Theme:
The archaeology of material culture, bodies and landscapes
Session format:
Session, made up of a combination of papers, max. 15 minutes each
Title:
What's the Use? Using artefacts found by private metal detecting for Research, Outreach, and Exhibition
Content:
In many countries the expansion of private metal detecting has resulted in an explosion of archaeological material. For the archeological museums in particular the challenge is overwhelming, claiming resources for recording, preservation and storing this apparently ever growing supply. Avoiding creating orphaned archaeological collections, museums and researchers are deeply concerned with the difficulties and opportunities when transforming material gathered by a conscientious public into a useful source for both scholars and the public.
For the amateurs, the image of metal detection as a scrupulous treasury hunt has changed to into a hobby that has responsibilities. For the professional archaeologists, changing what some has called “an uncontrollable threat” into a proper study of the past has been demanding.
Papers may explore efforts done to build a relationship between archaeologists and metal-detector users over the past fifty years and also how collaborations between the archaeological and the metal-detecting communities have developed. Papers discussing the use of artefacts found by non-professional metal detecting in research, exhibition and outreach activities are very welcome.
Keywords:
metaldetecting; collaboration; collections; research; outreach
Session associated with MERC:
no
Session associated with CIfA:
no
Session associated with SAfA:
no
Main organiser:
curator, fil. dr Peter Pentz (Denmark) 1
Co-organisers:
Ass. prof. ph.d. Andres Dobat (Denmark) 2
Head of Portable Antiquities & Treasure Michael Lewis (United Kingdom) 3
Affiliations:
1. National Museum, Denmark
2. Aarhus University, Institut for Kultur og Samfund
3. The British Museum
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