BBC 1 Night Hawking investigation.

[BritishBeef]

There was a feature on night hawking on Jeremy Vine on Radio 2 yesterday. Click here to listen: http://bbc.in/1G9nKtE" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; (fast forward to 1h 46m).

[oldartefact]

Just listened to the interview and my impression is that it could have gone better.
The interview was basically to raise awareness of nighthawking and how it can be prevented, the professor explains what nighthawking is, and then the metal detectorist embarks on a full frontal attack on archaeologists and has audacity to call them "close minded" ... this on national radio!!! On any level this is "Not good" .. he wins no friends but creates one heck of a lot of powerful enemies. Then said detectorist suggests that the archaeologists use detectorists more when excavating sites... but as the learned Professor explained "that is what they already do!!" so another shot in the foot for MD!!!
As the professor explained the archies are most interested in the context of the finds, so its no good legitimate detectorists going over the sensitive sites and excavating finds for them, this destroys archaeology (as I pointed out above).
Unfortunately the detectorist could not get to his third point before the interview was cut short.. but with 20,000 scheduled sites in the UK something simple and cost effective has to be done to provide the protection these sites need from "shi*e hawkers"

[liamnolan]

I am in the throes of mediating between Irish politicians/archaeologists and the Irish Metal detecting Society in an effort to break the impasse re recognising the value of responsible detecting. Its slow work but some progress. One offer made to the IMDS was for us to work with archaeologists on sensitive sites before new roads and buildings are constructed, using our detecting skills to target finds, then leave a marker for the archies to follow behind and work with them to excavate the find. Its something we have no taken up yet but its a step in the right direction.
Same method could be adopted in the UK on scheduled sites. No need for crazy land pollution, just some common sense on how to combine our specific strengths to achieve some common aims.
We don't need to apologise to anyone on this Earth for being responsible detectorists. Those who have the reins of power in Heritage circles need to let go of their inflated ego's and accept that those without letters after their names can very often have skills and knowledge tht are absent from archaeological text books, Liam

[oldartefact]

Up here in Yorkshire there are very strong ties between archaeologists and detectorists ... who work together to excavate sites. We use the flag marking method, and let the archies do the actual excavation, and it works great. Whilst night hawking is a threat the other threat is the growing demand for housing and the conflicts that creates when planners give the green light to estates on sites of national importance.
If there are 20,000 sites of archaeological significance in the UK, the task of any pre-emptive excavation is just not practical except in relatively rare instances. Obtaining permissions, cost and security considerations, let alone the time scales involved make the process prohibitive.
I fully agree that land pollution should be avoided, but I dont see that the scattering (or more precisely the redistribution) of brass buttons etc, which are pretty much inert from a corrosion point of view, could be classed as pollution.

[geoman]

Its a pity that the detectorists took the attacking line during the interview. This was not required and will have given the wrong impression. Good old compromise gets better results though in the confines of an interview situation it is not always easy to get points across whatever side you are speaking for.
Now that nighthawking is back on the media and anti's agendas we can expect more to follow until they get bored with it.

[muddy fingers]

All this sudden media attention sounds very much like the "STOP" campaign from the late 1970s which has obviously been resurrected and had new life breathed into it. If what happened then is anything to go by detectorists can expect a deluge of anti-metal detecting articles to appear in newspapers, magazines and on the radio, as well as contrived situations filmed for television. Were Jeremy Vine's opening remarks his own thoughts on the subject, or as it sounded to me, words with which he had been previously furnished by the propagators of this latest campaign.
Make no mistake about it our hobby is being attacked and the overblown concentration on night hawks used as a cudgel with which to beat us all. Can you imagine the indignant outcry from professional archaeologists if detectorists were to launch a similar campaign in the media. Would the sensationalist press be interested in attempts by us to seek out and highlight, with all the most derogatory language we could muster, supposed examples of theft from heritage sites by some of the paid and volunteer students that archaeologists use on their digs. Apparently, in the heyday of site excavation, when new roads and developments abounded, "slipping a gold coin or such like down your wellie" was regarded as an excellent and convenient way of helping to subsidise the cost of the course.

[oldartefact]

MF I think i see the point you are trying to make ... but my starting point is that all legit detectorists are honest and all archaeologists are honest too. The only bad guys out there are the night hawkers... and yes there does appear to have been increased attention, but there is nothing bad about that in my book, I have yet to hear anyone say that legit detectorists should hang their wellies up.
My own opinion is that it does no harm to our hobby if we are seen to be active in the fight against these shi*e hawkers ... and be seen to be working with our archaeologist friends and law enforcement to crack down on the problem. I for one didnt like the attack made on live radio, it was below the belt in my book.