Nighthawks step up raids on buried treasure

[R2tag]

ARMED with metal detectors, they conduct their raids under cover of darkness, creeping onto other people’s property to dig up ancient artefacts of gold and silver, which they will sell to the highest bidder.

These are the treasure hunters known as “nighthawks” and their nocturnal activities can be as lucrative as they are illegal, with some Roman and Anglo-Saxon items selling on the black market for five-figure sums.

English Heritage and other experts say the nighthawks are destroying Britain’s historical legacy by disturbing ancient sites and depriving museums of important artefacts. The news last month of the discovery of an Anglo-Saxon hoard in Staffordshire, which could make a millionaire of its finder — Terry Herbert, a legitimate metal detectorist — is fuelling fears of even more illegal activity as nighthawkers try to unearth fortunes of their own.

Pete Wilson, a senior archeologist at English Heritage, said the downturn in the economy was also encouraging illegality.
From The Sunday Times
October 4, 2009
Nighthawks step up raids on buried treasure

These Anglo Saxon treasures were illegally sold by 'nighthawk' scavenger Mark Wilkinson
Daniel Foggo and Dominic Tobin
4 COMMENTS
RECOMMEND? (8)
ARMED with metal detectors, they conduct their raids under cover of darkness, creeping onto other people’s property to dig up ancient artefacts of gold and silver, which they will sell to the highest bidder.

These are the treasure hunters known as “nighthawks” and their nocturnal activities can be as lucrative as they are illegal, with some Roman and Anglo-Saxon items selling on the black market for five-figure sums.

English Heritage and other experts say the nighthawks are destroying Britain’s historical legacy by disturbing ancient sites and depriving museums of important artefacts. The news last month of the discovery of an Anglo-Saxon hoard in Staffordshire, which could make a millionaire of its finder — Terry Herbert, a legitimate metal detectorist — is fuelling fears of even more illegal activity as nighthawkers try to unearth fortunes of their own.

Pete Wilson, a senior archeologist at English Heritage, said the downturn in the economy was also encouraging illegality.

COMMENTS on the This Story

Amanda Peters wrote:
Th artifacts in the British Museum were collected at a time when people didn't much care about the consequences of plundering other peoples heritage. We do now. These people don't care about history, only how much money they can get. These artifacts belong to every-one and should be in museums for all to see. I'd quite happily see all items from other countries returned so the British museum could hold only British objects. I suspect you are all part of the Detecterist fraternity. If you care so much about history give the items free to your local museum. Don't sell them, don't plunder ancient sites. Share your finds with the rest of this country. Most Museums unfortunately don't have the money to pay greedy detectorists for finds. This is all about greed and nothing else. Metal detectors should be licensed. Fines should be much higher for night hawks and all items found should be Treasure Trove and given to museums no matter what age so greedy people can't sell them and they can be seen by every-one not a few collectors. I'd like to see Metal detectors banned. You are destroying our heritage.
October 5, 2009 11:10 PM BST

Alan Radley wrote:
One also has to question, why Mike Heyworth has let his name be associated with this work of fiction ?
October 5, 2009 7:47 AM BST

Graham Bunton wrote:
The answer is simple.
Buy the artifacts from the treasure-hunters.
If Terry Herbert had not been out with his metal detector English Heritage wouldn't now have so many artifacts to study.
October 4, 2009 11:42 AM BST

Brian O Cinneide wrote:
This is a bit rich considering all the ancient artefacts stolen from other countries that are held in the British Museum.
October 4, 2009 7:09 AM BST

http://tinyurl.com/yaddruz

[willywilkie]

Hi, my name is mark wilkinson the person this total load of rubbish was written about.......i would like to direct you to the web site of my lawyers which is
JMW :: JMW Lawyer wins Damages against The Times
look whos laughing now daniel foggo !!!!!

[ARGONAUTE]

the logic is priceless....!

[Kyle]

Amanda Peters sounds a reasonable lady - o.
fool

[karl notley]

Calling metal detectorists greedy blah blah blah is like calling football supporters hooligans. Yes, you will have cases of 'the small minority' who do this kind of thing. But its detectorists finds that are now filling the museums not discoveries made by 'professional' archeologists. I have first hand experience recently of how we can 'work together' rather than adopt the 'them & us' attitude some want. When i found a hoard of roman denarii (86) as soon as i realised there was a hoard of ancient coins at the bottom of the hole i called my local museum to get professional excavation carried out (despite the fact i knew i would be entitled to no 'reward' as it was 'council owned land') am i greedy? My idea of being 'rich' is when i see them in the local museum.

