Antiquities and Metal Detectors

Just read an interesting blog post about Metal Detectorist and Historical Sites in Britain. The author was complaining about people who use metal detectors going over historic sites and in essense "looting" (my word, not his) the site. This is something I never considered before. But it does make sense that people should not be trespassing on designated historic sites, or even private property with a metal detector. Because who ever owns the site is the real owner of whatever is under the soil, whoever happens to find it.

However, there is a grey line when one talks about people who have permission to use a metal detector over neighboring property.

I was thinking that this whole dispute might be settled with a bit of creative permitting, in the same way we do permiting for hunting here in the states. It could provide revenue that would go to preserving historical sites and enforce rules regarding the finding and preserving of antiquities...Just an idea.