The Staffordshire Hoard
October 14, 2009
The discovery of a hoard of gold and silver in a field near Lichfield in September 2009 made headlines all around the world. Some reportage took the view that the find would re-write English history by showing that the country was rather wealthy in the Early Anglo-Saxon period (circa 400-650 AD). Other journalists expressed the finder’s surprise and joy at making a metal-detecting find which would surpass all others in monetary value. Read more
Nighthawking at Rendlesham
October 14, 2009
‘Nighthawking’ is the illegal metal-detecting of sites and theft of finds, usually conducted under cover of darkness.
It is not only illegal, since it usually involves trespass, criminal damage and theft, but also highly destructive on sites which are of great importance to our understanding of the past. Until a site is ‘scheduled’ (officially recognized as of national importance, and designated as such) there are no penalties for removing material with the landowner’s permission. But many important sites are unrecognized – precisely because the thieves are looting them covertly and want to keep the locations secret. Read more
X-Rays Join the Fight Against Fakes
October 14, 2009
X-Rays Join the Fight Against Fakes from Coin News xxx month 2009
One of the major problems for any dealer in manufactured items is getting the description right – whether the objects are expensive watches, motor vehicle parts or designer-label garments at ridiculously low prices. A stroll through any street market will provide plenty of evidence for ‘fake’ or misleadingly described goods. Not everything is what it appears to be, and the old Roman tag of ‘caveat emptor’ (let the buyer beware) has never been more apt. Read more
Museums’ Acquisition Policy
October 14, 2009
As publicly-funded bodies whose directors are accountable to central governments, European museums have to be especially careful when offering to purchase any items. In the litigious world of today, museums are often the target of groups who try to make political capital out of the fact that ancient artefacts and human remains from a variety of cultures are housed in these buildings for public display. Read more
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