwise. JMO

 

[relic nut]

If it's not marked or listed as off limits in some way I say hunt it Archaeologist be damned.
People like this make me mad. Most detectorist I know do alot to preserve, respect and protect history. There are people who feel if they can't be the one to find it and (Get credit for it) they would rather see it rot away.
If we could only work together with people like this we would save much more.

 

[AlienLifeForm]

Friends? They hate us for the most part.

 

[digger460]

Ridiculous!

 

[Tom_in_CA]

I ran into an Archeologist the other day while out hunting a public park.
We got to talking and I told him I had found some old stuff at an old
public park in another location.Though he was friendly he did tell me that
it was off limits to metal detectors.I told him there was no signs nor markers
saying so.He said the guy over his club made the rule.Now I know history
should be preserved,however I also know that I'm an advocate for Detectorist
rights.By all means if a place has been marked legally by the proper process to
be an actual historic site is one thing,but just to say so,to me,is not enough.
So how would you guys approach this?

It would be like asking a PETA representative what they think about the sport of Rodeo. They would shriek at you. And then start spouting about laws on animal cruelty, etc.... But ... seriously .... what did you expect to come from an animal rights PETA wacko ? Did anyone else object to rodeo except them ? No. So too do I put little stock into what some purist archies say about md'ing.

I loved the replies by looking-harder, relic nut, alien-life-form, and digger-460's answers so far.

You say you've been hunting that other park without issue. Right ? Then why argue with success ? Why change a single thing you're doing ? Just give the archie fellow courteous lip service, and .... then steer clear of him in the future. The less they think of us: The better.

 

[Ogre1190]

Sounds like someone's seen Raiders of the Lost Ark a few times too many. 😂😂😂

 

[ChampFerguson/TN]

Punch him in the mouth.
That's the only way to be sure.

 

[ecmjamsit]

Tell him nothing. You are making America great again. He is being a stick in the mud.

 

[smokeythecat]

While you are digging and someone asks you about find, just say new clad coins and leave it at that. Problem solved.

 

[RudyT]

SCREW him!! I don’t know if he showed you anything that proves he’s an archeologist but it sounds like he just being a jerk. I hate people that act like that! Keep digging my friend and post your photos. Have fun and take care.

 

[sandchip]

Friends? They hate us for the most part.

Other than the laughing emoji, you nailed it on the head. They'll use collectors for anything they can, then throw 'em under the bus. They are elitists who look down on us as part of the "unwashed masses". With that said, there are a few, and I mean a few, that continue to work with collectors for the benefit of all, but they are indeed rare exceptions. I'm not knocking archaeology at all, but that it has been infiltrated by left-wing activists.

 

[Jason in Enid]

99% of archies are elitist idiots. never tell them a single youve found or that you even own a detector. Just tell them you love local history and pump them for as much info as possible.

 

[ChampFerguson/TN]

Oh, and never miss an opportunity to refer to him/her as "Graverobber".

 

[WaterScoop]

While you are digging and someone asks you about find, just say new clad coins and leave it at that. Problem solved.

Research in action are you interested Mr Archeologist?

Pull tabs some very early period ones with the beaver tail, but all I find lately is a whole bunch of modern Monster Energy Drink ones with the “M” perforated or Red Bull with th Bull Perforation in a rainbow of colors.




Do you have any tips on how I can properly rope off the area and forbid modern tabs from polluting this site.


Don’t even get me going on the pollution of this site with
crown caps, can slaw from the lazy groundskeepers and aluminum foil.

 

[Tom_in_CA]

While you are digging and someone asks you about find, just say new clad coins and leave it at that. Problem solved.

Precisely. I NEVER find old coins. Do you ?

 

[Plumbata]

I studied historic archaeology, but aside from one brilliant old professor the rest were sanctimonious poofters so I decided against pursuing a career where I would get paid peanuts for the privilege of being surrounded by post-modernist Neomarxist pseudointellectuals and instead went darkside, gleefully contributing my cash toward the "looting" of ancient European antiquities found by my old-world detectorist brothers. Looking at the jumble of goodies on the table next to the computer (and much more elsewhere) I can almost taste the delicious salty tears of the impotent archaeological priesthood.



Deal with it, archies.

 

[T.C.]

Precisely. I NEVER find old coins. Do you ?

Yes, Tom, very, very old coins and other...ahem...objects. Of course I photograph them, GPS them and cover them back up...

 

[T.C.]

I studied historic archaeology, but aside from one brilliant old professor the rest were sanctimonious poofters so I decided against pursuing a career where I would get paid peanuts for the privilege of being surrounded by post-modernist Neomarxist pseudointellectuals and instead went darkside, gleefully contributing my cash toward the "looting" of ancient European antiquities found by my old-world detectorist brothers. Looking at the jumble of goodies on the table next to the computer (and much more elsewhere) I can almost taste the delicious salty tears of the impotent archaeological priesthood.

View attachment 1538588

Deal with it, archies.

Bravo!! Well said, my good Man!!

 

[sprailroad]

If and when ANYBODY should ask me, "Find anything good?"....or "Anything old?", I ALWAYS answer, just some recent change and a dandy assortment of trash. The only people I would like to talk about anything good etc., would be friends or other detector people. I AM surprised that you were even able to have a discussion with an "Archeologist", knowing that he even seeing someone out there with a "Metal Detector" must have "Frosted" him. Yes, I am sure that I might be "looting" items that should be preserved for "future" generations, such as pull-tabs, bottle caps, rusty nails, can slaw and wads of foil, even the plastic water bottle caps I pick up along the way...........by the way, just what future generation ARE we speaking of? After all I am a future generation from say my great grandfathers time. You were just being an honest and open guy bayhawk, nothing wrong with that, but there are others that would want to stop you from what you enjoy doing, something that is really causing no harm to anyone for reasons that I'd bet THEY are not really sure about, unless its something that somehow makes them feel superior in someway. So go on and enjoy the hobby, retrieve your targets the proper way, leave no trash etc. etc. etc. And as Tom in Cal and many others would say, just keep a low profile and use common sense. If future encounters, remember how others on the Forum have learned to answer. IF you run into in to the "Archeologist" again? Plumbata's post #17 might give you a clue, THEY are not going to be happy for you or give you tips on where you might want to detect. Sorry fella's, I went long on this one.