8 ms·

So metal detection to search for historical artifacts is legal in UK, illegal in Ireland?

boomboomsubban 2y ago
I don't know the laws personally, but different nations often have different laws.
scoot 2y ago
Yes, obviously it's legal in England, or the coins wouldn't have been found, reported, and ultimately sold, as per the article. It's also legal in Ireland. There are prohibitions and licensing requirements in both countries for search of heritage sites, national monuments, and other protected sites, and reporting requirements for unintentional "heritage" finds.
- deleted 2y ago
  [deleted]
amiga386 2y ago
It's more complex than that. Firstly, the UK is three separate legal jurisdictions, each with their own rules on metal detecting: England/Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland. Secondly, these rules are not binary legal/illegal, but on a continuum of permissiveness. You always need some kind of permission. England/Wales is more permissive (where most non-protected land can be detected on with the landowner's permission) than the Republic of Ireland (where you need state approval to use a metal detector anywhere). Some of the details here: https://detecthistory.com/metal-detecting/uk/ https://detecthistory.com/metal-detecting/uk/
rajamaka 2y ago
Is there any place where metal detection to search for historical artefacts is illegal on private land?
- AlotOfReading 2y ago
  Most countries have similar rules, and that's also the standard (rarely prosecuted) view in international law. The general rule of thumb is that antiquities belong to the state, anything else (like treasure hoards in the UK) is an atypical exception.
- switch007 2y ago
  Ireland "It illegal to use a detection device to search for archaeological objects anywhere within the State or its territorial seas; without the prior written consent of the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht" (Note "anywhere") https://www.museum.ie/en-ie/collections-research/the-law-on-metal-detecting-in-ireland https://www.museum.ie/en-ie/collections-research/the-law-on-...
  - Cthulhu_ 2y ago
    That, to me, implies there's a lot of unfound treasures over there... and/or a lot of illegal searching. Assuming there's interest outside of archeological value, of course.
    - amiga386 2y ago
      https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/two-anonymously-sent-bronze-age-axes-arrive-at-an-irish-museum-in-a-pancake-box-180984704/ https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/two-anonymously-se... Some good Samaritans sometimes send in Ireland's priceless heritage to the national museum. But of course they're not going to reveal who they are, or where they found it. They don't want to go to prison. So I guess we'll never know.
- 7222aafdcf68cfe 2y ago
  iirc, it is forbidden in Sweden, except if you secure government permission.
- ascorbic 2y ago
  In the UK, if the site is a scheduled ancient monument then you need permission to even dig a small hole.
pjc50 2y ago
Certain artifacts are "treasure" regardless of how you find them: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/thousands-more-treasures-to-be-saved-for-the-nation-as-rules-about-discoveries-are-changed https://www.gov.uk/government/news/thousands-more-treasures-...

I don't know the laws personally, but different nations often have different laws.

Yes, obviously it's legal in England, or the coins wouldn't have been found, reported, and ultimately sold, as per the article. It's also legal in Ireland. There are prohibitions and licensing requirements in both countries for search of heritage sites, national monuments, and other protected sites, and reporting requirements for unintentional "heritage" finds.

deleted 2y ago
[deleted]

amiga386 2y ago

It's more complex than that. Firstly, the UK is three separate legal jurisdictions, each with their own rules on metal detecting: England/Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland. Secondly, these rules are not binary legal/illegal, but on a continuum of permissiveness. You always need some kind of permission. England/Wales is more permissive (where most non-protected land can be detected on with the landowner's permission) than the Republic of Ireland (where you need state approval to use a metal detector anywhere). Some of the details here: https://detecthistory.com/metal-detecting/uk/ https://detecthistory.com/metal-detecting/uk/

rajamaka 2y ago

Is there any place where metal detection to search for historical artefacts is illegal on private land?

AlotOfReading 2y ago
Most countries have similar rules, and that's also the standard (rarely prosecuted) view in international law. The general rule of thumb is that antiquities belong to the state, anything else (like treasure hoards in the UK) is an atypical exception.
switch007 2y ago
Ireland "It illegal to use a detection device to search for archaeological objects anywhere within the State or its territorial seas; without the prior written consent of the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht" (Note "anywhere") https://www.museum.ie/en-ie/collections-research/the-law-on-metal-detecting-in-ireland https://www.museum.ie/en-ie/collections-research/the-law-on-...
- Cthulhu_ 2y ago
  That, to me, implies there's a lot of unfound treasures over there... and/or a lot of illegal searching. Assuming there's interest outside of archeological value, of course.
  - amiga386 2y ago
    https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/two-anonymously-sent-bronze-age-axes-arrive-at-an-irish-museum-in-a-pancake-box-180984704/ https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/two-anonymously-se... Some good Samaritans sometimes send in Ireland's priceless heritage to the national museum. But of course they're not going to reveal who they are, or where they found it. They don't want to go to prison. So I guess we'll never know.
7222aafdcf68cfe 2y ago
iirc, it is forbidden in Sweden, except if you secure government permission.
ascorbic 2y ago
In the UK, if the site is a scheduled ancient monument then you need permission to even dig a small hole.

pjc50 2y ago

Certain artifacts are "treasure" regardless of how you find them: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/thousands-more-treasures-to-be-saved-for-the-nation-as-rules-about-discoveries-are-changed https://www.gov.uk/government/news/thousands-more-treasures-...