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For an archaeological code of ethics of the detectorist
The Law compels you a:
This point is ambiguous, because:
a)La electromagnetic detection does not consist, in oneself, a search
in archaeological matter.
b) However, it causes the discovery of archaeological vestiges well.
I.e.; to declare with the SRA (Regional Service of Archaeology) any discovery of archaeological vestiges found with the metal detector.
I.e. not to dig, not to take vestiges in an archaeological site or structures.
Differentiate three types of discovered:
These are objects that one finds with only one specimen, in a sector of at least 2500 m²or of a hectare.
Objects isolated = index from residual furniture
It is of the objects in the same way standard or of comparable nature that one finds associated with other of comparable nature or in the same way standard, in a same sector, about less than one hectare, or, generally, of less 2500m².
Associated objects = index of archeological site
It is of the objects in the same way standard or of comparable nature that one finds grouped on a same site, about less than 10 m², or generally, of less than 1 m².
Grouped objects = archaeological index of structure
Identify the context of your discoveries, and note in particular:
Observe the depth at which your discoveries are, and the type of sediment in which they are (humus, vegetable ground, layer argillaceous, muddy, etc...).
Not to forget that the furniture found in layer with more than 20 cm of depth is highly likely to be in a level or an archaeological structure.
Observe if there are ruins, or if one sees on the ground of the tiles, bricks, or the stones in the immediate environment of your discoveries.
The existence of real vestiges attests the presence of an archeological site.
3) The presence of movable vestiges:
(Observe if there are nonmetal remainders of objects like ceramics fragments, osseous remainders, fragments of hard stone grinding stone, glares of size out of flint, polished or cut stones, etc...) in the immediate environment of your discoveries.
The existence of movable vestiges is an indication of archeological site
Which control to adopt on the ground?
If it is an insulated object:
If you do not have a systematic prospection of the place, you cannot know if it is about erratic furniture or not. You can take it, but, in all the cases, locate your discovery on extract IGN to the 1/25000°.
If they are objects former to the modern period (1900), warn the regional Service of archaeology, to announce to them the discovery of furniture deprived of visible archaeological context.
If they are associated objects, without movable or real context visible:
You point out that the existence of movable vestiges is an indication of archeological site. Locate the points of discovered on extract IGN to the 1/25000°. Do not take the objects if you are not able to establish a distribution card of it, in addition to the localization to the 1/25000°. (plan of the field or wood or you deferred all the discoveries).
If they are objects former to the modern period, warn the Regional Service of Archaeology, to announce to them the discovery of an index of archeological site.
If they are associated objects, in movable or real context:
The concentration of movable objects and real vestiges attests the presence of an archeological site. Locate the points of discovered on extract IGN to the 1/25000°.
Do not take the objects.
If they are objects former to the modern period, warn the S.R.A to announce to them the discovery of an archeological site.
If they are grouped objects:
The existence of grouped objects generally attests the existence of an archaeological structure, which can be studied only by professional archaeologists.
Locate the points of discovered on extract IGN to the 1/25000°.
Do not take the objects.
If they are objects former to the modern period, warn the Regional Service of Archaeology to announce the discovery of an archaeological structure to them.
Which type of information back up?
Locate each place of discovered by a point on an extract of card at the 1/25000°.
Identify the places of discovered by the name of the commune, follow-up of the name of the locality (with between brackets the indication of the department).
Allot a number to each object which you discovered.
A convenient system consists of a figure made up of the following numbers:
One can also use a continuous classification (of 1 ad infinitum), which returns to a file or a register of inventory. For example lucky find N°1: object out of bronze, fibule + drawing or photograph, found with (place known as) and name of the commune + name of the department.
It can be in the form of catalogue or of paper cards, or in the form of a data-processing data base. Your file will have to comprise three types of information: