Metal Detecting in University Education: Empowering future archaeologists through training

Abstract

This article presents and explores the reflections of students enrolled in the master's course 'Small finds — grand stories. The use of metal detector finds in research and dissemination', which took place in the spring term of 2023 at Aarhus University, Denmark. Metal detector archaeology has emerged as a vital field, with many practitioners demonstrating advanced expertise in the identification, documentation, and management of finds, skills that align closely with the rigorous methodologies expected by professional archaeologists and museum institutions. This article proposes that archaeologists should embrace a cooperative approach between archaeologists and the metal detecting community — a relationship that is pivotal not only for the preservation of a good relationship with the detecting community but also in the fields of cultural heritage and the advancement of research. The primary objective is to propose an innovative model for integrating metal detector archaeology into educational contexts through university curricula.

Keywords

• archaeology
• education
• metal detecting
• citizen science
• archaeology degree
• denmark
• archaeological practice
• survey methods
• public archaeology
• open archaeology
• interdisciplinary approach