“Professional amateurs”: Metal detecting and metal detectorists in Denmark

TY - JOUR

T1 - “Professional amateurs”

T2 - Metal detecting and metal detectorists in Denmark

AU - Dobat, Andres

AU - Jensen, Astrid

PY - 2016/1

Y1 - 2016/1

N2 - From the beginning of metal-detector based archaeology practiced by members of the public, the formal heritage sector in Denmark determined to pursue a liberal model based on cooperation and inclusion rather than confrontation and criminalization. Based on the findings of the ‘2015 Danish detectorists survey’ it is argued that Danish metal-detector archaeology has challenged the classic division of roles in archaeology and heritage management, and that at least a large proportion of Danish detectorists practice their hobby adhering to the highest professional standards, which stand in sharp contrast to the often-cited stereotype of the detectorists as mere ‘treasure hunter’.

AB - From the beginning of metal-detector based archaeology practiced by members of the public, the formal heritage sector in Denmark determined to pursue a liberal model based on cooperation and inclusion rather than confrontation and criminalization. Based on the findings of the ‘2015 Danish detectorists survey’ it is argued that Danish metal-detector archaeology has challenged the classic division of roles in archaeology and heritage management, and that at least a large proportion of Danish detectorists practice their hobby adhering to the highest professional standards, which stand in sharp contrast to the often-cited stereotype of the detectorists as mere ‘treasure hunter’.

KW - Citizen science

KW - Databases

KW - Denmark

KW - Heritage

KW - Metal-detector

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85043511980

U2 - 10.1515/opar-2016-0005

DO - 10.1515/opar-2016-0005

M3 - Journal article

VL - 2

SP - 70

EP - 84

JO - Open Archaeology

JF - Open Archaeology

IS - 1

ER -