[karl notley]

Further to my last comment : "Some of the outrageous remarks made by a 'minority' of archeologists as here are purely designed to foster ill feeling towards detectorists in general" The truth (from the mouths of archeologists excavating my hoard find) is that the archeology 'business' in general is skint. Therefore why not get rid of the idiots like those above & save money & embarrassment by their writings etc. Metal detecterists finds are about the only things going into museums now due to lack of funds for digs etc. I think people who make their living from archeology & have degrees etc think its a divine rite of theirs to be the only people allowed to 'discover' things, reality : 'they can't afford to even investigate likely sites' & want everything 'giving' to them by 'greedy detectorists.'

[Kyle]

wonder what there doing about the seeded detecing holidays - so much injustice

[Captainpugwash]

Hi, my name is mark wilkinson the person this total load of rubbish was written about.......i would like to direct you to the web site of my lawyers which is
JMW :: JMW Lawyer wins Damages against The Times
look whos laughing now daniel foggo !!!!!

Welcome to the forum Mark, Looks like you had a good result against the Times Newspaper, As you are a responsible detectorist like the most of us I sure you will agree that a nighthawk is nothing more than a COMMON THIEF. They dont do it to support a habit ie drugs ect they do it through pure greed and nothing else. I would like to see an immeadiate prison sentence passed on the offender, irrespective of thier previous character and also a ban for possibly five years for using a detector.

[Kyle]

hi capt ....and people who seed rallys and takes peoples money acting as if the finds are authentic - what would you like done with these common thieves?

[Gold Finger]

Fascinating thread.

[Captainpugwash]

hi capt ....and people who seed rallys and takes peoples money acting as if the finds are authentic - what would you like done with these common thieves?

Probably the same thing, they are after all gaining money by deception, which is a criminal ofence. Perhaps when a conviction is secured, an example could be made of the offender so it may deter others from doing the same thing.

[Kyle]

the scales of justice must be seen to be equal ...otherwise thats how problems start - i feel the way you do about common thieves with the mp's yet we operate a 2 tier system in this country.
justice for those that can afford it eh .....i agree nighthawking is wrong but their are much worse things that need putting write before the scales of justice will be seen as just.
there is a corralation with theft to unemployment etc ..people who pinch out of need to me are not as bad as people who pinch out of greed.
root causes are important rather than black and white attitudes.
again i do not condone ....but feel the bigger picture must be looked at to fix the problem.

thats better

[Captainpugwash]

Isnt it sad, that in a hobby as innocent as ours a very small minority choose to break the law.

[audiolab]

welcome wilkie ,always nice for a person to get one over the rags

[Kyle]

capt ..its a fact of life in a unfair world - the question should be why ?
more laws are broken nowadays then ever - no respect nowadays ..why?

it all part of the breakdown of society - and by the way whos buying the stuff?
the real crooks look like butter doesnt melt in there shiny suits and nice words ....what you looking at are symptoms of a broken society full of injustice and no compassion.

anyway i could go on ...but dont think its the place.......your right its not good but there are much worse things happening that for me need addressing first - sadly i thinks things are getting worse......many troubled times ahead.

and it is all linked .....sorry for my rant

and the rags are full of lying dumbo journalists that couldnt speak the truth if it slapped in the face ....so well done that man for putting them straight .....love it.

[tracker]

In all walks of life people break the law, if a black person kills someone would all black people be tarred with the same brush.

The same applies to any other colour creed sexuality etc

Stereotyping people is wrong

Well done willywilkie, its great to see the "little man" fighting back and securing a memorable victory against the state and antis.

[Kyle]

tracker ..black and white is a metaphor ....meaning things arent black and white ....im not on about race.
its a way of saying other factors come into play .....have you never heard this term it is commonly used?

[tracker]

Kyle I wasn't having a pop at you, just generally commenting on the bad press airburst collective pigeonholing we get.

