My personal view and not that of the UKDFD.
(I make this disclaimer because its quite hard to post anything as GaryBrun as you are branded as a rogue metal detectorist, a UKDFD activist or a trouble causer because you don't tow the party line).
As some one who has supported the PAS and still do in many ways within the detecting hobby.
Many of these ways archaeologists donât get to see and neither do the PAS. Even large finds are classed as treasure (and could have been spirited away to far of lands)are now in the BM because of certain pressures and influence were brought to bare).
There are many on this list who staunchly believe in certain things... mr hosty is one of them and I admire him for what he is doing for archaeology and for his various causes. Did David get a lot of support when he first started up??? For what I see the institution of archaeology has a lot more problems within its self than I could say for the various hobby organizations I know.
The biggest mistake PAS made was branding people as "irresponsible" because they did not record with their "voluntary scheme" or sign up to "Their Code". The UKDFD was set up to get people to record who didnât trust the "system" and we gave them a choice so the ârecordâ would not be lost.
What the UKDFD has done is to show that you donât need vast amount of money to create a workable and usable database (which if we are honest with each other ours is more user friendly)and our IDs are spot on. I donât want to discuss anymore about the PAS's failing and other stuff... they can try and stop the growth of UKDFD... (believe me they have tried)..but you can not beat an army of volunteers.
Certain people gave the UKDFD a couple of weeks to live... they have been proved wrong.
My whole point is to show that one minute archaeologists call for responsible records and recording of data... but it can only be via a scheme of their choosing. The best example I can give for this is that "you can only use the National Health Service and not go to BUPPA or other private hospital".
In years to come and when Iâve left this planet... if I have managed to save one record on UKDFD I have achieved what I set out to do (there is over 5605 record now accurately identified and catalogued and all with at least Parish grid references or you can not upload. there is a lot of rubbish and speculation being spun about by various people and on Britarch of a system that they know nothing about. So they just make up things to what they would want them to be and add their spin.
I may not have an ology but I do have the heart and a feeling of responsibility for my country and its heritage. I spend a lot of my own personal finances to make this happen too.... while many sit and shout and slag me off from the background and type away at their keyboards in some far of land and yet it doesnât cost them 1 penny.
The gulf between archaeology and metal detecting is getting smaller day by day... and its not as wide as many make it out to be. Its just that the odd few shout louder and repetitiously all the time.
I posted up my poem here which I wrote on Britarch (I was asked to do it) but it does show a lot of truth.
I respect people on this list for what they stand for and what they try to achieve in their professions. I would also wish that some could see it from my point of view and what I also am trying to achieve. ... to those spin mongers who think I am anti PAS... your wrong. I am against the way they go about things and try and force their will on others...again I state via a voluntary scheme.
The greatest way to achieve something is to learn by example and not bash people over the head with your own doctrines. As long as there are certain people spreading accusations on various archaeology forum or other lists I will be there and stick up for the integrity of many a person who gives hours and hours of their spare time in recording our heritage for no monetary reward what so ever.
I wish all on this forum come to have a greater knowledge in the form of their chosen speciality but also they have the foresight to see that a small drop of water can lead to a large fresh flowing river.
Gary
http://www.ukdfd.co.uk
Recording
OUR heritage for future generations.
)