​Does metal detecting damage archaeology?

If an archaeological site, or site of antiquity has been consistently ploughed over a length of time, the archaeological context (the layer containing the archaeological information) is essentially destroyed, leaving only the previous signs of habitation churning around in the soil. The archaeological layer is also known as the context. As the "context" has been destroyed by the plough, letting someone metal detect on your land will do no further damage to any archaeology. That is unless that metal detectorist digs down deeper than the depth of the plough soil which is generally around a 12-14 inches or thereabouts. This however would be a rare occurrence and most metal detectors don't detect items that deep unless they detect a hoard or other big item. 99.999999999% of the time, I only dig down a few inches, and sometimes a little more than that, so you can see that most of the finds we make are in the top few inches and it is very rare to dig anything of any notable depth. So some archaeological context may remain below the plough soil depth, but due to metal detector limitations, this will remain undisturbed. If a detectorist ever needs to dig as deep as this, it will be to retrieve a hoard which I think you will agree is a worthy reason to dig this deep. When a metal detectorist believes they have found a hoard, then they should stop digging and contact an archaeologist to complete the excavation, and they in turn can record the find and the context in which it was found.

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Summary

So to summarize, a metal detectorist will not disturb the archaeological layer if your land has been ploughed for any length of time. If your land contains a scheduled ancient monument then more than likely it has not been ploughed and the archaeological context should remain  undisturbed. In these cases, not only is it against the law to allow anyone to detect on the sites, I would actively encourage anyone to avoid damaging these sites and bringing disrepute onto our hobby.

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The benefits of letting someone metal detect on your land are that you will be allowing someone to enjoy the countryside, get close to nature and enjoy some time saving our nations history. With the governments plans to build 1.5 million new homes a lot of historical sites will be lost, and as a result the coins and artefacts we love to find along with them.

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So, if the person asking for permission seems decent enough, they have insurance with the NCMD (National Council of Metal Detectorists) and they agree to share any major finds 50/50 then give that person a chance. You never know, they might just find the next Staffordshire Saxon Treasure Hoard and change both of your lives. Good luck!

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​Will a metal detectorist leave holes all over my field?

It's a possibility, I won't lie. I have been on some club digs and the hole filling has been atrocious. This is mainly from people that are new to the hobby and inexperienced or those that just don't care. If you let someone on your fields, I would stipulate up front that you expect all holes to be filled properly. A good detectorist would have pride in filling their holes in such a way as if they'd never been there such as I do. There's a picture on this page, of a hole I dug in pasture and refilled afterwards. This was done by digging a round plug, removing the find then replacing the plug. There is a t-shirt in my shop that encourages metal detectorists to fill their holes properly.

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How can a metal detectorist add to the history of my land?

A metal detectorist, if they are experienced, can tell a lot about your land and past habitation by looking for the right signs. These can be signs such as soil colour changes, changes in the field surface and undulations, building debris such as tile and stone. The could then also be signs of human activity such as oyster shells, pottery, glass and of course the things a metal detectorist is looking for, coins and artefacts. Coins are a great way of dating sites as they more often than not give you a date, where as those that don't always have a portrait of the ruler of other visual device that allows you to date the coin.

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What other benefits can a letting a metal detectorist on my land bring?

HISTORICAL RECORD - Letting someone metal detect on your land can add a lot to the local historical record.

 

SECURITY - They can also be another pair of eyes to keep an eye on your farm and property. They can also spot signs that someone is detecting on your land without permission. Getting into altercations with "night hawkers" as they are called can be risky affairs so be careful. By letting someone detect on your land with your consent, you might deter the night hawkers as the detectorist with permission
will find any coins or artefacts before they do, hence it won't be worth them coming in the first place.

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FRIENDS - You might find a new friend, it sounds a bit sappy but we're all people and there's the saying that a stranger is a friend you haven't met yet. I've been detecting on one farm for 20 odd years and another for 10 plus years. I stop by every Christmas with some
wine and a tub of chocolate as a small token of my appreciation.​​

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RECOVERY - I have recovered parts of ploughs, found manhole covers, and recovered lost rings. Most detectorists would happily
provide this service for free with no expectation of reward, of course, they'd be over the moon if you happen to have some land
they could detect on.

 

TREASURE - Your new detectorist friend might even find you a treasure hoard which could be life changing for both of you. Finding treasure isn't your REAL detectorists motivation. Getting out into the countryside and finding history and being the first person to touch that item since it was lost is what it is really all about.

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