Cite this as: Kurisoo, T. and Smirnova, M. 2025 Unearthing Perspectives: Exploring the views of heritage professionals and hobbyists on the current state of metal detecting in Estonia, Internet Archaeology 68. https://doi.org/10.11141/ia.68.3
This article presents the results of an online survey that explores the views of Estonian heritage professionals and hobbyists on the current state of metal detecting, which has become a popular activity. The hobby is fairly well regulated by law, and both the state and the hobbyists have clear obligations. We asked how local archaeologists and metal detectorists perceive the status quo, what they find positive and negative, and what they would like to see changed. While the majority of the professional archaeologists could point to several positive aspects (e.g. new information, finds), they were clearly concerned about the impact of metal detecting and the capacity of the National Heritage Board to manage the current system. Hobbyists appreciated direct communication with the state, feedback and mandatory training, but were frustrated by the slow pace of feedback, burdensome legislation and mediocre digital solutions. The Estonian archaeological community is small and accustomed to the role of experts. Metal detecting is more of an individual hobby, still in its early stages of development. Similar to several other studies, we believe that better cooperation would help both these stakeholders to perceive archaeology as a common resource that can be used in different ways, but with a shared sense of responsibility.
Corresponding author: Tuuli Kurisoo
tuuli.kurisoo@tlu.ee
Tallinn University
Maria Smirnova
University of Tartu
Figure 1: Graph showing the work experience of surveyed archaeologists in years
Figure 2: Graph showing the interaction of surveyed archaeologists with hobbyists
Figure 3: Positive codes and themes expressed by Estonian heritage professionals regarding hobbyist metal detecting
Figure 4: Negative codes and themes expressed by Estonian heritage professionals regarding hobbyist metal detecting
Figure 5: Graph showing the detecting experience in years and whether the surveyed hobbyists hold a licence
Figure 6: Positive codes and themes expressed by Estonian hobbyists regarding hobbyist metal detecting
Figure 7: Negative codes and themes expressed by Estonian hobbyists regarding hobbyist metal detecting
Figure 8: Graph showing the number of licence holders and archaeologists at the NHB who are responsible for hobbyists and their discoveries
Table 1: Target groups and open ended survey questions
Axelsen, I. 2021 What's the Deal with Old Things? An Exploratory Study of Attitudes and Practices towards Certain Old Things among Archaeologists and Meta Detectorists in Norway, PhD dissertation, Department of Archaeology, Conservation and History, Museum of Cultural History, Faculty of Humanities, Oslo: University of Oslo.
Braun, V. and Clarke, V. 2006 'Using thematic analysis in psychology', Qualitative Research in Psychology 3, 77-101. https://doi.org/10.1191/1478088706qp063oa
Deckers, P., Lewis, M. and Thomas, S. 2016 'Between two places: archaeology and metal-detecting in Europe', Open Archaeology 2. https://doi.org/10.1515/opar-2016-0031
Dobat, A.S. 2013 'Between rescue and research: an evaluation after thirty years of liberal metal detecting in archaeological research and heritage practice in Denmark', European Journal of Archaeology 16(4), 704-25. https://doi.org/10.1179/1461957113Y.0000000041
Dobat, A.S., Deckers, P., Heeren, S., Lewis, M., Thomas, S. and, Wessman, A. 2020 'Towards a cooperative approach to hobby metal detecting: the European Public Finds Recording Network (EPFRN) vision statement', European Journal of Archaeology 23, 272-92. https://doi.org/10.1017/eaa.2020.1
Frank, R.D., Yakel, E. and Faniel, I.M. 2015 'Destruction/reconstruction: preservation of archaeological and zoological research data', Archival Science 15, 141-67. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10502-014-9238-9
Gundersen, J., Rasmussen, J.M. and Lie, R.O. 2016 'Private metal detecting and archaeology in Norway', Open Archaeology 2. https://doi.org/10.1515/opar-2016-0012
Haldenby, D. and Richards, J.D. 2010 'Charting the effects of plough damage using metal-detected assemblages', Antiquity 84, 1151-62. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0003598X00067144
HCA amendment to Heritage Conservation Act, 2011 (1.06.2011), RiigiTeataja I, 21.03.2011, 28. https://www.riigiteataja.ee/en/eli/521042014009/consolide
HCA, 2019. Heritage Conservation Act (1.05.2019). RiigiTeataja I, 19.03.2019, 13, https://www.riigiteataja.ee/en/eli/504062019001/consolide
Immonen, V. and Kinnunen, J. 2020 'Metal detecting as a social formation: a longitudinal survey study from Finland', Journal of Social Archaeology 20, 313-34. https://doi.org/10.1177/1469605320943737
Immonen, V. and Kinnunen, J. 2016 '“quidditching” and the emergence of new heritage identities — amateur metal detecting in Finland', Public Archaeology 15, 163-85. https://doi.org/10.1080/14655187.2017.1352188
Kadakas, U. 2020 'Archaeological heritage and the new Heritage Conservation Act. A short overview about the development of the government regulation', Archaeological Fieldwork in Estonia 2019, 243-52. https://arheoloogia.ee/ave2019/AVE2019_20_Kadakas_Eng.pdf [Last accessed: 10 January 2024]
Kadakas, U. 2021 'How quickly should public benefit come from archaeology? Availability, use and influence on society: results of the Estonian salvage and metal detector study', Internet Archaeology 57. https://doi.org/10.11141/ia.57.15
Kangert, N. 2009 'Metallidetektorid ja arheoloogiapärandi kaitse Eestis: arengud ja hetkeseis [Metal detectors and protection of archaeological heritage in Estonia: developments and current situation]', Unpublished Bachelor's thesis, University of Tartu.
