18th November 2009, 10:22 AM
Belzoni, I think it's the other way round with the brick wall......
People within this thread are discussing the destruction of archaeological sites by other methods in order to address the question of whether 'legal' metal detecting is more acceptable than 'nighthawking' - in particular on Scheduled Monuments (but with people also making the point that not all Nationally important monuments are Scheduled). This is because most archaeologists take preservation 'in situ' very seriously. In order to be convinced that being involved with sensitive, inclusive metal detecting on such sites is something that is appropriate, we need to have this discussion.
You have come up with a practical suggestion about how the specific problem of nighthawking could be tackled. But sensible doesn't also mean right. A practical solution addressing specifically this issue might also be to ban the use of all metal detectors anywhere and make it illegal to be found with one in your possesion. Doesn't make it right though, does it (and I want to make it clear right now that I'm not advocating that approach either!!). There are ethics involved on both sides here and the discussion above is attempting to address those and explain why your practical solution has not been immediately accepted.
People within this thread are discussing the destruction of archaeological sites by other methods in order to address the question of whether 'legal' metal detecting is more acceptable than 'nighthawking' - in particular on Scheduled Monuments (but with people also making the point that not all Nationally important monuments are Scheduled). This is because most archaeologists take preservation 'in situ' very seriously. In order to be convinced that being involved with sensitive, inclusive metal detecting on such sites is something that is appropriate, we need to have this discussion.
You have come up with a practical suggestion about how the specific problem of nighthawking could be tackled. But sensible doesn't also mean right. A practical solution addressing specifically this issue might also be to ban the use of all metal detectors anywhere and make it illegal to be found with one in your possesion. Doesn't make it right though, does it (and I want to make it clear right now that I'm not advocating that approach either!!). There are ethics involved on both sides here and the discussion above is attempting to address those and explain why your practical solution has not been immediately accepted.