The Metal Detecting PROBLEM.

[@graceygrumble]

Detectorists and 'amateur' historians have made incalculable contributions to our discovery and understanding of the past. Volunteers - coastguards, food kitchens, homes-for-the-night, food banks, meals-on-wheels, mountain rescue personnel, hospice workers, charity shop workers, litter collectors, Canal and River Trust volunteers, National Trust volunteers, the folks who protect and keep our footpaths open, repair them and protect them, work with children in Scouts, Brownies, D of E, sports clubs... the list is endless, are the backbone of Britain. Some nefarious people hide among the pure of heart. Yet, the vast majority remain bloody brilliant and we must never let the b*****ds win!

[@choccolocco]

Yes, but unfortunately they have destroyed and pillaged many sites as well…

[@forrestunderwood3174]

Interesting how you lumped them in with charitable types. Who are they helping again?...

[@graceygrumble]

@@forrestunderwood3174 Fair comment. Detectorists might not be seen as altruistic in the same way as 'charitable types'. But, the UK has a history of interested amateurs, more focused on 'doing' as opposed to expecting it to be done. Passion drives progress. We have an extraordinary number of people who are, for the most part, focused on 'giving back' as opposed to 'wealth creation'. Who were we? Who are we? What could we be? If we all waited around until someone with a 'certificate' was interested, we would know very little. We don't always need money to be enriched. Edit. I am talking about the UK.

[@eekee6034]

@@graceygrumble I have to agree, knowing where you come from is important to many. Writing around 400 BCE, Xenophon misidentifies cities of the Assyrian Empire which fell only 230-odd years before -- cities which had been amongst the largest in the world. By contrast, thanks in part to the work of detectorists and the coins they have found, we have a much more accurate picture of what the Roman Empire was doing in Britain _8 times_ further back in history.

[@paulinehedges5088]

As an amateur archaeologist I am delighted when we can work with a metal detectoist. We both have so much to contribute to each other. 😊😊😊😊😊

[@ChristopherNFP]

I hope the two men have managed to keep the balance of the find and sell it when they are released. Cases like this will only encourage finders to melt down gold or silver to make it easier to sell .

[@thomasbell7033]

​@@ChristopherNFPOnly the greedy criminals. The decent human beings don't steal and fence their nation's patrimony.

[@lovemetwicetoday]

@@ChristopherNFP Yes, because melting down items that are hundreds or thousands of years old really adds to the value... not. What these blokes found is history, and belongs to the country. They're just a set of greedy bastards who would have both received a life-changing amount of money and would have avoided prison had they just done things the proper way.

[@dooleys1972]

my hobbies are varied, detectorist, motorcyclist, fishing, leisure boating, drone pilot. "a few bad eggs" - they, are everywhere, in every hobby, they give everyone a bad name, rule no'1 - DON'T LET THE SIDE DOWN !!! 🙂🙂🙂🙂

[@yamahamusicians]

We absolutely do not need a licensing system. It would achieve nothing at all. We had all this nonsense back in the 70's when I started detecting. The only people it benefits are the people collecting licence revenue and those who want to close down the hobby. The legislation is already in place. Organizations such as the NCMD exist to guide people new to the hobby to detect responsibly. There is a whole framework already out there to help people understand their responsibilities. Most of the detecting community are good, honest people with a deep interest and care for our history. There will always be bad apples and a license is not going to do anything at all about that.

[@eekee6034]

I agree. It sounds to me like Powell and Davies started out as good detectorists, but then they got greedy. They clearly knew everything they needed to do the right thing because they'd done right before. EDIT: I've just seen Paul commenting that he's seen some really silly recent cases of amateurs getting into trouble because they just didn't understand the rules. I guess licensing might help with that.

[@yamahamusicians]

@@eekee6034 It won't help. We all need a driving license and go through lessons and a test but that doesn't prevent people driving like idiots. No matter what you do, there will always be the few that cause problems for the majority. It is no secret that there are certain vested interests who would like to see the end of metal detecting altogether, apart from in the hands of archeologists of course. All the resources to become a responsible detectorist are already out there and have been for years.

[@davepelletier708]

Exactly, licensing expresses only control. Great way to diminish enthusiasm. You folks in England are sucker's putting up with that BS. America is falling apart, but two things that continue to keep us unique gun and property rights.

[@lettersquash]

@@davepelletier708 You forgot another unique thing about the USA; it has the highest homicide rate of all developed countries. And another fun fact: just over half of all homicides worldwide are caused by firearms. But yeah, of course, more guns and less control, genius idea.

[@TheGreatest1974]

We also need to see bigger (proper value) payouts by the crown which reflect the rarity of the items if put up for sale. Currently a detectorist KNOWS he will be given a sum far lower than market value by the crown or government. That meanness causes people not to report finds.

[@cyberherbalist]

As gradually each hobby requires a licence to pursue, we grow closer and closer to the day when nothing is legal without government permission.

[@robertjohnson429]

It's called communism 😢

[@thomasbell7033]

This is incredibly disingenuous. How many hobbies provide the opportunity to steal the national patrimony? I'll wait.

[@tylershadlow5792]

​@@robertjohnson429...what?

[@tylershadlow5792]

​@@robertjohnson429you need to elaborate on that

[@bbutc]

Unfortunately, the OP is correct, but I believe in the human spirit and this country has many lamp posts.

[@b08m4rt1n]

No way a license is going to stop a criminal. All that can be done is prosecution after the fact. Japan, where I live, has drone licenses, and in the past month, there have been several instances of unlicensed drones flying over military sites and ships. They were only discovered because the video was found on line. The license requirement stops no criminal. A license only serves as a barrier to people getting into the hobby.

[@richardfinlayson1524]

well even laws dont stop everyone but i dont know if that is an argument against them . hobby lol, you can call anything a hobby , that doesnt make it legitimate

[@forrestunderwood3174]

@@richardfinlayson1524 You have hit this nail squarely on the head.

