|
RELATIONSHIPS WITH ARCHAEOLOGY/MUSEUMS...
The National Council for Metal Detecting was consulted by
the government prior to its introduction of the Treasure Act 1996 and, in several face-to-face meetings,
was instrumental in shaping both the content of the act and the wording of its accompanying Code of
Practice. The national president of the NCMD has been appointed to the independent Treasure Valuation
Committee, which meets when necessary, in London. The NCMD has also supported the introduction of pilot
schemes for the Voluntary Reporting of Portable Antiquities, with the Northwest Region being one of the
six areas selected in the first phase. Archaeologist, Nick Herepath, the Finds Liaison Officer based at
Liverpool Museum, is now a frequent and welcome visitor at the meetings of member clubs, and their social
events, with good working relationships established and mutual respect and trust the norm.
During
the recent past, Club members and their individual detector users have put their skills at the disposal
of those responsible for many archaeological digs throughout the region; projects which have helped cement
lasting relationships, and brought good press and media coverage to these co-operative activities.
Working as individuals, metal detector users in the Northwest have rescued many thousands of coins and
artefacts from ground laden with destructive nitrate fertilisers and drenched with acid rain, although
the majority of material recovered has been mundane and of no great significance to anyone other than
the finder. Nevertheless, fourteen coroner’s inquests relating to treasure finds are now on record,
two of which have resulted in finds of a hoard of Viking silver brooches and a hoard of over a hundred
Celtic staters being lodged with the British Museum, whilst many other treasures are now in local museums,
some donated by their finders without seeking reward. Amongst a total of twenty five base metal finds we
have on record, which could be classed as of great historical significance are:-
A hoard of six Bronze Age axes, now with Clwyd County Museum.
A Roman cart decoration, now with Ribchester Museum.
A votive decorative key, now with Stoke-on-Trent Museum.
A Bronze Age Axe, now with Skipton Museum.
A Celtic short sword, now with Harrogate Museum.
These items were not treasure material and were, therefore, not reportable in law. Nevertheless, like
much more archaeological material recovered by metal detector users with a respect for their heritage,
they were placed with museums near their find spots to enhance local knowledge.
METAL DETECTOR USERS AND THE POLICE
Police Authorities have not been slow to recognise the skill
and expertise contained within metal detecting clubs. On fourteen occasions in the recent past members
of Northwest clubs have been of invaluable assistance to the Police in searches relating to crimes
of robbery and murder. Incidents have included:-
Protracted searches connected with the Moors Murders and the hunt for the missing body of Helen McCourt.
The recovery of a stolen Rolex watch discarded on rubbish-strewn waste ground by thieves.
The recovery of a buried watch and jewellery from a farm field.
The recovery of a large cache of ammunition from a woodland site.
The recovery of a valuable diamond ring at Lytham St Annes.
|
|
