Praising metal detecting without doing so.

A “very rare” early medieval brooch of “national significance” found by a detectorist has been acquired by a museum.

Bravo! More good publicity for metal detecting.

.

But only if you don’t read between the lines: Tom Mayberry, chief executive of the South West Heritage Trust, said: “We’re delighted the great generosity of funders has allowed this extraordinary object to be given a permanent home in Somerset.”

Why you might ask, is gratitude owed to funders? Why not the finder instead? Not really good publicity for metal detecting is it? “Great generosity of funders”/ “Great generosity of finders”. It all sounds like good news to the public unless it’s explained to them. Which it rarely is in bonkers Britain. Funding is needed when someone wants paying, get it?

.

__________________________________________

More Heritage Journal views on artefact collecting

__________________________________________