Results found: 2

Search results

Search:
in the keywords: amateur detectorists

Sort By:

Limit search:

Sypiając z wrogiem? Potencjał badawczy amatorskiej „archeologii detektorystycznej” na przykładzie zabytków z okresu wpływów rzymskich i okresu wędrówek ludów z lat 2006–2014, odkrytych w kraju związkowym Szlezwik-Holsztyn

100%

Schuster J.

Wiadomości Archeologiczne

2017

vol. LXVIII

issue 68

19-31

Whether we like it or not the activity of amateur metal detectorists who search the land for ancient and modern artefacts has now become widespread in many countries, here to stay, not to be avoided. Most professional researchers used to view this activity with suspicion. Their attitude, rule sceptical or hostile as a rule was dictated largely by the understanding that metal detecting impinges on the authority of archaeological institutions. The discussion – almost invariably quite emotionally charged – has continued over several decades, as evidenced by a long list of relevant publications. There is no need to emphasize in any special way that metal detectoring is destructive when driven by material gain, obviously nothing but commercial robbery, unstoppable for all the restrictive regulations in force. However, at the other end of the spectrum are amateur detectorists who, driven by a genuine fascination by their region’s past, would be ready to cooperate with the relevant institutions. We can describe their attitude as ‘a public-minded involvement in researching history and archaeology’. The potential benefits from a focused activity of amateur metal detectorists who have been trained and work in consultation with professional archaeologists have been demonstrated by the archaeological record obtained in the federal state of Schleswig-Holstein through a project aimed on making amateur detectorists a part of the system of institutionalized archaeology. An eight-year cooperation with amateur detectorists designed to test the value of their activities was followed by a research project wherein Roman Period and Migration Period amateur metal detector finds from everywhere in Schleswig-Holstein were submitted to a scientific analysis. The finds from this research project were published in monograph form (J. Schuster 2016). The analyzed assemblage (828 artefacts) proved to be an important source for the study of Late Antiquity in northern Germany and southern Scandinavia. The tremendous potential of metal detector archaeology, both for conservation and research, is demonstrated by the sheer number of archaeological sites unknown previously and identified only thanks to the metal detecting activities: 45, i.e., 62.5% of all sites investigated using metal detectors. Moreover, new and crucial data were obtained for sites already excavated in the past, both as regards the number and quality of the finds and the chronology of their use, of relevance in reconstructing the history of settlement in the region. The Roman Period and Migration Period finds show that long-term amateur metal detecting projects with institutional supervision can definitely bring in valuable results. This should be reason enough to incorporate this new branch of archaeology into the system of regular institutionalized research and add it to the agenda of monuments conservation offices. As to the question posed in the title, we can say that with a proper attitude towards amateur detectorists, by bringing their activity under the umbrella of monuments conservation offices, by assisting their interest in prehistory – obviously always within the law – from enemies they could become collaborators, and even friends of the archaeologist.

Archeologia landu Szlezwik-Holsztyn a archeologia detektorystyczna

84%

von Carnap-Bornheim C., Ickerodt U., Siegloff E.

Wiadomości Archeologiczne

2017

vol. LXVIII

issue 68

13-18

Volunteer involvement in archaeology has a long and fruitful tradition in Schleswig-Holstein. In the past, this mainly consisted of the collection and recording of stone or pottery artefacts. Recently, however, it became necessary to further develop the integration of volunteers as the easy availability of metal detectors has created a whole new group of interested amateurs who then often tried in vain to contact the appropriate authorities. Since 2004, the so-called ‘Schleswig Model’ has been implemented as a new approach to the problem in Schleswig-Holstein. This aims at integrating volunteer metal detectorists in heritage protection activities and academic research. The volunteers are therefore given theoretical and practical training and are, of course, informed about the relevant legal framework. After completing the curriculum, they are certified by the State Archaeological Office, which is the responsible state authority. One of the basic legal provisos for the success of this model is the fact that the illegal use of metal detectors is punishable by law, and that so-called ‘Treasure Trove’ means that all archaeological finds of historical significance are declared the property of the Federal State of Schleswig-Holstein. Subsequent experience has shown that the model has produced mainly positive results. Regular contact and communication with the volunteer detectorists have meanwhile become an indispensable tool in regional archaeological research. Moreover, ‘enemy’ stereotypes on both sides have dissipated and been replaced by mutual respect and recognition. However, the subsequent work required, especially for the processing of the large quantity of finds (registration, restoration), had been greatly underestimated. Important new prospects have opened up with the development of scientific projects that include systematic surveying with metal detectors, while the publication of the first groups of finds has, in some cases, fundamentally changed our view of the Metal Ages in Schleswig-Holstein. All in all, the author is fully convinced that, given the overwhelmingly positive results of the ‘Schleswig Model’, which is based on cooperation, the solution of the problem of the recognition of metaldetector archaeology as a heritage-conservation and scientific tool at the interface between amateurs and professionals must lie in clear legal and ethical structures – and this before it is too late and the system has got completely out of control.

Refine search results

2 Wiadomości Archeologiczne

2 2017

1 Ickerodt U.

1 Schuster J.

1 Siegloff E.

1 von Carnap-Bornheim C.

Search results

Sypiając z wrogiem? Potencjał badawczy amatorskiej „archeologii detektorystycznej” na przykładzie zabytków z okresu wpływów rzymskich i okresu wędrówek ludów z lat 2006–2014, odkrytych w kraju związkowym Szlezwik-Holsztyn

Archeologia landu Szlezwik-Holsztyn a archeologia detektorystyczna