DetectingWales.com

Hello,

This message is from a French detectorist's association.

We practice the electromagnetic detection in France; we have a passion for the history of our country, our villages.
We are not looters; we only use our detectors for recreational purposes.

Like many prospectors, we occasionally find objects having an interest in art or history.
You certainly know in France it is difficult to declare officially to archaeological competent services without risking prosecution and / or a certain contempt by the French archaeological circles.

French archaeologists accuse us not to show our findings and to remove information necessary for proper knowledges of our history, but when we want to make a statement, it is impossible to do without the risk of serious issues.

In front of this absurd situation, and in front of corporatism of our “venerable” institutions, what can we do ?
We want to be respectful defenders of our heritage, our history and our environment !
Their blindness and their suspicion have lead to the loss of some valuable information.
French authorities are still trying to persuade themselves that we should not exist, that we do not exist. But we do exist, they must do with it, isn't that your view?

Wales has long demonstrated his point of view with the "Portable Antiquities Scheme", so starting a few days ago, we are now sending statement forms, (for recording of our finds), at the Roman Legion Museum of Caerleon, asking for an “archaeological asylum”, waiting for better times for the French prospectors.

We just wanted you to be informed of our claims by this campaign.
Regards

ANDL (French detectorists association)
http://www.detection-loisir.com/ (http://www.detection-loisir.com/)

Welcome to out forum , I'm sure you will get a lot of sympathetic ears in this forum. Even in the UK we are regarded by the achaeologists as Treasure hunters and Nighthawkers. This is true for a very very small minority of UK detectorists, but not the majority. I'm sure if any of us on this site can help in any way, we will.

Welsh Foreign Legion , :) :) :)

lol Spooyt Rob.

I don't know about you but I'm always cagey when posts like this pop up, I've opened the guys link (after scanning it with AVG) and he seems genuine enough but I have a feeling there's an ulterier motive in posts like this. .mmmmmm. ??? I hope I'm wrong.

Richy.

Lol Merlin have you joined our French friends Forum?

Hello Richy,

Trust me, there is nothing hidden in this post.
We are really french detectorists having problems.
A new association, in France, wants to ban the use and sale of Metal Detectors.
http://www.halte-au-pillage.org/ (http://www.halte-au-pillage.org/)
This is exactly what the STOP campaign did in UK some years ago.
I found that they try to export their fight here :
http://paul-the vexatious blogger with incredibly itchy underpants.blogspot.com/2008/12/archaeology-with-balls.html (http://paul-the vexatious blogger with incredibly itchy underpants.blogspot.com/2008/12/archaeology-with-balls.html)

Due to their intensive action, it's now very difficult to record a find in France without reproach.
That's why we initiated this "seek for archaelogical asylum".
Hopping that french medias will speak about it and the autorithies take care of our problem.

It's not won !!    :-[

Max Derouen

Just to say... I'm the developer of the Minelab E-Trac Emulator.
You can check it on Minelab's page : http://www.minelab.com/consumer/page.php?section=272&id=4&pId=25&pNm=E-Trac (http://www.minelab.com/consumer/page.php?section=272&id=4&pId=25&pNm=E-Trac) (bottom of the page).

Firstly welcome to the forum.

Very interesting post Max and I'm not really sure what the answer is. I think a finds asylum is a good answer, but I'm not entirely sure that the UK authorities would grant it - worth trying though. I would be interested in the response you get from Caerleon.

We have several worries over the current state of affairs in the UK regarding detecting, and how long realistically it will continue in the unlicenced manner that it currently is. There appears to be a campaign in the UK at the moment against detectorists that is slowly gaining momentum in the media. My main concern is that if we end up with a situation that mirrors yours in France that the hobby will just be driven further underground and nothing will ever be declared for fear of prosecution.

Keep us updated on your situation.

If you want to post pictures of any of your finds anonimously - feel free to. I am sure that all our members would love to see what you have been finding. Just go to the Gallery option.

Kind Regards
Neil

To make things a little clearer, Max, do you think the site can also be in English for those that cannot speak or understand French.

Unfortunatly, the site of our association in in French only !
In fact, there are only a few informations on this site.
The forum is the place where everything take place.
And we can't ask everybody to speak english on this forum.

If you have some questions, I can try to give you much more explanations.
(even if my english is not perfect !)
Max

I don't know about your speech, Max, but your typing in English is perfect

max
as you may be aware we detectorists in the UK are coming under constant critisism from certain parts about the right to continue our hobby.
I'm not quite sure what you mean by asking for an "archaeological asylum".
Are you asking to be allowed to visit UK rallies and detect?