[@TheRogey1]

More licensing!

[@ericanderson8556]

@@richardfinlayson1524 Anything can be a hobby. This is America not North Korea. If you don’t like it, go there.

[@richardfinlayson1524]

@@ericanderson8556 your in America I'm not

[@definitiveverse]

I've discussed this subject with many professional archaeologists over the years and licensing the hobby won't stop night hawks or anyone with a criminal mind-set, as much as licensing gun ownership stops criminals getting hold of and using them, or someone without a car license getting behind the wheel of a vehicle. There is a "us and them" mentallity among both detectorists and professional archaeologists, archaeologists tend to think that all metal detectorists are purely in it to discover treasure, which of course is far from the truth with only a minority of those who detect that actually sell their finds. Detectorists seem to think that the museum, Portable Antiquities Scheme and archaeologists want to take over their sites, the few who don't report their finds have a mistrust of the PAS and museums process as it takes such a long time for an artefact to be logged, identified, declared as treasure or not and then sold at auction, this causes impatience and mistrust among the detecting community. More understanding and educating of people wanting to detect is required, more involvement with the professional and amateur working side by side is the answer. Although criminals will be criminals no matter what.

[@patavinity1262]

Gun licenses and car licenses aren't *supposed* to stop criminals using guns or people unlawfully driving cars. It just makes it *more difficult* for them to do it. That's how licenses work.

[@definitiveverse]

@@patavinity1262 my point was even if you license something, criminals will find a way.

[@patavinity1262]

@@definitiveverse Yeah, and my point is that your point is a bad one.

[@definitiveverse]

@@patavinity1262 I'm not sure how its a bad point, its a fact that criminals will find a way to comit crime whether something is licensed or not. Introducing a license to metal detecting will just price out those on low incomes who enjoy the hobby it won't deter criminals one bit.

[@patavinity1262]

@@definitiveverse I explained how in my original response. Have a read and get back to me.

[@mwcooke8441]

You had me until the end. Licenses and such like just make the freedom to get into a hobby like metal detecting all the more difficult. There’s already legislation. By adding more rules you just “punish” the people who are doing things right in the first place., because the “baddies “ don’t follow the rules, that’s why they’re “baddies”.

[@jagolago-bob]

Well said.

[@streuthmonkey1]

Me too. Ridiculous idea imo and his list of things they would be punished for are already covered by existing statute.

[@cralee6892]

Great holes in the land you say .most of the stuff is getting smashed by the ploughs in the top 4 inches

[@leslie-rn7zv]

Ploughing!! whats that?.....finished years ago on my neck of the woods.....

[@leegalvin3600]

No licence thankyou just another hobby being monetized.

[@conradharcourt8263]

So metal detectors aren't hoping to make money? Do you really think that the authorities who issue any kind of licence make a profit? No one wants to be told what to do, but it's surprising how many people go running to the police or other enforcement agencies when other people break the rules!

[@george5590]

@@conradharcourt8263 your been charged for walking on the river Thames picking up broken pottery?

[@williamwoods8022]

@@conradharcourt8263 Oh my - The ignorance! Not one penny of any of the taxes etc you pay pays for anything. You are being the good little slave that you have been brainwashed into as per the video The Democracy Illusion on my channel - happy to be robbed and shafted since the day you were born.

[@AndresBonbon]

I am in the United States and there is a thing called trespassing. It seems this from a place you can just walk on someone elses land but expected to not take the stuff. The stuff is stolen to begin with so it doesn't make since to expect any different.

[@george5590]

@@conradharcourt8263 what about the British museum what they stole from around the world

[@PaulEcosse]

Sad to think but of course there are people like this. I loved the Detectorists series and loved that they finally won the day.

[@alexalexander3140]

The answer to preventing these finds from being done in secrecy is to give the finder the total value of the find. It’s very simple. Don’t try to rob the finder.

[@lettersquash]

That's not going to work. First of all, it means the finder has no incentive to involve the authorities, so might as well just put everything on the market after digging it all up and losing all the historical significance. Secondly, there isn't any "total value" of the find other than estimating how much things might get sold for if put on the open market. Third, we don't want that to happen; we ought to want our history to be enriched with knowledge, and hence our museums full of amazing finds illustrating that history (as opposed to stuff being sold to anyone around the world with enough cash to buy it). Fourthly, if the "total value" were estimated by experts after items are handed in, so as to reimburse the finder, that amount would have to come from the country's revenue, so we'd all be paying for it.

[@Milamberinx]

Why should the detectorists have the total value of the find? They didn't do any work to put the value in the ground. It's right that they should be rewarded for finding these things but it's also right that the finds belong to the community as a whole.

[@alexalexander3140]

@@Milamberinx Without the metal detectorist the find would never ever be made. The detectorist does all of the work.

[@4TheRecord]

I think 50% share of what you find with the other 50% going to the person who owns the land is a good rate. These guys got too greedy. They could have done it properly and had a lot of money out of it but they decided to steal from the landowner.

[@tgbluewolf]

1:55 "The horde would likely have been buried here by a Viking raider...to retrieve at a later date." Ironically, it WAS retrieved at a later date by fellow pillagers.

[@SHPR2013]

Than you for another informative and well produced video. I would personally say the biggest issue to face British Archaeology is the gravel extraction companies who often do not report large finds to local authorities - many now famous sites were once under the axe for gravel extraction, such as the Thornborough Henges, but fortunately the local community already seeing so much pre history disappear from other other quarry sites they heroically stood their ground and saved these monuments. I have even heard tales and local legends of things uncovered during the building of local airports which were swept under the carpet to stop the protest into their construction and expansion - some of which have actually been published on certain sites but the majority is now lost to greed and who knows the true extent of these finds?.

