Hobby Metal-detecting as Citizen Science. Background, Challenges and Opportunities of Collaborative Archeological Finds Recording Schemes

ABSTRACT

This paper discusses five digital archeological finds recording schemes from England and Wales, Denmark, Finland, Flanders (Belgium), and the Netherlands; countries and areas where members of the public can search for archeological material, usually by metal-detecting. These schemes are a part of the European Public Finds Recording Network. The authors argue that citizen science approaches to recording discoveries made by the public present important opportunities for enriching both research and possibilities for widening participation with archeological heritage. These schemes work within specific legal and social frameworks, and the paper scrutinizes each scheme in the context of citizen participation. The paper also discusses the challenges concerning sharing open data connected to crowdsourced archeological information, and the limitations and prospects offered by the different national and regional frameworks within which the schemes operate.

KEYWORDS:

• Find recording schemes
• digital archeology
• open data
• hobby metal-detecting
• citizen science
• democratic approaches
• policies
• sustainability

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1 Within the literature, various terms have been used to characterize leisure time metal-detecting, such as “hobby” or “hobbyist,” “amateur” and “non-professional.” The distinction is intended to differentiate between metal-detecting for subsistence purposes (similar to subsistence digging – Hollowell 2006) or with the intention of illegal looting, and metal-detecting as a leisure activity. The authors have previously adopted the term “hobby metal-detecting” (Dobat et al. 2020).

2 Different countries have codes of conduct and recommendations for responsible metal-detecting – and there are small differences among them. For example, in England and Wales: https://finds.org.uk/getinvolved/guides/codeofpractice (agreed through the Portable Antiquities (Scheme) Advisory Group); in Denmark: https://slks.dk/omraader/kulturarv/arkaeologi-fortidsminder-og-diger/metaldetektor-og-danefae/ (Danish Agency for Culture) and https://www.arkaeologi-sda.dk/etiske-regler (Danish Amateur Archaeologists’ Association); in the Netherlands: https://portable-antiquities.nl/pan/#/public/about (Portable Antiquities of the Netherlands); in Finland: https://www.museovirasto.fi/uploads/Meista/Julkaisut/antiquities-and-metal-guide-2017.pdf (Finnish Heritage Agency), and in Flanders: https://www.onroerenderfgoed.be/detecteren-volgens-de-code-van-goede-praktijk (Flanders Heritage Agency).

3 https://www.helsinki.fi/en/networks/european-public-finds-recording-network

4 Points-data essentially records sites/finds as points (or events) on a map with a relatively basic description about the find. The PAS database, on the other hand, also provides a description for specialist understanding, assuming the object will never be seen again.

5 see https://finds.org.uk/treasure/advice/summary

6 The law is currently under revision and proposals for amendments to the Antiquities Act are on their way (https://www.museovirasto.fi/en/cultural-environment/archaeological-cultural-heritage/protecting-the-archaeological-cultural-heritage/reforming-the-antiquities-act).

7 www.finds.org.uk/database

8 See https://finds.org.uk/getinvolved/guides/recordingguidance

9 https://finds.org.uk/conservation/index

10 A prototype was developed within the SuALT project but there is no current plan to implement it.

Additional information

Funding

DIME was made possible thanks to a generous donation by KROGAGERFONDEN, receiving additional funding from Aarhus University, The National Museum of Denmark and The Agency for Culture and Palaces. MEDEA was set up with financial support from the Hercules Foundation (FWO-Flanders) and Vrije Universiteit Brussel. It is now managed by Histories vzw with funding by Flanders Heritage Agency. PAN was funded by the Dutch Organization for Scientific Research (NWO) from 2016 to 2020, by the National Heritage Agency (RCE) from 2020 to the spring of 2022 and since then by the Dutch Ministry for Education, Culture and Science. The PAS (in England) is funded principally through the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) grant-in-aid to the British Museum, with local partner contributions to support locally based FLO posts. In Wales it is funded through Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales, with CyMAL and CADW. SuALT project (FindSampo) was funded by the Academy of Finland, under decision number 310854.