4th December 2009, 11:53 PM
BAJR Host Wrote:All very interesting... If anyone wants to start a thread - then feel free.
What is interesting is the disparity in finds Which may point more to the vast number of negative archaeological evaluations etc.
Metal-detecting 1171 93.16%
Chance find 30 2.39%
Archaeological find 53 4.21%
Reported buyer 3 0.24%
Total 1257
Surely the only way this would even be comparable would be to have a comparative figure of the size of area covered by all metal detectorists (let's just say all the ones who report things to the PAS for the sake of argument). Of course, such figures are impossible to come by (unlike, say the extent of excavation/evaluation carried out per year, which could, with research be worked out reasonably well).
If this were done then you might get a comparable figure, something like treasure found per size of area investigated. Now that would be interesting!
No it wouldn't, why am I contributing to this pointless debate!?
PS Gary, you took the bait...