Min-till (minimum tillage) is a low impact farming system that replaces ploughing and enhances carbon retention in the soil. Its been around for many years (over half of western Canada’s corn-belt is cultivated that way). Now the UK Government seems set to make it a central element of their strategy to meet carbon emissions targets – see their Green Food Project. Even the likely delivery mechanism seems settled for it says the aim “links with” proposed changes to DEFRA’s Environnmental Stewardship schemes. That surely signals farmers are about to be paid not to plough?
It will put archaeologists in a tricky spot. Currently they tend to “accept” (to use CBA’s word) metal detecting but only on “disturbed” land (so it can be represented at least as harmless). But if ploughing becomes largely redundant and only the top inch or two of fields are ever disturbed neither archaeologists nor the Government will be able or willing to pretend that using machines that reach down between 9 and 24 inches is harmless!
So watch this space, interesting times are coming. The first thing to look out for will be the reaction of many detectorists when they twig what the Government is planning. Since they are currently petitioning No. 10 to ensure green farming methods are applied they ought to be big supporters of min-till as a way to save the planet. But I suspect, instead, very soon there’ll be a sixteenth threat of a recording strike! Anyone care to bet otherwise?
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More Heritage Action views on metal detecting and artefact collecting
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The Heritage Journal 
9 comments
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21/05/2013 at 10:58
Karl J
Curious how you can un disturb the disturbed?
Idea’s on a stamp please?
21/05/2013 at 11:11
Tim
If min till comes in then whatever has yet to be disturbed never will be. That will be a precious resource as the record in such areas won’t have been both selectively and randomly depleted. There will be every incentive for the Government to ban metal detecting on old pasture, something that can’t come soon enough.
21/05/2013 at 13:28
Karl J
A marked decrease in site discovery going forward I would predict with further loss of knowledge for society?
21/05/2013 at 13:51
Tim
Not at all. Society doesn’t need more sites found it needs less contexts wrecked.
21/05/2013 at 14:26
Karl J
I would agree, but is not archeology by its very nature destructive ?
The truth of the matter is that most sites have been discovered accidentally by ploughing by field walking or by detectorists.
The archeological map would be very sparse indeed without this input.
So, lets put this ‘context’ into context.
21/05/2013 at 15:29
Tim
“I would agree, but is not archeology by its very nature destructive ? “
Which is why it is done in accordance with strict protocols, and sparingly, for the common benefit, not randomly and for personal benefit.
21/05/2013 at 15:51
Karl J
Time team – 3 days – Bulldozer = Strict protocol?
21/05/2013 at 16:15
heritageaction
“Time team – 3 days – Bulldozer = Strict protocol?”
Of course not. But the methods used over 3 days by half a dozen archaeologists to make a populist telly programme shouldn’t be quoted ad nauseam by 10,000 detectorists as an excuse for their own less than satisfactory behaviour towards the resource! Yet it is!
Anyway, as we’ve said before, this is a conservation website. Our view is that metal detecting should be legally regulated so as to maximise the public benefit. So if you don’t agree….
21/05/2013 at 16:38
heritageaction
Karl, last chance, this is a conservation website. Our view is that metal detecting should be legally regulated so as to maximise the public benefit. If you aren’t willing to agree about that we’re certainly not going to give you a soapbox to defend the status quo here. Up to you.