Wow! Metal detecting figures unspun.

For many years we’ve railed against PAS’s propaganda of success in the light of the evidence that 8 out of 9 recordable finds get pocketed, not reported. However, Paul Barford has just looked again at PAS’s records and come to an astonishing conclusion:

“The statistics for 2022 reveal that of the 9903 objects recorded (in 8426 records) since Jan 1st to today… 3705 were found in no known year (ie not now) and 72 before the Scheme was set up.”

Paul is running a Revised Artefact Erosion Counter (reflecting that there are 27,000 active detectorists rather than the 8,000 assumed by the Heritage Action one) which says that:

“since 1st January 2022 by mid afternoon on March 8th (67 days), 27000 artefact hunters all over the country have most likely pocketed 194777 recordable artefacts (roughly 2900 a day ). And the PAS managed to record 9903-3777= 6126 (ie the equivalent of TWO DAYS’ HAUL).”

Those figures are too stark to be dismissed or put down to exaggeration or malice. Let PAS et al dispute that if they dare. Or better still, admit it to landowners and the Government.

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More Heritage Journal views on artefact collecting
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