Metal detecting: An effective tool for archaeological research and community engagement

Abstract

Although community engagement is an important archaeological goal, working with the avocational metal-detecting community is still under debate. Two North Carolina field school projects successfully integrated avocationalists in their metal detection surveys using two different types of interaction strategies. The first technique was incorporating individual volunteer avocationalists; the second method was working with a single avocational club. Teaming up with the well-established group, as opposed to independent volunteers, offered the best overall research results. At Guilford Courthouse National Military Park, the project survey strategies, built on lessons learned at Troublesome Creek Ironworks, proved to increase artifact recovery by about one-third.

Keywords

Archaeology and ethics community engaged detectorist community

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