This quite nauseating photograph of the ‘Crosby Garrett helmet’ (sold for 2.3m squid) does that clever trick that auction houses specialise in. It turns an object with murky provenance, dug from the ground as scraps of mud-encrusted metal, into a fetishised piece of High Art that can be sold to generate cash and prestige. The Christie’s showgirl, Georgiana Aitken, calls it “the discovery of a lifetime for a metal detectorist.” What about the landowner who would stand to take half the winnings? Turns out he might have been a bit late on the uptake. See, to get a PAS number and at least a modicum of legitimacy, Christie’s needed a grid ref. Crosby Garrett was the target of systematic treasure hunting for quite some years by not one but groups of metal detector users. There are also questions about the reconstruction of the helmet – in what state was it found? Where are the photographs of the object in situ? In what state was it when it came to Christie’s (in “63 pieces?” If so, why does Georgina say that she “saw this extraordinary face from the past staring back at me.”?) and when the PAS saw it? Who did the conservation?
The fact that a valient attempt by the public and local museum in Cumbria to buy the helmet failed and it is now probably confined to some private cabinet or a Swiss bank vault is another story. Because either way, the people of Cumbria, Britain, the world, have had something nicked from them … whoever buys it in the end.
October 11, 2010 at 10:13 am
You elitist crap heads. If the metal detectorist did not find that helmet a tractor would likely have smashed it to smithereens. I know that it must be hard for you to admit that more of British history is now in museums due to people with metal detectors than archeologists using public money. Why do you ridiculous people insist on pursuing the course that you are on? Why not do as other European countries have done and actually use the metal detectorists as an asset? Sure there are some criminals with metal detectors. I am quite sure that there are also more than a few crooked archeologists out there as well! Shame on you. At least the metal detectorists are not a parasitic charity group. They unlike you are unfunded and self taught.
October 11, 2010 at 11:54 am
Quite the opposite, David Emery. My message is pluralistic, not elitist. It’s people who want antiquities to be kept in the hands of the few that are elitist. 2.3m could have funded several years of an archaeological excavation project which would have employed many people and would have brought knowledge and enjoyment to many more. If you’re so concerned about charity and propping up elitist activities, why should metal detectorists demand any money at all for their finds?
October 11, 2010 at 12:55 pm
Will,
I too agree 100% with you that we need to preserve our history from destruction. Please do not think that I would condone anything else.
Here however is the problem I have. Do you really think someone who pays 2.3 X 10+6
for a helmet will actually allow their purchase to rot? No, they will take very good care of it.
To say that all such artifacts should be owned by the state is akin to saying that all paintings by Picasso or Constable must be state property. My word, how Marxism has spread through Europe!!!
The British Museum is storing tens of thousands of extremely interesting pieces of our history that have never been displayed and most likely never will be.
the core problem I have is based on what I have actually seen.
I personally watched as a hoard of Celtic coins was unearthed by the Minelab Owners Club ( a metal detecting club) while they were metal detecting in Corfe Devon, The finders donated the entire hoard to the local museum. Do these detectorists deserve the label of being criminals or looters? I don’t think so and neither should you.
I have also watched as other metal detectorists have donated their numerous finds to a number of museums.
I think that you would be kidding me if you found a hoard as a private citizen that was worth millions of pounds that you would pass on the legal reward from Her Majesty’s Government for it’s value. I really doubt that very many people would.
Here is the difference between the UK and other European countries.
My friends in Denmark are often asked to help the local archeologists to flag metal object targets on Viking sites. This interaction has had a very positive effect on both the archeologists and the local detectorists. They now work together with a much greater respect and understanding for each other.
My friends and the rest of the local metal detectorists now alert the archeologists to any and all new areas of interest that they discover.
It is however a no brainer that any detectorist reporting a newly found area of interest to any archeologist in the UK would face an imminent ban on their being able to search the site.
This is in my opinion due entirely to a British upper class, elitist attitude.
It is impossible for such elitists to permit a postman or a bus driver to interfere with what they believe is theirs by right!
To be honest, there are some British archeologists who do work with detectorists but then there are a large number of archeologists and their underlings who have recently been visiting farms all over the UK trying to convince the farmers not to allow detectorists on their property.
As a charity group operating under a conservative government that is cutting every cost it can, you would be very well advised not to push your negative agenda at this time.
With the greatest respect, Dave. * * *
October 30, 2010 at 5:36 pm
1) Whether or not the new owner will or can “take care” of the object is neither here nor there. This should never have happened, this is self-evidently the sort of artefact which should be in a national collection for everyone to enjoy, not some secretive millionaire. I think this case brings home to members of the general public that there is something very wrong with the way Britain treats collecting of archaeological artefacts.
2) Mr Emery says: Why not do as other European countries have done and actually use the metal detectorists as an asset?”
and
“Here is the difference between the UK and other European countries”.
well I do not know if he has ever even heard of the Portable Antiquities Scheme, which in a recent report of the Museums and libraries Association was declared to be in “partnership” with artefact hunters and collectors.
I really would be interested in learning where Mr Emery feels this is in any way different from what he describes in Denmark. I’d be glad if he could do that, as this is not the first time I have come across this argument and not really understood the distinction being made.
3) I am also puzzled by: “any detectorist reporting a newly found area of interest to any archeologist in the UK would face an imminent ban on their being able to search the site. This is in my opinion due entirely to a British upper class, elitist attitude.“.
Well, either I am missing something or he is. Can he cite any examples? The PAS assure its finders that this will NOT be what happens (see their FAQ section).
4) At least the metal detectorists are not a parasitic charity group. They unlike you are unfunded and self taught”.
and
“As a charity group operating under a conservative government that is cutting every cost it can, you would be very well advised not to push your negative agenda at this time.
Mr Emery seems to think archaeology is state-funded and has some kind of “charity” status. I really wonder where he got that idea from. Could he explain?
Is it a “negative agenda” which consists of nothing more than a concern for conservation of the archaeological resource and maintaining public access to objects like the Crosby Garrett helmet? Odd.
November 22, 2010 at 12:12 am
David Emerey is the elitist here.
I’m self taught in archaeology by the way but I don’t go out and plunder the heritage of Britain and sell it on ebay.
Sorry but if metal detectorists really cared about the heritage of this country they would report everything and not sell items to the highest bidder.
Unfortunatly greed is widespread. It’s not just archaeological artifacts under threat. Selling fossils is big business. The rarer the better. Sod the advancmemnt of science and knowledge. These people only care about money.
Weather it’s rare fossils or ancient artifacts nothing is safe from the greed of these people.
If you care show it by handing everything you find over to museums.
November 22, 2010 at 12:59 am
See the EMDA (Ethical metal Detecting Association) website here: http://www.ethicaldetecting.org.uk/ which basically says just that. It divides “finders” into those that “give” and those that merely “take”. The unselfish and the selfish. Let’s see how many metal detectorists actually join it.