Can you dig it? Metal detector sales ‘illegal’

A LEADING archaeologist has criticised the sale of metal detectors in supermarkets, warning their use by amateurs is illegal.

It is understood that a supermarket chain has recently removed metal detectors from its shelves after being told that their sale is not permitted.

Dr Sharon Greene, editor of Archaeology Ireland magazine, said only qualified people are allowed to use metal detectors – a legal measure to ensure that any artefacts discovered are reported to museums. ‘The best way to explain it is that when somebody removes an artefact from the ground, it might be in a known archaeological site or an unknown archaeological site where there’s no surface evidence.’

‘It could be a stray artefact that somebody dropped walking across the field that’s just in the topsoil. And when you remove that, you’re removing it from its context.

For archaeologists to understand the past, ‘context is key – it’ll give you lots of information’, she told The Journal.

Dr Greene added that it is likely that many people do not know that metal detecting as a hobby is illegal. People watch The Detectorists and all these programmes from the UK, where the legislation is completely different,’ she continued.

‘And we, as a profession, don’t often enough remind people that the legislation here is actually different and you can’t go and do what they’re doing.

‘Obviously it happens, and you’ve got people who know what they’re doing is wrong but who don’t care and they think they should be able to do it. You’re entitled to disagree with the law, but you’re not entitled to break the law.’

However, seeing metal detectors for sale in supermarkets would lead people to believe their general use is allowed.

‘When these things are put in front of you, with a nice attractive box that’s appealing to young people to get involved in it [...] you’d assume it wasn’t an illegal activity.

‘But the fact that it says on the box to “use them to go and find treasure” – you’re really not supposed to do that,’ Dr Greene said.

Last year, gardaí issued a warning ‘in relation to the rise of illegal metal detecting at preserved monuments and sites of national significance.

‘The unregulated and inappropriate use of detection devices causes serious damage to Ireland’s archaeological heritage,’ they added.

Legislation in UK completely different