Britains Secret Treasure - ITV

Dummy

I followed, & thoroughly enjoyed, the ITV programme Britains Secret Tresure last week. The programme showed the top 50 ancient artifacts discovered by amateur archaeologists across Britain. The items found were just amazing and added enormously to the subject of history.

The existence of the Roman Emperor Domitianus was discovered from a coin that was found within a hoard of coins. A similar coin had been found in France in 1907 but was declared a hoax, until a coin exactly the same, featuring this emperor was discovered in an english field.

The location of the death, through battle, of King Richard 3rd was located through the discovery of a boar badge by an amateur archaeologist using a metal detector.

The wealth of knowledge gained from these finds is huge and it makes me wonder, could our knowledge of Irelands very rich past be enhanced by allowing amateur archaeologists to take to the fields (with landowners consent of course). Indeed, there are numerous threads here concerning the use of metal detectors. This programme adds to the weight of those looking to have the ban on these extingushed. After watching this programme, for me the argument is very much in their favour.

Plenty of food for thought !!

http://www.itv.com/treasure/

slowburner

I didn't see the programme, so I can't comment on it.
I can however comment on the subject of the use of metal detectors without a license or training.
Any discussion on the finds mentioned above, and what was learned from those finds is very welcome.
A ding dong argument about metal detectors is not.

mocmo

Some differing views to be found on several archaeological blogs, which dare I say it, are probably fairly representative of the view of the archaeological community

http://heritageaction.wordpress.com/2012/07/24/britains-secret-treasures-creates-brum-boom/

http://digventures.com/2012/07/16/britains-secret-treasures/

Fighting Irish

Glad to see a good few finds by metal detectorists!

Jakub25

Dummy wrote: »

The location of the death, through battle, of King Richard 3rd was located through the discovery of a boar badge by an amateur archaeologist using a metal detector.

Boar badge belongs to high social status person, maybe to king
but it is avery poor chances.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-18969762