[@biffjones2601]

Over regulation is not a solution to problems in society. That only makes life more difficult for the law abiding. The criminal does not care about regulations and the crime will continue.

[@pwhitewick]

Which is kind of what I point out at the end. Above all though it will sort the over keen amateur. I have seen multiple cases recently of this being a big issue.

[@leonardjackman354]

Thank you Paul for this video. Metal detecting is an addictive hobby, finding and learning about our history, if done legally.

[@pwhitewick]

I can definitely see it becoming an addiction!!

[@ButzPunk]

I'm conflicted by the severity of the punishment for those lads. On the one hand, 18 years is an incredibly long time to lock someone up for what essentially amounts to the theft of something no-one even knew existed. No lives were endangered and no harm done to anyone. On the other hand, a crime like this does irreparable damage to our ability to investigate history, and it seems that it would be very easy to get away with (if you're smart about how you sell it). From this point of view, harsh punishment makes sense, especially in high profile cases, as a deterrence to other prospective treasure hunters.

[@bobjackson4720]

So for digging a hole and finding treasure you are punished in a way comparable with a rather grisly murder, where is the sense in that?

[@zak3744]

@@bobjackson4720 They weren't punished for finding the treasure. They were punished for failing to declare it, which they did very deliberately for what it's worth!

[@davidholden2658]

@@zak3744 They also stole from the land owner as the profits from any finds are split 50/50 between the detectorist and the land owner. So if the hoard was worth £1,000,000 they stole £500,000.

[@dazzlingdaz187]

Compared to recent cases about sharing pornographic images of children which only received suspended sentences, it seems incredibly harsh.

[@GingerMole]

@@bobjackson4720yet they let child predators out in a couple years… laws and punishments are backwards in this country

[@tristanmills4948]

If they'd done everything legally then they may have had a reward of half the value (the other half to the land owner) after the sale (hopefully to a museum).

[@pwhitewick]

Absolutely yep

[@apcolleen]

And they had already turned in items dozens of times before so they couldn't claim ignorance.

[@Sarge084]

Driven by greed!

[@Gainn]

when you realise that the people most likely to buy the stuff get to determine the value.. you can see why a lot of people don't.

[@theoztreecrasher2647]

@@Gainn Not sure of your rationale there. The sale of these "treasure" items is NOT a closed auction. Thus anyone who has an interest in amassing collections of same (and there are a LOT of very wealthy business types looking for ways to sock away their loot into appreciating assets) can put their hand up - not only the Museums and their "Experts" that I assume you are referring to.

[@notanotherbottletop9892]

The most recent significant historical finds have been made by detectorists not by archaeologists...and who policies the archaeologists????

[@thelandscapologist]

Only if your definition of historical finds is "interesting old trinkets"

[@conradharcourt8263]

If you mean who polices the archaeologists, they are generally working for institutions with their own disciplinary procedures and which are themselves bound by the law. Institutions can indeed become corrupt, as can people within them, but this is not an argument for abandoning all controls and regulations.

[@diggingthewest7981]

​@@thelandscapologist"Interesting old trinkets" is what arcs spend over 99% of the time, money and college degrees on. I've never seen a more mind boggling display of ignorance, regarding artifact identification and historical knowledge. I assisted on a survey a few years back one of the archeologists spent nearly 4 hours digging, brushing and tooth picking shattered pieces of an 1860s soldered food can, which they thought was a soldier's epaulet.😅

[@thelandscapologist]

@@diggingthewest7981 Indeed, a huge proportion of archaeological work is the analysis and understanding of material. That is not my point at all. The unsubstantiated claim that randomly acquired and weakly contextualised finds by metal detectorists represent "most recent significant historical finds" is certainly wrong and is dismissive of the huge amounts of work done by the people to whom you refer.

[@barlow2976]

Nonsense, drivel, and that's why you don't give examples.. You think archaeologists are stealing finds, where's your proof?

[@TheSonsofFalstaff]

I think you may have found the reason why they did not register the find. A 50/50 split between the Landowner and the Finder is, apparently, normal. The hoard was valued at 3 million pounds. You said the finders would receive half a million. Assuming the Landowner would receive the same.................where did the other two million go?

[@streuthmonkey1]

That is not what the treasures act says. It is up to the Secretary of State to determine whether a reward will be given and what this reward will be. He could have decided to give them 50p if he wanted to. If you have even the most basic knowledge of government I am pretty sure you can figure out what would have happened to the rest of the revenue, it is the same thing that happens with a large proportion of your paycheck.

[@TheSonsofFalstaff]

@@streuthmonkey1 I think we have the same point of view.

[@FlatDerrick]

I hope you reported all that treasure you pulled out of the bongo bushes!

[@mickdavis8521]

Licensing would not work because the unscrupulous would carry on as before

[@pwhitewick]

Of course. But as sumerised it would stop some really silly cases I've seen of late with uneducated amateurs atht e least.

[@DemolitionManDemolishes]

Oi! Do you have a loicense for that metal detector?

[@DonHavjuan]

By that logic car licences don't work either.

[@mickdavis8521]

@@DonHavjuan does everyone with a car license obey the rules? Are there still people driving around without licenses?

[@apcolleen]

​@@mickdavis8521false equivalency

[@cjd1383]

There is no point in licensing the hobby. A criminal with a detector is a criminal, NOT a detectorist. A licence scheme would just become another way for the government to take money and ruin a bloody good hobby.

[@gilespender5763]

Thank you, as a very keen metal detectorist, with many amazing finds under his belt. I can't help but agree with you on this video. It should never be about cashing in. It should always be about the history.

[@pwhitewick]

Thanks 👍

[@Chickenben897]

Don’t be so silly it’s all about the money lol you tell me now if you find something for 5-10-20k your just goin put in a cabinet and look at it! Your goin sell it! Every metal detectorist wants the recognition of finding something great!!

