That's great kidd. I let this one go, I won't lie, I just haven't gotten around to asking yet. The weather hasn't helped my motivation at all. But I did talk to a friend who is the chairwoman of a local conservation commission...I explained my fascination with local history and my love of this hobby, and I asked "what good does it do to let something rot in the ground, unknown forever?" and she answered as expected,
"Because if most people found something of historical significance, they'd probably sell it"
So I then say...
"Not all people would do that, and even if someone did...why would you care? You don't know anything about it, and it's being privately passed around in exchange for money, being enjoyed and learned from by people who devote their lives to collectiong such things. What is soooo wrong with that?"
"Because there's also the factor of disrupting ecological patterns if you dig in certain areas."
I asked her to explain and she said something about disturbing the balance in the soil which would affect forest growth, which over time would then affect the habitat of various creatures. And in her regular job she's an environmental lab analyst, so I can respect that kind of knowledge. But I persisted on the side of appreciating history, and learning from it and enjoying it...and she eventually came around to saying "well obviously if you're out in the middle of nowhere, chances are you won't be seen and nobody will say anything...just be careful, PLEASE". I could tell she was a little frustrated with me, but understood. We've been friends for 23 years, so she's cutting me some slack I think.
Anyway....what prompted such a long-winded post, I couldn't say. Forgive me fellow residents, if you are indeed still reading.
Skillets
