Hobby Metal-detecting as Citizen Science. Background, Challenges and Opportunities of Collaborative Archeological Finds Recording Schemes

TY - JOUR

T1 - Hobby Metal-detecting as Citizen Science.

T2 - Background, Challenges and Opportunities of Collaborative Archeological Finds Recording Schemes

AU - Wessman, Anna

AU - Thomas, Suzie

AU - Deckers, Pieterjan

AU - Dobat, Andres S.

AU - Heeren, Stijn

AU - Lewis, Michael

PY - 2023

Y1 - 2023

N2 - This paper discusses five digital archeological finds recording schemes from England and Wales, Denmark, Finland, Flanders (Belgium), and the Netherlands; countries and areas where members of the public can search for archeological material, usually by metal-detecting. These schemes are a part of the European Public Finds Recording Network. The authors argue that citizen science approaches to recording discoveries made by the public present important opportunities for enriching both research and possibilities for widening participation with archeological heritage. These schemes work within specific legal and social frameworks, and the paper scrutinizes each scheme in the context of citizen participation. The paper also discusses the challenges concerning sharing open data connected to crowdsourced archeological information, and the limitations and prospects offered by the different national and regional frameworks within which the schemes operate.

AB - This paper discusses five digital archeological finds recording schemes from England and Wales, Denmark, Finland, Flanders (Belgium), and the Netherlands; countries and areas where members of the public can search for archeological material, usually by metal-detecting. These schemes are a part of the European Public Finds Recording Network. The authors argue that citizen science approaches to recording discoveries made by the public present important opportunities for enriching both research and possibilities for widening participation with archeological heritage. These schemes work within specific legal and social frameworks, and the paper scrutinizes each scheme in the context of citizen participation. The paper also discusses the challenges concerning sharing open data connected to crowdsourced archeological information, and the limitations and prospects offered by the different national and regional frameworks within which the schemes operate.

KW - citizen science

KW - democratic approaches

KW - digital archeology

KW - Find recording schemes

KW - hobby metal-detecting

KW - open data

KW - policies

KW - sustainability

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85150892081&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1080/2159032X.2022.2098654

DO - 10.1080/2159032X.2022.2098654

M3 - Journal article

AN - SCOPUS:85150892081

SN - 2159-032X

VL - 16

SP - 89

EP - 108

JO - Heritage & Society

JF - Heritage & Society

IS - 2

ER -