Conference on metal detecting and conservation

"Whose Find is it Anyway?: Treasure, Metal detecting, Archaeology
and Conservation--the life of detected finds after recovery"
Stevenson Lecture Theatre
British Museum
Dec 18, 2003

A Joint UKIC Archaeology Section and British Museum conference.

Metal detectorists want conservation advice from conservators. What
should we do? This controversial issue needs *your* input.

The debate over the rights and wrongs of metal detecting has always
been fierce, but, like it or not, metal detecting in the UK is legal
and here to stay.  Since the introduction of the Portable
Antiquities Scheme in 1997, archaeologists and metal detectorists
have worked together to ensure that the information from metal
detected finds is not lost.

One of the most frequent questions detectorists ask the PAS is how
to care for their finds.  Many of these objects may eventually be
donated to museums. But inappropriate "kitchen table" treatments and
storage may jeopardise their long-term survival or remove important
associated material, such as mineral preserved organics. How should
we tackle these issues?

This one-day conference is intended to stimulate further dialogue
between detectorists and conservators, with plenty of time for
debate. It will review the work of the Scheme and address the
difficulties still facing archaeologists, conservators, scientists
and metal detectorists in working together to gather information and
safeguard finds for the future. The aim of the day is to find out
what conservation advice detectorists need and how best to achieve
this. There will be plenty of time for debate.

The meeting will be followed by a wine reception.  The British
Museum galleries will remain open, with *free* entry to the new
exhibition of spectacular metal-detected finds, "Buried Treasure:
Finding Our Past", and a special gallery talk by one of its
curators. "Guide to Conservation for Metal Detectorists", the recent
publication commissioned by the PAS, will be on sale and there will
be displays of finds by detectorists and conservators.

Tickets are selling fast. To secure your place, please contact

    Kirsten Suenson-Taylor
    +44 1295 720350
    k.suenson [at] virgin__net

or

    Claire Heywood
    sheywood [at] thebritishmuseum__ac__uk.

Cost: Members of UKIC, metal detecting clubs or professional
archaeological groups UKP35; non-members UKP50; UKIC students UKP25.
Fee includes free exhibition entry (normally UKP7), interval
refreshments and evening wine reception. Lunch is not included.
(Food is available in the Museum's Great Court cafeteria, or bring
your own sandwiches).

Cheques should be made payable to 'UKIC Archaeology Section' and
sent to

    Claire Heywood
    Department of Conservation
    The British Museum
    Great Russell Street
    London WCIB 3DG

or

    Kirsten Suenson-Taylor
    Mill House
    South Newington
    Banbury
    Oxon OX15 4JE

Payment can be made using credit cards by calling +44 207 721 8721.
UKIC members and professional archaeological group members please
include your membership number; Metal detecting club members please
include the name, address and phone number of your club, plus
membership number where relevant. Entry is by ticket only. Please
include your postal address to which ticket will be sent. If there
are places left on the day, all non-booked latecomers pay UKP50 on
the door. Please ring in advance to check availability.

Programme

    9:30    Registration

    9:55    Health and Safety Announcements
            Claire Heywood, British Museum

    10:00   Welcome
            Kirsten Suenson-Taylor
            Chair UKICAS
            Neil McGregor
            Director, British Museum

Session 1
The Portable Antiquities Scheme: How is it Working? Current and
Future Needs

    Chair: Roger Bland
    Head of Portable Antiquities, Portable Antiquities Scheme

    10:10   Portable Antiquities Scheme: Conserving a New Resource
            Sally Worrell
            Finds Adviser, Portable Antiquities Scheme

    10:30   Conversation, Communication, Conservation
            David Barwell
            Chair, National Council for Metal Detecting

    10:50   Treasure Uncovered
            Hayley Bullock
            Conservator, British Museum

    11:10   Discussion

    11:30   Coffee

Session 2
Resources, Successes, Problems

    Chair: Peter Hinton
    Director, Institute of Field Archaeologists

    12:00   Some Unconsidered Consequences of Success--an
            archaeologist's view
            Tim Schadla-Hall
            Reader in Public Archaeology, Institute of Archaeology,
            UCL

    12:20   Discovering the Breamore Bucket--the finder's viewpoint
            Steve Bolger
            Detectorist

    12:40   Interpreting the Coinage--the contribution of detector
            finds

            Mark Blackburn
            Keeper of Coins and Medals, Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge

    1:00     Discussion

    1:20    Lunch/ Displays from metal detectors and conservators

Session 3
Metal Detected Finds, Investigation and Conservation--Case Studies
and Experiences

    Chair: Dean Sully
    Conservation Advisor, National Trust and Lecturer in
    Conservation, Institute of Archaeology, UCL

    2:30    What Can Science Tell You About Treasure?
            Susan La Niece
            Archaeological Scientist, British Museum

    2:50    Portable Antiquities and conservation
            Jennifer Jones
            English Heritage Contract Conservator, University of
            Durham

    3:10    Mud, Glorious Mud--finds from the London Foreshore
            Rebecca Lang
            Archaeological Conservator, Museum of London

    3:30    Discussion

    3:50    Coffee

    Chair: Kathryn Walker Tubb
    Lecturer and Archaeological Conservator, Institute of
    Archaeology, UCL

    4:20    Detecting Meets Archaeology--a detectorists view
            Neil Allen, Chair, Romney Marshland MDC

    4:40    From Swords to Ploughshares--YAT conservators meet the
            detectorists
            Julie Jones, Conservator, York Archaeological Trust
    5:00    Discussion

    5:30    Conference Close
            Wine reception
            Exhibition: "Buried Treasure: Finding our Past"

    6:30    Exhibition Gallery Talk from Richard Hobbs
            Curator, British Museum

    8:30    Exhibition Close

Jo Dillon
Objects Conservator
Fitzwilliam Museum
Trumpington Street
Cambridge  CB2 1RB
+44 1223 332930
+44 1223 332900
Fax: +44 1223 332923


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                  Conservation DistList Instance 17:44
                Distributed: Thursday, December 4, 2003
                       Message Id: cdl-17-44-013
                                  ***