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Metal Detecting in University Education: Empowering future archaeologists through training

Julie Reinhold Aagaard, Caroline Hjulmand Larsen, Jens Emil Bødstrup Christoffersen, Julie Munch Thomsen, Katrine Birk, Mathias H. Kaas, Rikke Fur, Signe S. Termansen and Andres S. Dobat

Cite this as: Aagaard, J.R., Hjulmand Larsen, C., Bødstrup Christoffersen, J.E., Munch Thomsen, J., Birk, K., Kaas, M.H., Fur, R., Termansen, S.S. and Dobat, A.S. 2025 Metal detecting in university education: Empowering future archaeologists through training, Internet Archaeology 68. https://doi.org/10.11141/ia.68.1

Summary

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.

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  • Keywords: archaeology, education, metal detecting, citizen science, archaeology degree, Denmark, archaeological practice, survey methods, public archaeology, open archaeology, interdisciplinary approach
  • Accepted: October 2024. Published: June 2025
  • Funding: This article was funded by the Joint Committee for Nordic research councils in the Humanities and Social Sciences (NOS-HS) grant no 335213 for the project From Treasure Hunters to Citizen Scientists: metal-detecting and archaeological heritage in the Nordic region.
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Corresponding author: Julie Reinhold AagaardORCID logo
jreinholdaagaard@gmail.com
Aarhus University

Caroline Hjulmand LarsenORCID logo
Aarhus University

Jens Emil Bødstrup ChristoffersenORCID logo
Aarhus University

Julie Munch ThomsenORCID logo
Aarhus University

Katrine BirkORCID logo
Aarhus University

Mathias H. KaasORCID logo
Aarhus University

Rikke FurORCID logo
Aarhus University

Signe S. TermansenORCID logo
Aarhus University

Andres S. DobatORCID logo
Aarhus University

Full text

Figure 1: The lesson plan for Thematic Seminar 2023: Small finds — grand stories. The use of metal detector finds in research and dissemination. Developed and taught by Andres S. Dobat (AD)

Figure 2: The different classes, with key points taught on the course 'Thematic Seminar 2023: Small finds — grand stories. The use of metal detector finds in research and dissemination', compliled by student Julie Reinhold Aagaard. [PDF]

Figure 3: Picture showing the students' presentation during the conference, 'Social and cultural aspects of metal detecting. Giving the presentation were students Mathias H. Kaas, Julie Munch Thomsen and Julie Reinhold Aagaard. Picture taken by student Katrine Birk Laursen.

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