Ping...

Referring back to my post of 29/9/09 it's not surprising that sales of metal detectors have soared around here recently. This has brought some criticism from archaeologists and museums who see those using these instruments as little short of vandals plundering the area's historical heritage. A bit harsh, I feel. It's not as though they are in competition with archaeological digs. Nobody had any idea that the Staffordshire treasure trove was there, and if it hadn't been happened upon by a metal detectorist (is there such a word?) it would have remained undiscovered. It is probably better if these sites are carefully excavated by experts where possible, but first they have to be found, and that's where the dedicated amateur with his metal detector comes in.