[@watcher24601]

​@@Chickenben897thank you for making the case that metal detection should be made illegal as it is in other countries. Spoil it for everyone, just to keep people like you away from it.

[@evilgibson]

The more I hear about being jailed for finding historical treasures, the more I think it just might be easier to just melt everything down into bullion. You'll lose a lot of value, but easier to sell

[@Chickenben897]

@@watcher24601 how’s it wrong selling what you find??? I’ve found loads of gold silver and all sorts over the years of doin! I study it and research what I find and then sell! Iam not a collector but the things I sold have gone into private collections to be admired for the rest of time! What’s wrong with that??

[@CartoType]

There is an assumption that the interests of archaeology take precedence over private property. That assumption should be challenged. The best way to change behaviour is to change incentives, rather than adding new restrictions such as licensing. If archaeologists want to take over when objects are found they should offer substantial payment upfront, plus a final payment of more than the market value of any further finds, on condition that the site is reported to them and they are allowed to take over. Let’s decriminalise this when the landlord’s permission has been given. There are already laws against theft and criminal damage to cover ‘nighthawking’.

[@keithstudly6071]

I think it's tragic that laws have been made that incentivize people to hide artifacts they may have found because if they go public and are open about their findings the are in danger of losing their property rights. I'm not in the UK but think it's even odder that the Crown can claim property found on anyone's private land. Do you really have the ownership of things that you don't know exists? This all gives the property owner incentive to keep quiet and tell no one. When I say tragic I mean in the classic sense because there is no simple answer that will satisfy everyone. I think property owners should have compensation for any loss of use of their property and for anything removed from their property.

[@fatfrreddy1414]

allhumans are equal; tho' some are more equal than others...

[@malcolmrichardson3881]

Very interesting and thoughtful video! Thank you! Our history is not someone's private property: it belongs to each and every one of us, and that includes buried historical artefacts.

[@familylife3624]

Problem is it doesn't belong to everyone it ends up in government hands why should the government benefit from someone else Yes I'm with people for saving our history, but pedophiles get a lesser sentence if not at all But anything to do with money in this country the court system is designed to make the punishment much harsher than most Long story short the UK is a joke

[@nsein001]

The fact that I live in America and I know of the rules. The new hoops to jump through (new rules) would not matter to those types of people.

[@apcolleen]

As an American it may work akin to scared straight programs lol.

[@efnissien]

While working as an archaeologist, had a colleague who once stayed on site he was working on overnight (apparently he'd over heard some chit chat in a local pub), this particular night he was disturbed from his sleep by a chap sneaking through the site office area towards the dig site with a shovel and metal detector... when my colleague (who was ex forces and a beefy boy) turned a spotlight on the individual and challenged the chap, the guy told him he was 'looking for butterflies'... There's also the case of the villa that 'vanished' - it was a scheduled monument, and someone just used a JCB to rip the site up. A little while later, in the Netherlands several skiploads of building rubble, identified as belonging to a Roman villa in the UK were discovered in a disused industrial unit. The nighthawks had ripped up the site loaded it intoskips and shipped it over the channel to sift through at their leisure.

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

Not only was this video interesting, but it also represents the detecting community in a positive way. The night hawks are not part of that community - they’re just thieves who use detectors. Cheers Paul - another top upload.

[@pwhitewick]

Cheers Boss.

[@OneTrundle]

lies, My neighbour detects at night on public land, He doesnt keep anything, He offers it to a local museum, he offers farmers money but never gets permission, He is just into history and does it to beat depression staying home alone. His son died, His nephew was murdered, I despise You and Your judgemental ways.

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

@@OneTrundle yes, I deserve to be despised because I was specifically referring to your neighbour and not those who deliberately operate in the dark because they plan to steal.

[@OneTrundle]

@@WC21UKProductionsLtd He is caught in that bracket, and it would help My mental health so much if I could join Him, I bought a detector and never used it because of worry of being called a nighthawk and the anxiety associated. My life is a misery of permanent agony and I find it so hard to carry on another day each day, even though it hurts to stand let alone walk, it would make life a bit more bearable if People didn't make these annoying comments

[@jannerkev]

Nighthawking is a big problem for archaeology. I know a few detectorists local who do record and do everything to the letter of the law, and they have found loads of great things. No hoards, though , but if they did, they would do the correct thing.

[@Hadesdetecting]

As a detectorist myself I totally agree with how they were treated,I have had a 2 hoards myself but unlike them followed the code of conduct.Glad to say one of my hoards is now in a museum after archeologists excavated it for all to enjoy (and it's significant academic value will be learnt about).I've never been in it for the money and never sold anything.Great informative video as ever.

[@thhseeking]

I remember Time Team touched on this in several episodes. They used metal detectorists several times, and I think it was at the Codnor Castle dig that a detectorist found a large gold coin. I like Paul's idea.

[@nickbea3443]

TT used metal detectorists extensively this summer at Sutton Hoo. Their use was effectively as a remote sensing tool plus recovery of finds in spoil heaps that had been missed through excavation. Their input plus from other survey tehcniques, led to knowing where the bottom of the Bromeswell bucket lay, so allowing very careful excavation the immediate area before extraction. All digs I've voluntered on have retained the services of detectorists.

[@soyxarai6369]

Interesting story. But what I don't understand is why as a metal detectorist you run the risk of punishment, even if you report your find and have permission from the owner of the land to search on the specific piece of land. Usually this is agricultural land that is often plowed. Doesn't the landowner also run into the same offense? Namely, the disturbance of historical ground and makes historical research almost impossible? Comes across to me as don't shoot the messenger.

