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| Typical agricultural damage found on one of Dean's Romano-British sites. photo: Dean Crawford |
"If these archaeologists fully understood where 99.9% of our finds come from (the horizontal context that they strip off and dump to one side) they would understand why they should promote recording detectorists as much as possible — these finds carry such important information from our past and are at risk from not only the archaeologists who discard the layers containing these finds but they are destined to disintegration from exposure to constant harrowing by farm machinery and acidic agrochemicals on a massive scale.
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| Dobunni silver units damaged by agriculture photo: Dean Crawford |
"So much has changed since I first started this hobby, the majority of artefacts are now "partefacts" and coins are bent, fragmented and corroded. That last old head Bodvoc silver unit was about 3 inches deep. Every Dobunni coin I have ever found has never been deeper than nine inches, but most are found at 2-6 inches."
The following video shows the standard mechanical removal of layers deeper than the vast majority of metal detector finds in preparation for archaeological excavation:
The following video shows the standard mechanical removal of layers deeper than the vast majority of metal detector finds in preparation for archaeological excavation:
"All I can add to Wayne Sayles' comment is that I don't really have a problem with how the land is being managed as regards the current system of preservation. I do, however, have a problem with the way that those (often detectorists) who contribute greatly towards identifying these areas for preservation are treated afterwards, and in general. This is not aimed at the PAS, but the profession as a whole. I do not expect anything in return for the information provided, but I do not expect a kick in the teeth either. The negative archaeological stigma toward us amateurs destroys so much good that can be gleaned."
John's Coydog Community page
The detectorist has the time, the knowledge, the equipment and the desire to add to the historical picture. The archaeologist has the time, the knowledge and the equipment, but won't get off his ass unless he is paid. Therein lies the difference.....
ReplyDeleteHi Dick,
DeleteWhile true about the funding, I am a little more extreme in saying that archaeologists can also have other motivations such as career advancement, book sales and so on. The amateur, as the word implies, has passion and I have seen that passion translated into knowledge far greater than that of many archaeologists. Dean has shared some of that with me with regards the Dobunni, but I knew someone years ago who had done something similar with the Doubunni's neighbors, the Durotriges. Henry Mossop certainly had that ability with the Corieltauvi, too, but In his case, a very worthy and wise archaeologist, Jeffrey May also came to collaborate with him. Such partnerships are always fruitful, albeit rare.
Best,
John
John;
ReplyDeleteI too have had some very productive collaboration with professional archaeologists in my 50 years as a Professional Numismatist. The opportunity for that is rapidly diminishing today because of the vituperous attitudes promulgated in recent years by professional archaeological associations and their leadership. That seems to me an effort mainly in reaction to feelings of threat to their profession. It is still possible for amateurs to work with individuals within the profession of archaeology, but not openly nor publicly. There are in fact several prominent archaeologists who are "closet" members of the Ancient Coin Collectors Guild. Work is hard to find for archaeologists in general and those who fail to adhere to the "party line" are almost guaranteed to be excluded from whatever work might come along. Academia is the most cutthroat element of the archaeological world and that is the place that media generally looks to for comment from "experts". One can comfortably bet that any query from the media will lead to a harangue against amateur archaeologists, independent scholars and private collectors. It's not a pretty picture.
Hi Wayne,
ReplyDeleteI have never encountered a more unethical profession than academic archaeology. This is no "conspiracy theory" or paranoia. I have been the victim of it three times now, and I have come to the aid of many people who have also been victimized by it.
This is why collectors are often accused of being unethical, as it is standard tactics to accuse others of the same wrongdoings perpetrated by the accuser (I was trained in such matters in my younger years).
But it goes beyond this: the public, too, are victimized to a degree by being fed all manner on untruthfulness. In a recent example, a book was published in my one of my own specialities which consisted of contributions of a number of academics. Some of it was genuine, but a small clique of authors (seen together in a couple of other compilations) were feeding their own their own theories to the public as fact. Contrary opinions (and there are a number of them) were not even mentioned.
The situation within nationalist archaeology, as we both know well, is even more complex and it is often difficult to separate the guilty from their dupes. About the only area completely free of it all lies with those archaeologists at the top of their specialities, but people can find it difficult to impossible to know who they are, and who is merely mimicking them. It takes another specialist to be be able to discern that fact.
Best,
John
Hi John:
ReplyDeleteWGS makes a succinct comment or three.
The so-called 'experts' to which he refers, when chased by the media for a sound-bite, always attribute the monopoly of the villany to collectors, amateurs, and detectorists. However, when pressed about the villainy of their peers they react like cornered rats. That also goes for those in archaeology who try to sweep their past (and present) political associations under the rug. When censured or questioned as is reasonable in a democracy never fail to play the 'ad hominen' card like drowning men clutching at straws. I find their chagrin highly amusing.
Regards
John Howland
England
You mean the 'ad hominem' card like your amusing little comment that 'Barford' is Polish for green waste? Hypocrite.
DeleteHi John,
DeleteThe rot started early -- with the foundation of UNESCO. In its foundation speech of 1946, Julian Huxley advocates eugenics and a single world government:
http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0006/000681/068197eo.pdf
Coming right after the fall of Hitler, it boggles the mind. I am especially interested in attempts to create pro-eugenic laws and in a couple of conversations with Alberta's premier, convinced him to overturn the old Alberta compulsory sterilization act and to financially compensate its surviving victims. It was the largest compensation package in Alberta's history.
Huxley also followed Darwin and the latter's ideas about natural selection were later heavily criticized by Nobel laureate Wolfgang Pauli who was a stickler for mathematical proofs (a lot of what Pauli thought was later to become part of the science of epigenetics):
http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.437.5253&rep=rep1&type=pdf
Sooner or later, archaeological wrongdoing and lack of ethics will be exposed by some journalist with a lot of clout and will make governments really wake up and take a look at what has been happening in the world for a long time. Until that day, we can only chip away at it, bit by bit, until it gets the attention it warrants.
Already, though, ethical archaeologists are starting to reveal what has been going on. See my review of _Archaeology under Dictatorship_:
http://www.accg.us/projects/book-reviews.aspx
Best,
John
To Anonymous:
ReplyDeleteYes, precisely, amusing satire. Use your real ID....you hypocrite, or more probably, GUTLESS? You uphold the lowest traditions of the bully boys. Or are you really, Barford?
John Howland
England
Why should I subject myself or my family to your tedious, predictable abuse? If you are seen as a representative voice of metal detecting, Mr Howland, then God help metal detectorists...
ReplyDeleteAh! Now I know who you are.
ReplyDeleteBest wishes and keep the Red Flag flying high. Ha ha ha ha hah!
John Howland
England
After previewing another message in this thread, I am putting and end to the bickering. Content-rich comments with information about the subject matter will always be welcomed, however, especially by those who have enough strength of conviction to actually identify themselves.
DeleteJohn