For a bunch of harmless anoraks we dont half raise the blood pressure in some

[Kyle]

i agree - and its good to fight back ....i refuse to go quietly ......ive met some of the best people ever detecting ..salt of the earth people who really love their history and are very knowledgable ....i love it when the underdog gets a win.................detectorists on a whole do a great job saving history and are my type of people.

i know you wasnt popping at me mate ...just thought i had been misunderstood .....which is easy with me .......im a blackcountry lad

[Kyle]

just for the non uk members ....blackcountry in the west midlands is called that because of the industrial revolution and all the smog and grime here from the heavy industry that was based here.

Dudley is actually volcanic how about that - i only found that out the other day

[Captainpugwash]

just for the non uk members ....blackcountry in the west midlands is called that because of the industrial revolution and all the smog and grime here from the heavy industry that was based here.

Dudley is actually volcanic how about that - i only found that out the other day

Well the good thing is that your not from Lower Gornal they dont speak proper there.

[audiolab]

youve got to laugh though, go into the british museum and see how much stuffed they robbed/bought black market from egypt and iran etc .oh no you cant have it back though
and whilst they are there can the british museum return the Mold Gold Cape back to Mold please ? didnt think so
http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore...gold_cape.aspx

[Kyle]

capt ..im just down the road less than 2miles away
how bin ya.... yo alright our kid ....r bostin mucka .....

[jon_jn]

Hi, my name is mark wilkinson the person this total load of rubbish was written about.......i would like to direct you to the web site of my lawyers which is
JMW :: JMW Lawyer wins Damages against The Times
look whos laughing now daniel foggo !!!!!

If you have been detecting for over 25 years how come you dont know the law on reporting finds??? i find your excuse questionable!!

http://www.archaeologydaily.com/news...-treasure.html

[Captainpugwash]

capt ..im just down the road less than 2miles away
how bin ya.... yo alright our kid ....r bostin mucka .....

I reckon some people would have difficulty understanding locals from there. Heres poem for members to try and read.

NEX DOWER`S DOG


We` ad a dog nex` dower, barkin` it wud`nt stop,
So o` thaw`t od` gee it `ond, wi` the elp o` me mother`s prop, so o` powked it threw the fence, each time it barked un yapped,
Then wun day e` grabbed it, un bit it til` it snapped.


Me babby” that`s wot the od`e lady called it, the one that lived nex dower,
“Wus e` doin` t` yo? thus wood all over the flowa,
“Now cum on me little darlin`, his dad`ll soon be back,O`ll tell im what he`s dun, he`s sure t` get a smack.”


So wen me dad cum um ,un o` tode im wat o`d dun, How o`d fought the beast nex’ dower, with the prop un neera gun,
How he`d tryed t` jump the fence, un savage is little kid,
How with the help o` me mother`s prop,un a metal dustbin lid,


Now me dad wor` avin` non o` it, cus e` knew me e` wus me dad!
The od`e lady nex` dower, ad tode im o` wus a liy`a, un ar` wus bad.
He grabbed me by the earhole, un slung me cross his lap, e` pulled me trouser`s round me knee`s, un gid me but a slap,


Now wen od` finished blartin, o` wiped the tear`s from me eye`s,un O` wus snivellin in the gardin` shed, plottin` the dogs demize,
now o` could`nt use the prop, cus it wus broke, as ya` know,
so o` searched round the gardin` ,lookin fer summat t` throw,




Now o` found un arf` en` ducker, un o` thawt` jus the job,
o`ll wait till the od`e mon`s gone t` werk, un o`ll chuck it at the dog,
o`ll stand by the fence, un bide me time, un wen o` get the chance,
if the coast`s all clear,o`ll throw the brick, un mek the varmint dance,

now wat o` day` know, wus the lady, in er` wisdom, ad let im goo,
so o` stood by the fence wi` me arf` end brick wunderin` wat t` do,
on earin` a growl behind me ,o` trembled un feared the werst
so o` turned round quick, t` see me dad wi` a stick,un the dog staring in me ferse.



gertcha ya` bloody varmint,of catched ya` in the act,
if ya` gunna throw the brick, yo`de berra be quick,cus this dogs really fast.
well o` day throw it did I, o` jus scarpered quick as o` cud,
un even thou o` wus runnin, o` felt the wind, of that piece o`wood.
un wi` that dog snappin` at me heels, un the ode` mon breathin smoke,
,o` woe be gooin dowen that road agen, unless o` course ,the varmints on a rope.