Demonstrating my F75 to a group of Archaeologists this July

[Doug[Manila]]

Hi All,

Most of you probably know that the Philippines had more than 300 years of spanish rule and about 40 years as an american colony.

Last year, together with two fellow MDers, we approached our National Museum and offered the use of our free time and equipment to find small metal artifacts for them. They were open minded and allowed us into a rescue digsite they were rushing as they didn't have the time to do 100% sieving for small items. It was really fun opportunity - found bullets, gun parts, buttons and coins for them - both Spanish and American relic finds.

This July we are asked to talk to a group of archaeologists/students as to how metal detectors can help them in future digs. Let me know what you think is important to include in such a presentation. Post here or PM me. Thanks.

 

[lytle78]

A lot of good work has been done in the UK in this regard. Wish I had some URL's for you, but I don't. Another great example was the work done at the Custer Battlefield in the U.S. the only problem is that usually the Arch's only want the detectorists to flag the targets then they do the digging. I would expect from what you said that budgetary considerations make them more flexible in the PI.

 

[Elton]

In my opinion I would like to have you stress we are not the enemy.. Mostly their conception of we detectorists is that we're destroyers of history..

If they could be made to realize we also care about preservation, and could be useful to their efforts would be great. Most place us in the category of "Grave Robbers".................I am sure they could buy their own detectors, and many have..but a detector in the hands of a good detectorist could be very valuable.....

 

[tmanfromtexas]

Doug, I think that detectors could be very useful in the sense that they can save alot of time and cover a lot of ground. If an area can be swept lets say a 20X20 6-8 inches deep, that is a lot of dirt that can be moved, and then be swept again, that is as long as they are not looking for pottery etc. What exactly are these archies looking for? TMAN...

 

[jmaryt]

yes!..MUCH more flexible!

(h.h!)
j.t.

 

[Doug[Manila]]

They are looking for everything man made...aside from the metals it would be pottery, brick, bones, food remains, etc. - anything that will allow them to understand how these people lived, worked, ate, etc.

 

[Doug[Manila]]

Very true, we can go through the area much faster than the 5'x5' grids they do. We can help them find areas with higher concentrations of metals which can be the areas of higher human activity...it helps them identify the more promising sites. Thank you for pointing that out.

 

[Doug[Manila]]

Thanks Elton. I believe we are probably the first detectorists that have approached them to offer our services. We certainly are the good guys

I do think the museums want to do their own cleaning and preservation as everything we find needs to be left behind. The only things we were allowed to bring home are pictures of our finds.

 

[Doug[Manila]]

Yes the battlefield archaeology at Custer's last stand would be a good example. Thanks.