Earlier this year, University of Helsinki Cultural Heritage Studies scholars Suzie Thomas and Anna Wessman were co-authors of a new publication “Towards a Cooperative Approach to Hobby Metal Detecting: The European Public Finds Recording Network (EPFRN) Vision Statement“, which is published in the European Journal of Archaeology (JUFO level 3).
The article, co-authored with colleagues from the UK, Denmark and the Netherlands, connects to the FindSampo project (funded by the Academy of Finland), and also the recently launched European Public Finds Recording Network, which represents the various initiatives across Europe to record archaeological discoveries made by metal detectorists and other non-professionals.
The article outlines the goals of EPFRN, with the following abstract:
Hobby metal detecting is a controversial subject. Legal and policy approaches differ widely across national and regional contexts, and the attitudes of archaeologists and heritage professionals towards detectorists are often polarized and based on ethical or emotive arguments. We, the European Public Finds Recording Network (EPFRN), have implemented collaborative approaches towards detectorist communities in our respective contexts (Denmark, England and Wales, Finland, Flanders, and the Netherlands). Although our motivations are affected by our national circumstances, we base our work on an agreed set of goals, practices, and visions. This article presents the EPFRN’s vision statement and provides insight into its underlying thoughts. We hope to create a debate on how to develop best practice approaches that acknowledge the inherent challenges of hobby metal detecting while realizing its potential.
Full citation information:
Dobat, A., Deckers, P., Heeren, S., Lewis, M., Thomas, S., & Wessman, A. (2020). Towards a Cooperative Approach to Hobby Metal Detecting: The European Public Finds Recording Network (EPFRN) Vision Statement. European Journal of Archaeology, 23(2), 272-292. doi:10.1017/eaa.2020.1