[@Quest_For_Britannia]

Thank Paul for pointing out what we, as detectorist, strive to be most detectorist are responsible and do the right things. Crazy that greed got the better of the 2 guys. History is so important, and detecting is a major part. I pride myself as a responsible detectorist and record all of my worthy finds with the PAS and always have the landowners' permission. Great video, as always 👍

[@chaseschneier1076]

Who else is fed up with the overuse of the word "countless" when referring to a moderate number of people? In this case, there were not many at all.

[@paulinehedges5088]

Thanks Paul and hello Ellie. Thank you both for making the points about being responsible when detecting, the importance of context and sharing those finds with the rest of the community. Great video. 😊😊😊😊😊

[@pwhitewick]

Thanks Pauline. Had hoped you'd approve of this one!

[@miss_detectorist]

Hello Pauline! It was such a treat to spend the day working with Paul and Rebecca. 😊 Lovely to make a silver find too, on a very interesting piece of land 😊

[@gordoncrates3508]

Great video as always Paul. Really hate when people like this give us detectorist a bad name. Great collaboration with Ellie. Will watch her video with you soon

[@miss_detectorist]

😊

[@martinh4982]

18 years for that 😮 Talk about a cursed treasure! Rather than licencing, however, I think we'd be better off incentivising reporting finds more/better rewards. Even then, the lustre of gold has a strange effect on people

[@pwhitewick]

The lustre really does doesn't it. Had the reported and gone halves with the landowner, they would have gained maybe half a million each.

[@420styletomatoes6]

A lot of people get less for murder.

[@mixn44]

@@pwhitewick It's not the Landowners stuff though. How do you think they got ownership of the land ? Lot's of Swords, that's how.

[@jagolago-bob]

Ahh, the good old days when porno mags in hedges were a blessed relief. Better than Nintendo for the health. I metal detect, and of course report anything interesting that I find. There is a good argument for detecting. The number of broken artifacts I find is extraordinary. Modern heavy farming methods destroy so much, so it's a battle against time to save these things. Keep detecting, but responsibly!

[@taffythegreat1986]

It’s great to find gold and coins, but when you find buckles, brooches etc. you can imagine a person going back 100s of years walking on the very spot.

[@miss_detectorist]

You’re spot on - it’s all about the human stories for me 😊

[@ericstalter1917]

I'm from the US. I agree with you 100%. Coins are great but they change hands. a button or a buckle was one persons.

[@peterhudson4027]

@@miss_detectorist I wholeheartedly agree. One of my favourite items in Reading Museum comes from Roman Silchester, and it is a child's small silver spoon, engraved with the name of its owner (IIRC something like "Priya"). When I first saw it I just stared at it for ages, wondering about this Roman child and what their life would have been like!

[@Sifinds]

Great video Paul. You need to look into Mudlarking next

[@pwhitewick]

Just waiting for the invite 😉

[@nixswatson]

Well, that was very informative, I never knew all that and some very interesting comments here as well. I used to take my boys metal detecting when camping or at the beach. Funny the kids detectors were a lot better than a cheap adults one. Sad to say we never found anything of historical interest/value mainly crap but they found it fun trying to find treasure and kept them out of mischief for many hours. I still have a kids metal detector that still works, think I'll go out detecting somewhere soon...

[@frankgulla2335]

Thank Paul. Of couse here in the states it is a bit different, because we do not have hundreds of years of metal to go looking for. Thanks for the insight.

[@cwall22]

People should be rewarded financially relative to the value of the items found. Then people would be more inclined to declare the treasure they have found. Prison for finding and selling something they found is mind boggling.

[@WildwoodTV]

The problem is there's always a few bad eggs - Detectorists' finds have enabled a HUGE increase in archaeologists' understanding of history in recent years. Organised digs usually require NCMD membership, which includes insurance and the rules are clear to see on their website.

[@pwhitewick]

Yup, absolutely agree

[@pavleone472]

Well shouldnt they be rewarded for all that hard work? It is easy to just TAKE whatever someone else finds, and call it of historical value.

[@HylanderSB]

Heavens forbid the museum hoarders wouldn't get their hands on every piece in existence.

[@pwhitewick]

Better than thieves stealing it never to be seen again.

[@DJWESG1]

​@@pwhitewick best make sure this episode isn't monetised then, don't want to be making money off the back of thieves do you.. or do you?

[@missourislave7963]

So a lot of items in museums can quickly be cataloged, then stored like millions of other artifacts never to be seen again by the public. Your argument goes both ways. There are actually probably more priceless/ historical artifacts hidden and stored away nobody will ever get to see. It is also funny to call them theives, when in fact they are digging up already stolen treasure. Gatekeeper mindset.

[@tylershadlow5792]

​@@DJWESG1shit take from a shit person

[@simonwharmby]

As a metal detectorist for over 20yrs and part of the Ncmd it isn’t metal detecting that is the problem, it’s certain people that just have respect for firstly the history of detecting but the overall community of detectorists. Once a land owner knows his land has been intruded unlawfully and in this case stolen from the land owner, then it has a huge effect on the greater community.. nobody in that area and the outlying area will trust or allow detectorists near..thus history can’t be recovered and appreciated at places such as the British Museum.

[@jomo5242]

Great to see Ellie representing our community in a positive light. It’s a fantastic hobby full of great people interested in understanding history, not treasure hunters.

[@davidberlanny3308]

Hi Paul, Very interesting story and very well presented. It looks like you had a good time making it too. Lovely to see Rebecca as well. I'm guessing that you used to read viz, or still do, you wont find one of their comics in a hedge!! From what you say and in the comments I understand that the find would be split between land owner and the finder. I would have guessed the crown got in there too, or the state. The case is still rumbling on from what I can see, they could have made a tidy sum and been well respected. All the best

[@jackwatsonepic626]

What an educational video I never knew that 🤔🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

[@pwhitewick]

Thanks Jack

[@bushmasterflash]

I do wonder what real detectorists thought of the BBC program of the same name. (Still available on iPlayer).

