Numismatist and Treasure Valuation Panel member Richard Falkiner has been quoted by Country Life as saying:
“If someone digs something up, it’s not their property. If it doesn’t belong to somebody because it was lost, it belongs to the state.”
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But it’s not true. What’s going on? Why no mention of the landowner? Almost everything found on his land belongs to him, no-one else! Don’t the readers of Country Life, many of whom own land, deserve to know that? Perhaps, to put things right, PAS should issue a clarification for all landowners:
“99.9% of finds from your land belong to YOU, no-one else (and 0.1% to the state), so if you want them all put in your hand, say so, and if you then want to get your own independent reports on their significance and value then do so. In fact, we very strongly advise it.”
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More Heritage Journal views on artefact collecting
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The Heritage Journal 
4 comments
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28/09/2020 at 13:15
Hywel Smith
So if I walk across a field and loose my wedding ring the field owner now owns it?
28/09/2020 at 14:27
heritageaction
No
29/09/2020 at 16:43
Hywel Smith
So does the state own it then?
30/09/2020 at 09:25
heritageaction
No, you do, so it’s up to you to go to the landowner, convince him you’re genuine and ask him if you can look for it. But this is nothing to do with the rights and wrongs of most metal detecting.