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Buying Artefacts

• Message 1. 

  Posted by jinks-cider-stash (U7847019) on Thursday, 16th October 2008

  I was wondering what the general perception people had of buying historical artefacts from online suppliers? I have looked at some internet traders and they seem, from all appearances, quite legitimate.
  
  Can they be trusted on there historical accuracy? Are they a rip-off? And most importantly - is it ethical (I don’t really want to own something looted during the Iraq invasion for example)?
  
  Any help and further advice in my dilemma would be much appreciated. I have inserted below a few examples of the sites that I have visited
  
  
  
  
  If anyone can give me directions to better site, I would also welcome that.
  
  Cheers
  

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• Message 2

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by TwinProbe (U4077936) on Thursday, 16th October 2008

  Hi jinks-cider-stash,
  
  A very important post. To be honest I have a very bad feeling about the purchase of historical artefacts.
  
  If the objects are genuine then you are probably looking, at best, at the results of metal detector finds, or casual, field-walking type, finds of pottery or flint etc. Separation of such objects from the contexts in which they are found destroys much of their value. Many items need proper conservation and storage if they are not to deteriorate; can individual owners arrange this?
  
  Personally I can't reconcile myself to our historical heritage being sold off in this way. Important objects should be offered to museum collections. Other objects should be reported to the Portable Antiquities Scheme. If unwanted you might keep your finds and perhaps eventually use them as an education aid or offer them to a local school or college.
  
  Intact glass or pottery items almost certainly come from graves. Since few states permit amateurs to investigate burial sites it's hard to escape the feeling that such objects are robbed. In any case having forked out £500 for your Roman glassware are you any better off? The same expenditure would buy books, site visits and many trips to see properly conserved items in museums.
  
  Many antiquities are forged. If barbed and tanged arrow heads go at £50 a go the temptation to read 'Teach Yourself Flint Knapping' may be difficult to resist!
  
  Studying archaeology in the field is great fun but why not consider the archaeology of landscapes or buildings, rather than objects? To satisfy my own acquisitive tendencies I like brick collecting. These post medieval objects are of no real intrinsic value but often contain information about their maker, and can lead to fascinating days in the local library with local maps and trade directories.
  
  Best wishes,
  
  TP

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• Message 3

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  Posted by stalteriisok (U3212540) on Thursday, 16th October 2008

  tp
  agree with u there
  BUT always want a few bits of history - but bits i have found myself
  
  walking across a field i want to find a knapped flint, roman coin, tile, burial urn
  
  anyone found any ??
  
  st

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• Message 4

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  Posted by Anglo-Norman (U1965016) on Monday, 20th October 2008

  Never found anything, but I was given a nail from an 18th century warship - one of those used to fix the copper sheathing to the bottom, and one of hundreds found on the wreck site. It's a nice little object, with the tiny Board of Ordnance 'Broad Arrow' mark still visible!
  
  If you do find something, I'd suggest making a note of the exact location and informing the local museum or archaeological authority. Something small like a coin would be worth taking to the Portable Antiquities Scheme if they've got a representative handy - though for how much longer I don't know; I gather they're in danger of losing their funding A coin or similar you'd be allowed to keep, unless it was silver or gold

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• Message 5

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  Posted by Crystal Clear (U1010754) on Thursday, 6th November 2008

  I am all for reporting and recording finds properly. Isn't it illegal to sell finds not properly reported? I'm not sure on the legalities but I wouldn't buy anything because both buyer and seller would probably get into trouble
  
  Even if it isn't illegal, it should be!

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• Message 6

  , in reply to message 5.

  Posted by TwinProbe (U4077936) on Thursday, 6th November 2008

  Hi Crystal Clear,
  
  In England nothing whatever can be removed from a scheduled ancient monument site, but these are relatively few in number.
  
  Elsewhere finds are governed by the Treasure Act 1996. There are strict definitions given as to what constitutes 'treasure' but certainly single or small numbers of base metal objects, pottery or glass objects are not deemed to be treasure within the meaning of the act. Metal detectorists and field walkers are certainly encouraged to report finds of this type, but they are not legally obliged to do so.
  
  Objects that are simply sold without their locations being recorded are lost to study. The same applies to unstable objects that deteriorate after excavation.
  
  So I agree with you!
  
  TP

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• Message 7

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  Posted by DL (U1683040) on Monday, 10th November 2008

  Hi all,
  
  Up until a couple of years ago I used to live out in the sticks in Norfolk, and used to find a lot (by a lot I mean over 50 very high grade and a hundred or so not so good) of Roman coins. After finding the first few of them, we had the Portable Antiquities people come round to assess the place. They came to the conclusion that all remaining archaeology had been destroyed a long time ago, or was submerged under the water. They suspected that a coin hoard had been buried in antiquity but then scattered, either when the house we lived in was built (it was over 300 years old), or when the Broads were being dug or dredged. Either way they were classed as being "no archaeological value" and we were entitled to keep the lot.

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• Message 8

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by HantsCricketFan (U5158421) on Friday, 21st November 2008

  As a former archaeologist and historian I find myself torn. On the one hand I can understand and stress the importance of context with archaeological finds. A roman coin on its own is worth much less than that from a dig where we can understand why the coin was there and how it ended up where it did. On the other hand I become frustrated by the vast storage rooms at museums I have visited stuffed with various aretfacts that will never see the light of day again. I once excavated an iron age jar that I would have got more satisfaction out of than any museum storage room and I am starting to lean towards the idea that perhaps artefacts should be with those who would get satisfaction from them.
  
  I would be very careful of buying finds from internet sites. Check with the seller firstly whether these are the result of metal detectoring and secondly whether it has been recorded with the portable antiquities scheme. Stick to purely british finds online and then look for antique shops if you want other artefacts. There are plenty around the British Museum who sell unwanted artefacts and there's a particularly good shop on the outskirts of Salisbury if you ever find yourself down that way.

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