DetectingWales.com

Anyone know when Peter Revil will be back at work I wanted to find out about an item he sent away to the coroner about a year ago is there any way I can contact them directly .How long does the process normally .

Hi Webber if it's in the treasure process you "should" have had a treasure case number and a letter from both the coroner and British museum and if you have the number then the British museum is probably the best place to contact ;)

Ok thanks for that I will give them a ring next week.

He's not easy to get hold of plus he's been off sick for months.
Don't be surprised if BM don't have paperwork.
As Geoff says quote the Treasure No and make a note of who you speak to and time and date of your call.

peter used to be really good but I am afraid he seems to have lost it.i left a treasure item with him last year,with the landowners name and address.i was very embarrassed when after getting my reply went to see them to confirm they had also been replied to. found out they had not received anything.after months of trying to contact peter (by phone and e mail)I have had no reply whatsoever and I am stuck in limbo trying to explain to the landowners that I am being straight with them,but the so called ruling bodies are taking a very long time to acknowledge my find. ??? ??? ???

A farmer friend also had a bad experience with FLO this was he  handed in a mortar and pestal never heard back and could not get his items back off them ,  he told me if i find anything on his land  not to report it to FLO

Reading the above I think its silly handing finds in getting treated like that, the system is an absolute joke in my opinion, I also know of people losing items.

Reading all these comments I'm started to get a bit worried .I did have a look the other day on the portable antiquities site is it possible to record your finds yourself thus cutting out the FLO .I have an account set up and my own login so thought it might be possible has anyone ever done this?

Always found Peter very professional and his knowlege is second to none, yes hard to get hold off but I think this is down to work load with all goverment cut backs/job going etc.....my advice is keep sending those emails and follow up with an odd phone call,  'Always' hand in those treasure finds, we need to be professional in this hooby or it will come back on us all......

my farmers experience was not with peter but with someone else in another area ,   

guess the best thing to do is hand it personally and keep photo evidence and get a reciept personally off the FLO  you hand it too,  in other words make someone responsible for it and hope you eventually get it back 

 I see on here very often someone has been waiting a year or more for them to come back with any info after handing something in

would love to find something to trouble a flo >:(

You should actually ask the landowners permission first before recording items, after all it is their property !

Technically no, treasure items are definitely not. And if no traceable living descendants are available. Finds are not always direct property of landowner.
How about artifacts of national Importance ie a hoard of stone axes would not fall under treasure act, but common sense would require reporting.

Youre being silly if you pardon the phrase ::)

When you are detecting on farmers or landowners fields dependant on the agreement you have if any, all finds on his property as a matter of courtesy should be brought to the land owners attention and discuss whether he wants the items recorded, bearing in mind that both parties should be reminded the law of the land and act responsibly. If there are no traceable decendants available, would you not question the validity of detecting on ground whereby you have not got permission to detect.

Its just common courtesy to inform the landowner before recording items. ;D

Now doubt you will wish to have the last word  :P

It would be nice to be able to 'pick and choose' which laws of the land I had to obey, but unfortunately this isn't possible. While it is most certainly an essential courtesy to inform the landowner of finds,and gain permission for recording of non Treasure finds,  the law gives no choice in the matter of reporting potential Treasure finds, and a failure to do so attracts serious penalty. Treasure is the property of the state, and the finder and landowner are rewarded on the basis of a valuation determined by representatives of the state, though the state may also disclaim any interest in a Treasure find if it so wishes.

So as far as Treasure at least is concerned, there is no choice but to report.

The hobby cannot be seen to condone criminality, whatever ones personal views, and whatever the choices some individuals may choose to make.

Jerry

I don't show the Farmer hardly any finds before recording but then again I've made it clear that all finds will be recorded and the vast majority are returned to them afterwards and even those I ask to keep a copy of the PAS record is given.
I have only been asked by two farmers not to record and I honoured their wishes which was easy as I simply never detected their land, I don't have many requirements when asking for permission but recording is the one non-debatable one.
I detect for the love of the hobby yes but most of all for what history the finds unlock about the land, as I've said before without recording we are not "saving history" we are stealing it as when we die regardless how lovely our collections they will inevitably be broken up and sold or given away but the importance of relative locations of finds will probably have gone to the grave with us making what could have been an historically important collection into a few boxes of "bits" that hold no more importance than if they had been bought from a Cairo bazaar.   ;)

For general recording in the future you may want to go self record,
At least you have access to all your finds and copies of the reports can be printed off and given to your landowners.
Though it initially has to be set up by Peter ( i think just to allow you access the 2nd level security on the PAS website) But the BM or another FLO may be able to do it as well.

I am not advocating that items that should be recorded through pas, are not, because a given landowner prefers them not to be, as I agree with Geoff that all farms I detect, I also stipulate that I detect as a responsible detectorist. However it is still courtesy  if no agreement is in place between you and the landowner to tell them you intend to record through pas. I cannot see why there would be a problem with that. I have never come across anyone who has asked me not to record.

Jeff at Cpat suggested a while ago that I might start self recording under his watchful eye, I did not feel confident or as knowledgeable as some to self record, I would worry that I might get it wrong.

There is detailed guide for self recording on the scheme available.
I was given one when I went self record. It explains  how to correctly record objects and what elements and terminology are needed for coherent recording.
All self recorded items are double checked and amended if necessary by FLO anyway ,  so any mistakes arn't a problem.

You don't have to worry about getting it wrong as long as you can photograph it, measure and weigh it and add a map ref the find itself is checked thoroughly by the FLO so even if it's a hammy and you don't know of who the FLO will do the rest ;)

Thank you Geoff,

I am collecting a number of silver coins and artefacts that have gone through pas, from Mark Lodwick shortly, and will discuss self recording when we meet up  ;D