[@pwhitewick]

Ellie was a fan, and we are half was through season 1!

[@miss_detectorist]

There’s a podcast I was involved in which does exactly that - ‘Detectorists on Detectorists’ (part of Detecting History podcast)

[@QALibrary]

This one is a wow - very well done in making the video - I shared this with a friend who is a detectorist in the USA and is well-connected

[@pwhitewick]

Thank you. It took a while!

[@richardmook3693]

I have mixed feelings. Are we living in a society where we are being over regulated? Are we now a society whose purpose is just to regulate one groups desires over another’s for the “sole good”? Museums and archaeologists have become some of the worst hoarders. What needs to be done if we are to adequately deal with this problem is to take the profit from it. So many of our institutions have a plethora of artifacts that have been studied to death or that have little if any academic value, only to disappear in the shadows of storage. Put these no longer significant treasures on the market so collectors can collect and institutions might generate some income to further pursue history. This begins a goal of reducing the profit and hence the stealing of artifacts. Lots of flaws in this logic but worth investigating to address the problems. Great video!

[@MattflemingMr]

Not a broach @7:36, rather a Hampshire regiment cap badge before the PWRR amalgamation.

[@pwhitewick]

Cheers Dude.

[@delsmith7725]

Glad you didn't damn the hobby Paul like many have done before. Thank you. Honest detectorists are a must for uncovering the past. There will always be bad eggs but mostly we're the type of people who appreciate the simple things in life. The outdoors, friendship and history. I can say as a collective, metal detectorists are peace loving, law abiding citizens. These guys were foolish and beyond greedy. The treasure could've been shared with the world and they'd still have gained so much. To think they'd have gotten away with it. Incomprehensible.

[@finncarlbomholtsrensen1188]

In Denmark we have large groups of Official Detector people operating in connection with the Local Museums and recieving a reward if finding Specially Valuable Items, which are to become owned by the "King"! They have lately found so much that they have a waiting list for being able to be rewarded! A lot of items which wouldn't have been found if not. Finn. Denmark

[@glynluff2595]

The French coin ; was there an old Napoleonic prison camp in the area? The prisoners made models etc whilst incarcerated and sometimes worked in the surrounding area.

[@MarloweDash]

Yank here! Love these vids... and probably would not be here if it were not for my favorite tv series 'The Detectorists'. Loooove that series. Anyway, it is excellent to watch this (and other vids) about all the nuances of how treasures are found, who finds them, what shenanigans are got up to by greedy humans and the honorable and curious community nearby... Great work you all! (I know, I know, you Do Not like being complimented - ugh I gonna say it anyway). - old lady, olympic peninsula, washington...

[@MrGreatplum]

Very interesting, Paul. Ben has a cheap metal detector that he likes using on the beach but I can see how it can become addictive. Even I know the rules about “treasure”. The local finds officer sounds like an interesting job.

[@pwhitewick]

Yup, never considered that. Must be hugely enlightening every day

[@firesurfer]

I miss the show ''Detectorists''. Very funny and heartwarming.

[@lindamccaughey6669]

Fantastic video thanks Paul. Really enjoy the history detections bring out. Really enjoyed that. Please take care

[@Englishprospector]

What an amazing video thank you. Stumbled across your channel through Ellie (miss detectorist) I love the way you read and understand maps

[@pwhitewick]

Thank you, very kind. Welcome to the channel.

[@garethley66]

Doing this at night shows that they were criminals intent on looting ancient treasures.

[@winstonalan5731]

As I understand it, in the UK the system of reporting these types of finds and the practice of rewarding the detectorist who makes them is a really good one. It would also be kind of nice to know that you contributed to an archeological discovery, and on top of that, the government gives you a reward for it at a substantial portion of the value of the treasure. I would really like to see something like this in North America. One day I would like the opportunity to detect in the UK, and to spend some time there and get out and see some fantastic historical locations. I was there once for 24 hours a long time ago - it wasn't long enough!

[@davie941]

hello again Paul, this was really interesting , greed always gets people , not all people i might add , well done and thank you 😊

[@raphaelnikolaus0486]

Great informative video. Thanks for shining some light on this subject.

[@historyhuntersmda]

We are love our passion, History and archeology! Just simple massage to others, if you about to breaking the law, we warning you! You won’t be welcome in entire real metal detecting community! No permission! No Metal Detecting! You find something which could be old history artefact or coin you need to report that to local FLO! And story of these two thieves should be lesson for those who’s don’t bother about law of metal detecting. Well done to the law enforcement officers for bringing them accountable for their actions! 👏🏻

[@RandallSlick]

Completely understand the need for responsible detectoring, but those prison sentences suggest that the two peasants banged hard into our nation's feudal establishment. I wonder what the result would be if they'd found the same in an urban, council-owned park. I fear that it's not about the preservation of history, but everything about denying the 'landowner' of their cut. Fascinating video nonetheless.

[@rodneyhull9764]

carnt have working class lads getting one over the toffs can we?

[@barlow2976]

Nonsense, they're just thieves of our history, and their greed justifies their sentences.

[@MichaelCampin]

Good afternoon Paul, landed at 5pm today. Good to see you again.

[@barlow2976]

I spent most of the eighties and nineties metal detecting, and have made some great finds. My best I have bequeathed to the British Museum where it is on permanent display- an early iron age brooch. All my finds were recorded, and I enjoyed a good relationship with county archaeologists. In those days nighthawks were rife, I've seen thirty odd out at Verulamium in a single night. I had to be very careful not to attract attention to my sites, I've even been followed. The lengthy sentences handed out recently are encouraging, these people are stealing from us all. Licensing won't stop those thieves, but I found slashing their tyres did.

[@gregbiggs7564]

Great Great 🔥🔥 love Ellie’s channel 👍👍👍 soooo good Paul 🤩🇬🇧🇺🇸

[@mikemuha7537]

Hope they get away with it next time. Ridiculous!

