Keeping good records is the key to responsible detecting

[Marc]

Archaeologists argue that metal detectorists and treasure hunters do great damage to historic sites, because items removed from their context, lose their meaning. A gold ring becomes a trinket in a display case without a story or a hi-story. Whereas that same gold ring, when you learn who lost it and when, becomes more meaningful.

I tend to agree with the archaeologists. Despite the fact that I created and run TreasureNet, I think it's preferable, when possible, to leave things in the ground until more accurate and thorough recovery methods can be used.

I probably haven't spoken out enough against unbridled, haphazard metal detecting / treasure hunting. Well, I'm here to say it. Please respect sensitive historic and archaeological sites. Small unmeaningful trinkets to a metal detectorist, can have great meaning to the future historian who is trying to piece together the history of an area. Each artifact is the piece to a bigger puzzle, and we should all try to work together to protect the pieces. (BTW - scanning and posting are an AWESOME way to do this...)

So - I'm creating a new finds database. This database will be much more sophisticated than any before it, allowing users to upload images, input GPS coordinates of where they found the item(s) and more. This information will be regularly logged to DVD for backup, and these finds DVD's will be available for sale to any research firm wanting one, including Universities.

http://www.treasurenet.com/finds/

By giving treasure hunters an online tool to track and record their finds, I hope to do my part in seeing that the puzzle pieces are preserved, AND disseminated.

I think archaeologists and metal detectorists can happily co-exist, but metal detectorists need to do their part to preserve the history and context of what they find. I'll do my best to make the finds database easy to use, and useful.

Can I count on you to do your part, and will you post your finds there?

(I guess I'm doing a little pre-launch market research)

Thanks,
Marc Austin
[email protected]

 

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[dowser501]

Marc, I have copied and pasted your thoughts on losing the import on
discovered artifacts and I would like to insert it in the book I am preparing. I will even name you as the Author of your well chosen words.

I have been working on that principal for years, however I could not have phrased it as well as you.

 

[DymonsNRust]

Re: Keeping good records is the key to responsible TH'ing

Greetings Marc!
I completely agree! I have recently visited with a couple of archeaologists and they were impressed to see that an object I had found on a very historic beach had been labeled with the date, the area where it was found, and how deep it was in the sand, etc. I had also traced the object and made a pattern so that I could create an impression on a foam bed to keep it safe. I inserted it in a plastic box with a crush proof lid.
I have been actively researching this find for a while and until I am convinced of it's origin and perhaps it's importance, I will continue to do so. Should I come to find it has an important place in history, I would certainly make the appropriate people aware of it existance. I am acutely aware of the Archeaologist's feelings and feel much the same as you do regarding a few irresponsible people who cause the rest of us to be viewed in a negative light. It may cause this wonderful and exciting hobby to become strictly controlled or even outlawed!
I think your 'record keeping' idea is great and can only help promote this hobby as one taken up by intelligent and respectful individuals not just archeaology 'pirates'.

 

[lab rat]

Not sure the importance of 'context' on a beach where the sand shifts as much as 5 vertical feet in the course of a year, and position changes with the waves. I do keep a log of each find, when/where I found it, and other significant details, such as tides, weather, circumstances. Out here the beaches are raked daily, and the park system itself destroys any potential 'context' due to position.

Parks may hold more importance to specific details, but the significance of a coin lost in a park isn't that important unless you can determine why the coin was lost there, which is practically impossible. Lots of explanations, such as may happen with removing car keys, or a kid running down a slope and tumbling, or some guy dozing under a tree and having coins roll out of his pocket-- these things happen all the time, and aren't particularly important in an archaeological sense. Archaeologists themselves have often stated that coins are generally not significant.

I agree with prohibiting detection in an area where non-metallic objects can be disturbed, such as pottery from the Colonial period in proximity to a Spanish Mission, or someone might remove a brass artifact with important markings. I think the laws prohibiting detecting in Historic areas, State and Federal parks go far enough.

