I don't beleeeiiive it !!!

[Charles Cater]

I was watching a Time Team last night having fun with a 3 day  dig on a desrted medæival village in Ulnaby- Durham.

Now I know I am getting on a bit but I was enjoying it until Phil started to grumble about the lack of finds - what else - and then surprise, surprise, Robinson, to liven the programme up a bit  went over to Bridget and asked if she had found anything. She had the temerity to say she had found a coin.

Now I know archæology is a science but anyone with any sense in thier head must know that a coin that was as black as the one she showed could never be seen by the naked eye unless you have really good eyesight.

Guess what - yes you have guessed right - there in the background about 50 yards distant was a detectorist. Need I say more.

I switched off after that.

[Jonola (Jon)]

I know for a fact that CADW insist that there is a detectorist on each and every dig that takes place in Wales. They bring their own JCB though.

[Charles Cater]

What I meant, Jon, was that Briget said that she had a coin and never mentioned that possbly the detectorist found it which is what I think. It was a silver penny of possibly Edward ?

[Jonola (Jon)]

I understood you Charles. The point I was making is that the only reaso there is probably a detectorist there at all is that it is imposed on the show producers by CADW or other organistaions. I personally think that Time Team is so anti-detectorist that they would forego a detectorist otherwise.  I definitely think the detectorists are pushed into the background by Time Team. the two main instigators seem to be Tony Robinson and Mick Aston.

[Charles Cater]

Touche, Jon.

[Al.Thepastfinder, ( Alan )]

ohhhh yes,   your sooo right there,  also they are so against the metal detectorist that they don't want to give them any recognition, just make out they find the stuff themselves,  keep the detectorists in the background out of the way.
 remember the arquies seem to think that everything in the ground belongs to them,

[Malcolm.mtts]

Five members of the Llanelli club were asked to attend a dig by the National Trust in the grounds of Dryslwyn Castle near Llandeilo.

The proposed dig, and what we were asked to do, sounded exciting but when we got there everything changed. It turned out to be a complete waste of a day ... standing around doing virtually nothing all day.

We wanted to detect the marked areas first before their JCB got to work but they would not allow us to do so... no way.

Imagine our horror as the top 12 inches of soil was dumped anyhow in a heap and not being allowed to check the removed earth before the next lot was dumped on top until the mound of earth was about 6 feet high, 6 feet wide and 20 feet long.

Well they obviously knew better than us didn't they. What could possibly be found it the top 12 inches of soil? Obviously nothing of importance could be in the removed earth... hey .. come on... they are the experts and they know better don't they?

We were then asked to sweep the ditch... yeh yeh ..  6 detectors working in confined areas which 1 detector could sweep in less than 5 minutes and cover every inch of ground walking at a snails pace.

Would they listen to anything anyone of us said? .. of course not... they were the experts and they knew better of course. Were we allowed to dig a signal? ... of course not silly ... were we allowed to dig a signal in the huge heap of removed earth?.. you guessed right... of course not.

Would any one of the 5 Llanelli detectors who attended that dig ever go on another dig with the so called National Trust experts? You bet we will not.

What a waste of a day. The only good thing about that day was the sunshine.

[Charles Cater]

In defence of some of the archæologists we are only really getting at those we remeber as villains who don't want us.

I have to say that some of the youngsters that are coming up know the value of detecting whether or not it is from an indivildual or a club.

Jeff Spencer, the archæologist with the Clwyd/Powis Archæological Trust has been as good a friend as anyone would ask for I am sure you will agree with me on that so we have to sort the 'wheat fom the chaff' so to speak. He is the FLO for North Wales area as well as other areas.

You are all aware I cannot detect any more and that I am am very passionate about what we are doing but we must not fall into the trap that they are all like Robinson and Aston.

Any organisation will have our enthusiastic help if asked, pity that when we first came to notice a campaign to stop us, particularly in Kent, was organised with them spending a great amount of money doing so until the auditor said enough was enough.

Little did they understand that they helped us by having the goverment passing the Treasure Act 1996 There were many that said "If we cannot beat them then join them", that became the attitude then.
The Confedeartion of British Archæology never succeeded neither.

So those that say we eventually will be banned I cannot see that happening. Just imagine in the beginning all those artefacts and coins that were never declared because of beligerence of others, we were afraid that they would approach farmers to stop us. That was the prime reason at the time - fear that the hobby would disappear.
Rant over.



 

[Jonola (Jon)]

Guy De La Bedoyere

For tpeople who don't know him he is the renowned Roman expert who works on their Time Team Roman digs. He is the author of several books on the subject. I found a quote from him which seems to put our hobby in a better light.

Do you think there is any remote chance that one day someone in the UK may find a Roman coin that has never been seen or recorded before?

Better than remote. Since the advent of detectors our knowledge of the coin of Carausius (286-293) has increased enormously. New types are found every year for this rebel emperor.

[Charles Cater]

Guy lives in Sleaford - Lincolnshire - and his wife teaches at a Sleaford school. You probably know that Jon.
I have the greatest of respect for him, he is a very knowledgable historian and the books I am told are well worth obtaining. Anyone that is interested can see in this URL what he is about.


http://www.romanbritain.freeserve.co.uk/

[Jonola (Jon)]

I have all Guys books. I have put a link to his website on here on a different thread but it is worth repeating.

http://www.romanbritain.freeserve.co.uk/

I have asked him a couple of questions over the years and he has always taken the time to answer. He is a real gentleman.