[@MM0IMC]

During the time Channel 4's Time Team programme ran, context was very well explained. The metal detectorists that they used worked along side the archaeologists. Because of this, I thought the days of 'nighthawks' had long gone! 😱☹️

[@thelandscapologist]

You're more generous spirited than I am. Metal detecting as an activity in its own right can only ever really be about the intrinsic value (financial or otherwise) of the artefacts found. That's not always bad, but virtually all context is lost, even when done totally legally. My heart sinks when I hear detectorists speak of 'productive permissions' because it always sounds to me like disturbed archaeology.

[@thelandscapologist]

@@Osmiculture IF it came out of the plough layer, IF it was properly recorded and reported and IF any other non-metallic artefacts that were also dug up were also treated similarly then we've pretty much learnt all we can, so in that very specific case no we haven't lost context. Nor have we learnt very much other than about the artefact itself though.

[@blacksmith67]

@@OsmicultureYes.

[@Osmiculture]

@@thelandscapologistI was being implicit about the object being in the plough layer. I also didn't state that this find would be outside of protected sites. I also agree that any Roman or otherwise unidentifiable artefacts should be declared IF they are within an apparently linked and reasonable distance. The majority of detectorists I have met or seen (on YT) are amateurs of history and are proud of what they contribute in their discussions with, and presentations to a FLO. Indeed over 1,500,000 artefacts - some actually in isolated positions - that have been now been recorded with the PAS by detectorists. The head of the PAS even stated publicly that this has led to a significant number of studies, research and benefits to British archaeology. However, I do think you are being wilfully naive in your stance of not being "generous". I have no idea if you have gone out with anyone metal detecting (I venture you haven't), but many people spend hours cleaning up green waste pollution such as foil, plastic litter, digging up cans, moo tubes, screws, shotgun shell head stamps, cartridges, tools and items from modern agriculture, lengths of iron that could foul up the workings of machinery, rarely finding items of 'value' to archaeology or to a coin collection, for weeks, even months. They are often putting in days of work, scanning places where no amount of funding would have brought an archaeologist, let alone a team of them.

[@blacksmith67]

@@Osmiculture How about this then: the broach might have been still attached to its cloak which was just below the area affected by “deep plowing” and despite the modern chemicals that might have leached through it was still intact and surrounding a bunch of other soft elements. But since this cloak had all but transformed into a soft layer of dust, indistinguishable by the detectorist as anything other than muck, it was dug through and subsequently lost because the only metal bit was a broach. This is only one hypothetical (and if considered singly, improbable) scenario among thousands of other possible ones. There is every chance that someone simply dropped it while out walking and no other artifact exists within a thousand meters, but we would never know.

[@wilhelmvonn9619]

In the vast majority of cases the 'context' is simply unremarkable farmland or other open space, with nothing of archaeological interest. If there was some buried structure there how would one find out? Excavate a wide area around the spot where every single find was made? I don't think so.

[@JeffinBville]

What would Andy and Lance do?

[@pwhitewick]

No spoilers I'm still on season 1

[@miss_detectorist]

@@pwhitewick❤ yes Paul!!! How are you enjoying it x

[@zippy5131]

The last time I used a locator, was in finding stuff that was unexploded. Now someone asked me one night outside a pub, you know about this stuff.......... and then opened the boot of their car to show me unexploded mortar rounds.. The question came, what do you think I should do with them?...... my reply....... Too complicated and technical for youtube. Join a club and do detecting seriously. Do not touch anything you can not recognise.

[@michaelpjeffries1521]

Relics will be lost forever at some point in time. Some landowners have amazing finds after being curious for decades. Every little piece counts when putting the pieces of history together. It does need proper research and permission. Poaching is theft of history.

[@terjemarken2411]

I do metal detect in Norway myself and it seems like Norwegian law is pretty much similar to British law. Over here all artefacts which would be dated to 1536 (the reformation) or earlier are automatically the state's property. Detectorists who find old items have to register GPS coordinates, depth and deliver them to the state archaeologists, and some of the items will be sent to museums also. Some viewers here make comments about communist laws or what they called it. I don't agree on that. All these old reported finds are like small puzzle pieces which help the archaeologists and historians to understand our history. The detectorists will receive rewards for very special finds and also rewards for all precious metals in weight pluss 10% more than currant market price. The law also says that if you come across a hoard of ancient objects at a smaller spot the metal detecting should be aborted - contact the county archaeologist. I've delivered some 20 objects to the authorities myself including a roman gold ring and a very spesial gold amulet/pendant from around 470 AD.

[@worldtraveler930]

So what did the Nighthawk Villains learn from this video? Let's see if you discover a hoard Don't sell it in England take it over to the continent!!! 🤠👍

[@goldringhunter2431]

Nobody owns the rights to a treasure that buried in the ground belong to whoever finds them. Governments should have no rights to the finds, or the landowner don't even own the treasure that's under his property, belongs to whoever finds it. Yes, that means trespassers. Because you don't own the real land you just lease it from the government. Don't pay your taxes and see who really owns the land. History is sold every day, soon most things not gold and silver will break down in the soil. History and how it was buried, location, matter to us treasure hunters. We just want to look and find treasure and profit. Just like any other job.

[@DavidShepheard]

I have to say that, while I do fully understand that digging up old coins from a farmer's field and not handing them over as treasure is technically theft, I find it offensive that someone goes to jail for that, but people who do much more harmful things, like put flammable cladding on Grenfell Tower or come up with fake PPE supplies during the Covid Pandemic are not in jail. We need to put the worst people in jail and being "disrespectful to history" is just nowhere near as harmful as killing living people or putting our NHS staff under pressure. I totally would NOT prioritise police action against people stealing treasure. Sure, I agree with your licence scheme. And, if good detectorists are able to uncover hordes, the finds officers should allow them to come back and be part of the team that does the official excavation, so that they get to see that stuff first hand. We should name detectorist heroes on plaques in the museums that talk about found treasures. And the ones that do the best stuff should maybe get put onto the new year's honor's list. I think there should be a carrot approach to getting the good detectorists to teach other detectorists what to do.