I did not know you are a manx man,Rob. This should interest David Jaqcues, he lives in Glyn Cieriog and has a friend in the Isle of Man who is a detectorist.
You may know him.
If you are interested you can contact him by email at
david.jacques@btinternet.com

No, in fact it's just a symbolic action  ;)
We just send some filled forms describing some of our finds.
The message is "If we can't record our finds in France, we seek archaelogical asylum in Wales".
Hopping that french authorities will understand that we have valuable informations that we can't record !

Max

understand what you mean now thanks for that !
according to the NCMD, one of the governing bodies for detectorists,
"detectorists accounted for 93% of the reported Treasure Finds in 2005/06 in the UK".
this may show your authorities how valuable french detectorists could be to collecting information on your historical past.

13au you have a PM Sir, welcome to the forum. :) :)

Richy.

Hi Max
Welcome to the forum, I think i understand, you want to deposit records of your finds in Wales so that you can show you record correctly but due to the law in France you have to do it privatly.
I hope you wont mind if I point out to those who may not know of your work, just who you are.

For anyone who has an Explorer or Etrac and uses the emulator software, Max is the inventor of it.
Max I'm sure that if you or your fellow detectorists need help with anything over here in Wales, someone on this forum will be able to give it.

Chef

Welcome to the site, Max. I hope we can establish an entente cordiale between Welsh and French detectorists.  I would be interested to know how you get on with the Legionary Museum in Caerleon. We might be able to publicise what you're doing over here which may reach the ears of French journalists and do you some good in France. Have you already contacted the museum?

Geoff

What a great idea, hope it all works out. It is a shame that you need to resort to that though, there are many , many worse things going on in the world than someone going out with a metal detector and it does defy logic really. When you think about it , what does the past matter as far as metallic objects are concerned, it's a bit like "it's my ball and you can't play with it", What does archaeology really give to the world?

For anyone who has an Explorer or Etrac and uses the emulator software, Max is the inventor of it.
.

Chef
[/quote]

What does the emulator software do please?

Richy.

Thank you Geoff,

We choosed Caerleon Museum because the place is very symbolic, and we were not looking for a too big museum.
We didn't contatc them directly, but we added a letter to our forms to explain why we are seeking for asylum.
The more you publicise what we are doing, the more efficient will be our action.
Thank you.

Max

Richy,
The "emulator" is a Windows program wich emulate the Explorer or E-trac detectors.
Here are some pics of this program : http://explorer2.free.fr/download.html (http://explorer2.free.fr/download.html)
One can coose different objects on the lower part and when one move the mouse over the object the emulator react exactly as the true detector!
Sounds and displays !

Max

Thanks for the explanation Max. :)

Richy.

Looks like our action has started to be known...... by your detractors !

http://paul-the vexatious blogger with incredibly itchy underpants.blogspot.com/2009/03/french-metal-detectorists-seek.html  (http://paul-the vexatious blogger with incredibly itchy underpants.blogspot.com/2009/03/french-metal-detectorists-seek.html)

and

http://heritageaction.wordpress.com/2009/03/26/french-metal-detectorists-seek-archaeological-asylum-in-britain/ (http://heritageaction.wordpress.com/2009/03/26/french-metal-detectorists-seek-archaeological-asylum-in-britain/)


Max
 

Max, I really hope you get a positive responce from these actions, I personaly can't see what Caerleon museum can loose by helping you all, so fingers crossed.
Je te souhaite bien du courage

[[/quote]

What does the emulator software do please?

Richy.
[/quote]

Just to take Maxs' answer a bit further, the emulator allows you to modify all your detector settings on a computer and see how they react to any target that you may wish to hunt for, after finding the settings that suit you best you can then transfer/download these  into your machine for similar responses in the field.

wow !  does'nt that paul b*****d spout some vitriol ! and having a go at the ukdfd, calling them a "breakaway organisation" ! and then he assumes the museum of wales will be breaking the law by not notifying the correct authorities..here and in france....i find his attitude typical of archies...assuming  things ...i find they have very vivid imaginations !! lets wish our french counterparts well...bon voyage mon ami !....byron

Hi Max

Id like to start with saying Welcome to Wales and the detecting wales forum.

I wish you luck in your quest and thanks for inventing the Emulator
Ive used it a few times before and after i got my Explorer and it gives you a good idea how and explorer reacts to a given target.

All the best
Phil Jones
(RARE)