 

[beetle662]

Is anyone aware that GPS units are purposefully inaccurate The best reading you could get would be 20 feet or so, but that inaccuracy rate also changes. Unless you have a bonafide military GPS unit, you will not get an accurate read, let alone the SAME read at a specific location. Granted, it will be close, but if you plan on going back to the exact same spot that you marked with you GPS, forget it.
This inaccuracy is due to governmental restrictions.

I am otherwise for all of us keeping better records and such.

Just my two cents worth

 

[Hardpan]

If you don't believe me, ask your lawyer! Just remember, the Archeological Resources Protection Act considers ANYTHING on federally controlled lands (BLM, Nat. Forests, etc.) that is 50 years old, or older, an item of historic interest. If you detect a 1954 dime in the middle of nowhere, (or a 50 year old tin can for that matter) you can be charged with a FELONY! (that's right, a Federal Case) So think twice before you decide to provide that Federal Proscecutor with the evidence he needs to confiscate your detector and your car, fine you, and throw you in Federal Prison, where you will only READ ABOUT metal detecting, if a friend is nice enough to mail you a magazine. Nuff said, Hardpan

 

[Gold Digger]

Whats to keep other TH'ers from taking these GPS coordinates and going to the location and looting it?

 

[Highmountain]

It used to be a tough call, Marc, even when we weren't spang into the 21st Century. I'm all for protecting sites defined as 'Archaeological' under the traditional definitions. But in the fluid regulatory/statutory environment of the new century I'm more inclined to believe anyone who takes the risk of looking is already walking a legal tightrope. There's probably not much point to going to all that trouble if, should you find something worthwhile, a predatory government's going to jump on you like ugly on a monkey (which they probably will) and confiscate it, at best, or prosecute you, at worst. Assuming you admit finding anything.

Maybe it depends on the region you search in. It's refreshing to think so. But my own philosophy, and that of every THer I know these days, runs along the lines of 'Yo no se! Yo no se nada de nada.' Too bad, but either you give up something you went to a lot of love, expense and energy to find, or you clam up.
Jack

 

[coinshooter]

Archaeology has it's purpose, but Labrat has a point. Hardpan, does this mean that if you find a gold nugget (all of which are greater than 50 yrs old) that you are breaking the law by keeping it? What about all rocks and people that collect them, are they all felons? Just curious how far this STUPID law can be taken. I really can't comprehend how this land can be the "people's", yet the gov't can horn in any time they see something of VALUE. You and Marc don't really believe it's for the archaeological value that the antiquities act is in place, do you? The real reason this law is in place is $$$$$$$$$$$. It gives the gov't a legal way to steal from the finder. I'm for a system like they have in England. It's voluntary, but..... the great thing about their system is if you turn in your treasure to the gov't, the gov't has to pay you for the worth of the item. If you want to see what the U.S. gov't is doing to the people of this country I will suggest you pick up a copy of a book I just read, "TYRANNOSAURUS SUE" by Steve Fiffer. It tells of what the gov't did to these poor people who found the dinosaur Sue. Very interesting, but I truly believe we already have enough rules and regulations without more gov't buttin in where they don't belong. Just my view, it will probably p.o. a few folks as I usually do.

 

[Hardpan]

Another example. In 1976 two prospectors found "The Old Woman" meteorite on BLM land. It was 3 feet in diameter and at least 3 tons in size. They made the mistake of asking for a sample of it to be examined by a Government expert. Since it was found on BLM land, the Government took possesion and gave the prospecters ZERO compensation for a find that was easily worth a million dollars. Nuff said, Hardpan

 

[Marc]

You guys just settle down a bit there! I'll announce something by the 20th that will change things (this discussion) considerably.

Obviously you shouldn't have to "record" everything.

 

[Highmountain]

Almost any change that deviates from the course of recent history in these matters will be welcomed with street dances and offerings of first-born children, Marc.

Best to you,
Jack

 

[coinshooter]

OK Marc, I'll be waiting. Sounds interesting. wink