[@peterhealey7964]

I was going to make a similar comment but you’ve done it for me. As a former Prison Officer I’ve seen people get less for taking a life.

[@rodneyhull9764]

its a class thing

[@patrickl2195]

Next week “When Ordinance Survey maps attack”. But seriously, an interesting and informative video.

[@terjemarken2411]

License is not claimed over here and there are metal detecting thieves in Norway too. It's sad.

[@walkingthewyrd]

Really enjoyed this Paul and team! Thank you!

[@pwhitewick]

Cheers Nic.

[@joshgrimes9554]

Im glad im in the U.S.A. I'll keep my finds or sell them as i wish....the majority of archaeological finds given to museums never see the light of day again. People don't always get to see them, or they just "disappear" completely and forgotten. Yeah.

[@paul.Darling]

Thank you Paul another informative video, the few bad apples always ruin things for the honest majority.

[@pwhitewick]

Absolutely yep. Cheers

[@rodneyhull9764]

the 'honest majority' probably dont have to work their arses off in a warehouse all their life. the morality of the wealthy on full show here

[@gymnosophy]

I take it miss detectorist declared the silver coin she found

[@miss_detectorist]

It doesn’t fall under the Treasure Act, as it’s a single coin. But if it had been found in a multiple of more than two, then yes it would be reported. ‘Two or more coins from the same find provided they are at least 300 years old when found and contain 10 per cent gold or silver’ is the rule.

[@theoztreecrasher2647]

@@miss_detectorist Now, now! Don't try to confuse all us keyboard warriors with all that legalese Mumbo-Jumbo! 😱😜😊

[@tomf4547]

​Sounds a bit vague. Wonder how close to each other 2+ coins have to be. What if they're sold without knowing gokd/silver content? I don't think the Labour Party are as conscientious about their expenses rules.

[@stephenwarhurst6615]

Like Indiana Jones said it belongs in a Museum

[@MalcolmCrabbe]

Another excellent production, and an interesting topic... However I did spot the deliberate "mistake" you put in to the video at 8:53... Combine harvester running in reverse and planting the wheat rather than cutting it 🙂 Joking apart, I love the content and production quality of your videos.. just wish they could be a little longer please

[@pwhitewick]

Thanks Malcolm. Appreciated

[@terryhedger3381]

I have been a detectorist for many years and have always reported anything I thing is even vaguely significant to my local FLO. I know exactly how Ellie feels when she says these people make her blood boil!! Yet another example of the few, spoiling it for the many.

[@PhilipMurphy8]

Good to see you Paul for a great video

[@pwhitewick]

Cheers

[@julianhyde1]

Big problem where l detect is that our FLO is so busy that one of our finds ( a gold Roman ring ) has been in the system for 5 YEARS ! and emails go unanswered from our FLO . We have had to contact out MP to sort the problem out .

[@ForburyLion]

Metal detecting has the potential to be a corporate team building event, it just needs detectors and a field but yeah maybe plant some non valuable, non historic things in the field to find and offer prizes to those who find them just to keep the interest going.

[@eekee6034]

Sounds like fun, but I have this mental image of someone finding an actual horde which the event organizers had no idea was there! 😂

[@gaz4840]

This is what i think goes on at a lot of these organised events.. i think coins are planted... I have attended 6 rallies and found nothing... at one group dig, a landowner came and asked me who the organiser was as people were on his land that was outside the area covered. He left by saying " I dont know why you lot are here, youve been here for the past 10 years" which makes me think that a lot of organisers charge £20 for the day x 100 detectorists = £2000 and pay the farmer £500 for the day....

[@doubleL_S]

This makes me want to go out and metal detect in places im not allowed to ...

[@bradnelson3595]

Ironic that stealing what the Vikings had themselves likely plundered should land anyone in jail. I understand the need to preserve history. But putting them in jail? Seems extreme.

[@pwhitewick]

£3 million... if you committed that via fraud. Same sentence.

[@IrisandpaulShea]

Legislating against the genuine participants only deters & restricts honest people and never works to stop the dodgy ones. We see this in many areas.

[@bobwightman1054]

I don't do metal detecting myself but like most (all?) groups the vast majority will just go about their hobby legally, safely and with respect for others but there (seemingly inevitably) will be some bad apples that don't that others will use to paint the entire group in a bad light.

[@pwhitewick]

Absolutely yep

[@Orxenhorf]

Simple solution... don't let the two of them out of jail until they say where the rest of it is & it gets recovered.

[@patrickcolclough2423]

"Sorry mate, I lost them"; now what are you going to do? In reality they have probably sold them or have a firm buyer and reckon it's worth serving the time for the cash they'll get when they're out.

[@rodneyhull9764]

they broke a rule,nobody was hurt,ridiculous opinion

[@Orxenhorf]

@@patrickcolclough2423 It sounded more like it is either still in the ground at or near its original location, or taken off site and hidden somewhere else. If so, when they get out they'll likely go back after it to sell off more.

[@theoztreecrasher2647]

Yep. No body, no parole seems to work sometimes. And if not, it certainly stops recidivism! 😱🙄

[@Orxenhorf]

@@rodneyhull9764 Except the land owner who is entitled under law to half the profits from the sale of any found items -- estimated at 3 million pounds, so.... 1.5 million to them, any private buyer that was denied the opportunity to legally buy some and will have to surrender whatever they are found in possession of, and society in general that is denied the chance to ever see any of it that legitimate museums would have bought and exhibited.