If you’re here you probably like prehistoric sites and want to see them preserved. The Journal is for everyone that feels that way so why not join in? We’re always looking for contributions – news, views, pictures, you name it – anything that helps raise the public profile of these places. In addition we’re currently looking for 2 people who would like to join us on a more regular basis – ideally by producing short weekly articles on some aspect of prehistory. No pressure, just for fun – whatever subject you like whenever you like.
So you’re extremely welcome to contact us to offer one-off contributions or more regular involvement with The Journal at info@heritageaction.org.uk. Next month it will be nine years old and while we haven’t run out of things to write about we’re sure there are lots of things we’ve missed that YOU could bring to everyone’s attention.
NOTE:
Currently we’re getting a spate of metal detectorist sockpuppetry aimed at this thread in particular, no doubt intended to discourage recruits. We will delete them as we see them but if you do see any please disregard them. They are not representative of the vast majority of visitors here. Thanks.
It seems the above policy is being presented as “we won’t publish your comments unless you agree with us”. In one way that’s true. If you don’t agree the cultural damage caused by bad practice should be remedied by statutory regulation of the activity then no, we aren’t willing to give you a platform. Artefact hunters seem to have got it into their heads they have a right to speak in favour of not being required to behave and that they are to be negotiated with. That’s an error that can perhaps be laid at the door of PAS and their talk of “liaison” and “partnership”. Truth is PAS has no right to compromise the resource so there is no scope for negotiation, only for persuasion or compulsion. Simple really. Support control of the unacceptable actions of your colleagues and you’ll have a platform here. Support the idea of another 16 years of “persuasion” of them and you won’t”.
(If you don’t believe the above about PAS is true, ask them. Write to Dr Roger Bland and ask him: which part of the archaeological resource are you willing to see damaged in order for Archaeology to reach a negotiated settlement with Metal Detectorists?)
The Heritage Journal 
7 comments
Comments feed for this article
13/02/2014 at 21:17
Steven Broom
Its a sad state of affairs when detectorist’s can only act like this…pathetic…
13/02/2014 at 21:21
heritageaction
Thanks Steve. Not all. 😉
13/02/2014 at 22:54
Dick Thrust
your a complete wanker Swift!
15/02/2014 at 12:00
Jeps
Why hasn’t this disgraceful comment been removed?
15/02/2014 at 12:28
heritageaction
Well, “Jeps”, as you’re a metal detectorist who posts here from several different addresses we are unlikely to accede to your request to portray your hobby as devoid of oiks. We know who the author of that post is and it is well known and well-documented that he is foul-mouthed and has threatened me with violence yet he is treated as a good old boy on your forums and isn’t criticised at all.
When you have sorted your hobby out and the unacceptable people have been left behind and shunned by the socially acceptable ones who have formed a new exclusive organisation that doesn’t embrace the likes of him you can ask us to delete posts like that. But not until – as currently you are ALL fellow travellers with him. You are in a club that silently tolerates and socialises with terrible people – and you want us to hide the evidence?! No way.
16/02/2014 at 18:14
Paul Barford
“Dick Thrust” (ISP known) is a pseudonym. Remember the bit in a code of conduct about being an ambassador for the hobby? That applies to all.
For no better reason than me discussing (three years ago) a video he himself posted on You Tube, this same person has threatened me and my family, apparently instigated an incident in which the police and public prosecutor were involved, has been sending a stream of abusive comments to me, as well as publishing all sorts of abusive and defamatory material on the Internet for the past three years. He has a blog about me (Aug 2011 onwards) that has produced much hilarity among “the lads” and has received 15000 hits. Yet there has been not a WORD of condemnation of any of that from the metal detectorists of England and Wales. What does that tell you?
I agree with Heritage Action. Some of us are at the receiving end of such oikiness and anti-social behaviour from the very midst of the detecting ‘brotherhood’ for merely discussing certain issues about the hobby (issues one would have thought would be of concern to trully responsible detectorists). While this sort of behaviour is tolerated by “responsible metal detectorists”, you will forgive the people at the receiving end for taking every opportunity to advertise that fact.
16/02/2014 at 18:36
heritageaction
“Yet there has been not a WORD of condemnation of any of that from the metal detectorists of England and Wales”.
Well said. As I said, so long as they stay quiet they are all fellow travellers with awful people. Why can’t respectable detectorists get it through their heads that if they want respect they need to split away from the criminals, oiks and illiterati?