seeker41
Bronze Member
- Feb 18, 2007
- 1,706
- 368
- Detector(s) used
- fisher cz6a--teknetics g2 --cz20--minelab excal 800--discovery3300--original whites tdi--tesoro sandshark--whites dual field
- Primary Interest:
- All Treasure Hunting
would adopting the Portable Antiquities Scheme used by the uk be good for both florida treasurehunters and the state of florida? I have pasted a brief description of there system and a link that I copied from a blog that im sure most of you are familier with. my first impression is that this would be great for both treasurehunters and florida archeologists but I do not trust those in power to run the system the way british do. if enough of us decided to push for this system or one tailored to floridas treasures im sure we could get it done!! my thinking is it would open a lot of sites to the average joe treasurehunter and professional salvors, promote cooperation between treasurehunters and archeologists and very much simplify things. your opinions are very much appreciated!!!
" First of all, they provide a network of reporting centers, many of which are in museums. The reporting centers provide assistance in helping finders identify their finds and then log data into a database for all finds that meet the criteria. They widely publish procedures so people know what to do and where to go when they find something that might be of significance.
The British system does not claim everything and anything imaginable. The British want to see found items not considered to be "treasure" so they can log it, but unlike Florida, they make no claim to it unless it meets the criteria to be defined as "treasure." The staff will determine if the item might be important. The staff may ask for permission to further study the item. You would receive a receipt for anything you leave with them and they will not make information about you or your find public if you do not want them to. They will keep private the exact location of finds, but academic researchers can receive information and detailed grid references.
They cite the purpose of the Portable Antiquities Scheme as making "...as much of the information as widely available as possible, while protecting archaeological sites from damage." The Portable Antiquities Recording Scheme is entirely voluntary and encourages people to report their finds.
For more detailed information on the Portable Antiquities Scheme and the Treasure Act (discussed below), here is a link.
Welcome to the Portable Antiquities Scheme website
(The site also has some other neat information that you might want to look at.)
They define "treasure" to include objects that are at least 10% gold or silver AND are AT LEAST 300 years old when found. This to me is key. It does not include everything and anything that might be found up to the present day and does not include items that may belong to or be traced to living persons. Treasure is also defined to include items associated with the above, for example containers.
Items less than 300 years old are included if they are made substantially of gold or silver, were "buried with the intention of recovery and their owner or their heirs cannot be traced."
Treasure also includes prehistoric objects made of base-metal up to and including the Iron Age.
Single coins found on their own are not considered to be "treasure." Neither are unworked natural objects or objects when the owner can be traced.
Objects from the foreshore (between the high and low tide line) that come from a wreck, fall under another category and are governed by laws relating to salvage of wrecks. Objects found on the foreshore that do not come from a wreck may be defined as treasure if they meet the criteria.
Finders are reminded that under section 8 of the Act they are required to report only the objects they believe, or have reasonable grounds for believing; to be treasure. If in any doubt finders are advised to seek expert advice.
If the find is declared to be Treasure then it will be valued, on behalf of the Department of Culture Media and Sport (DCMS), by a committee of independent experts. If there are no objections to this valuation, DCMS will invoice the museum wishing to acquire the object and on receipt of payment will pay the finder a reward. The level of this reward will be set by the coroner, but will not exceed the independent experts' valuation.
If the find is declared not to be Treasure, or if no museum wishes to acquire it, then it will be disclaimed. The coroner will then notify all interested parties, such as the owner of the land where the object was found, of his intention to return the find to the finder. If no objections are raised to this then the find will be returned.
I am no an expert on this and have not described all details fully and accurately. I simply believe that the above presents many good elements. I think it would result in a good relationship between the public and academics, encourage cooperation, promote the gathering and information."
" First of all, they provide a network of reporting centers, many of which are in museums. The reporting centers provide assistance in helping finders identify their finds and then log data into a database for all finds that meet the criteria. They widely publish procedures so people know what to do and where to go when they find something that might be of significance.
The British system does not claim everything and anything imaginable. The British want to see found items not considered to be "treasure" so they can log it, but unlike Florida, they make no claim to it unless it meets the criteria to be defined as "treasure." The staff will determine if the item might be important. The staff may ask for permission to further study the item. You would receive a receipt for anything you leave with them and they will not make information about you or your find public if you do not want them to. They will keep private the exact location of finds, but academic researchers can receive information and detailed grid references.
They cite the purpose of the Portable Antiquities Scheme as making "...as much of the information as widely available as possible, while protecting archaeological sites from damage." The Portable Antiquities Recording Scheme is entirely voluntary and encourages people to report their finds.
For more detailed information on the Portable Antiquities Scheme and the Treasure Act (discussed below), here is a link.
Welcome to the Portable Antiquities Scheme website
(The site also has some other neat information that you might want to look at.)
They define "treasure" to include objects that are at least 10% gold or silver AND are AT LEAST 300 years old when found. This to me is key. It does not include everything and anything that might be found up to the present day and does not include items that may belong to or be traced to living persons. Treasure is also defined to include items associated with the above, for example containers.
Items less than 300 years old are included if they are made substantially of gold or silver, were "buried with the intention of recovery and their owner or their heirs cannot be traced."
Treasure also includes prehistoric objects made of base-metal up to and including the Iron Age.
Single coins found on their own are not considered to be "treasure." Neither are unworked natural objects or objects when the owner can be traced.
Objects from the foreshore (between the high and low tide line) that come from a wreck, fall under another category and are governed by laws relating to salvage of wrecks. Objects found on the foreshore that do not come from a wreck may be defined as treasure if they meet the criteria.
Finders are reminded that under section 8 of the Act they are required to report only the objects they believe, or have reasonable grounds for believing; to be treasure. If in any doubt finders are advised to seek expert advice.
If the find is declared to be Treasure then it will be valued, on behalf of the Department of Culture Media and Sport (DCMS), by a committee of independent experts. If there are no objections to this valuation, DCMS will invoice the museum wishing to acquire the object and on receipt of payment will pay the finder a reward. The level of this reward will be set by the coroner, but will not exceed the independent experts' valuation.
If the find is declared not to be Treasure, or if no museum wishes to acquire it, then it will be disclaimed. The coroner will then notify all interested parties, such as the owner of the land where the object was found, of his intention to return the find to the finder. If no objections are raised to this then the find will be returned.
I am no an expert on this and have not described all details fully and accurately. I simply believe that the above presents many good elements. I think it would result in a good relationship between the public and academics, encourage cooperation, promote the gathering and information."
