10.3: Commercial Metal Detecting Rallies


Irresponsible commercialisation of the archaeological record (Detectival)

 Commercial artefact hunting rallies are events where a landowner sells temporary access to a piece of land containing archaeological and historical artefacts to metal detectorists who after paying the organizers a fixed fee convene there sometimes in very large numbers and take away everything they find and want to keep, unless it comes under the treasure legislation. In an attempt to make this look like a legitimate use of the archaeological record, the organisers can make a donation to a charity from the proceeds.

Most archaeologists think that, in addition to commercialising archaeological objects, metal-detecting rallies ( can be damaging to archaeology. Often random, searching takes place over a large area of land, and it is almost impossible for anyone to make a proper record of all objects found.

In the past, it was recommended that "if a metal-detecting rally occurs, to reduce damage and ensure better preservation of the archaeological record [...] organisers should follow the Guidance on Metal-Detecting Rallies in England and Wales (see www.finds.org.uk/rallycode). That document is no longer online and in the name of promoting best practice the PAS now has the following text on its website: 
The PAS does not provide advice for metal-detecting rally organisers
Large scale metal-detecting events (rallies) do not provide the ideal circumstances for Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) staff to record finds in the field, and can therefore result in the loss of much archaeological information, including information about the findspot.
So they should not be taking place and responsible artefact hunters should simply stay away from the scene of such activity - unless in order to prevent them happening.

Large scale commercial looting in progress



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