Komoróczy, B. 2022 'Archaeology, metal detecting, and citizen science in the Czech Republic', Advances in Archaeological Practice 10, 322-35. https://doi.org/10.1017/aap.2022.15
Konsa, K. 2019 'Developments in approaches to heritage in Estonia: monuments, values, and people', Baltic Journal of Art History 18(1), 181-208. https://doi.org/10.12697/BJAH.2019.18.05.
Kurisoo, T., Rammo, R. and Smirnova, M. 2020 'Discoveries made by the users of searching devices and the public in 2019 and the new Heritage Conservation Act', Archaeological Fieldwork in Estonia 2019, 263-88. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10131066
Kurisoo, T., Rammo, R., Smirnova, M. and Kangert, N. 2021 'Searching devices, new discoveries, and issues related to them in Estonian archaeology', Archaeological Fieldwork in Estonia 2020, 265-29. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10131066
Kurisoo, T., Posti, M.-L., Kangert, N. and Karro, K. 2022 'Public finds in marshalling new data, managing ongoing challenges', Archaeological Fieldwork in Estonia 2021, 263-96. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10131530
Kurisoo, T., Posti, M.-L., Jegorov, S. and Kangert, N. 2023 'New public discoveries in 2022 against a backdrop of concerns about reporting and processing of finds', Archaeological Fieldwork in Estonia 2022, 217-38. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10131862
Lang, V. 2022 'Isamaa on hädaohus - meie ajalugu hävitatakse!' ['Homeland is in danger - our history is being destroyed!'], Postimees, 30 April. https://arvamus.postimees.ee/7512152/valter-lang-isamaa-on-hadaohus-meie-ajalugu-havitatakse
Lewis, M. 2016 'A detectorist's Utopia? Archaeology and metal-detecting in England and Wales', Open Archaeology 2(1), 127-39. https://doi.org/10.1515/opar-2016-0009
Lykkegård-Maes, M. and Dobat, A.S. 2022 'Hunters of the past: a study of demography, attitudes, and values among Danish metal detector users', Danish Journal of Archaeology 11, 1-22. https://doi.org/10.7146/dja.v11i.125546
Maaranen, P. 2016 'Metal detecting and archaeology in Finland: an overview of the hobby and its consequences', ISKOS 21, 273-84.
Miles, M.B., Huberman, A.M., and Saldaña, J. 2020 Qualitative Data Analysis: A methods sourcebook, 4th edition, Sage.
Mägi, M., Jets, I., Riiel, R., Allmäe, R. and Limbo-Simovart, J. 2015 'Pre-Viking and early Viking Age sacrifical place at Viidumäe, west Saaremaa', Archaeological Fieldwork in Estonia 2014, 91-100. https://arheoloogia.ee/ave2014/AVE2014_07_Magijt_Viidumae.pdf [Last accessed: 10 January 2024]
Mandel, M. 2020 'Eesti muinasaja arhiiv hävineb - kes saaks aidata?' [The archive of Estonia's prehistory is being destroyed - who could help?] Eesti Ekspress, 22 January. https://ekspress.delfi.ee/artikkel/88700301/eesti-muinasaja-arhiiv-havineb-kes-saaks-aidata [Last accessed: 8 January 2024]
Mandel, M. 2022 'Kas lubame muinasaja arhiivi hävitada?' ['Do we allow the archive of prehistory to be destroyed?'], Postimees 3 March.https://arvamus.postimees.ee/7467128/mati-mandel-kas-lubame-muinasaja-arhiivi-havitada [Last accessed: 8 January 2024]
Ots, M. and Rammo, R. 2013 'Landscape surveys and new monuments discovered in 2012', Archaeological Fieldwork in Estonia 2012, 297-319. https://arheoloogia.ee/ave2012/AVE2012_Ots-Rammo.pdf [Last accessed: 10 January 2024]
Rammo, R. and Kangert, N. 2018 'Discoveries made by users of searching devices and the public in 2017', Archaeological Fieldwork in Estonia 2017, 207-24. https://arheoloogia.ee/ave2017/AVE2017_20_Rammo-Kangert_uusleid.pdf [Last accessed: 10 January 2024]
Rammo, R. and Smirnova, M. 2019 'Discoveries made by users of searching devices and the public in 2018', Archaeological Fieldwork in Estonia 2018, 263-82. https://arheoloogia.ee/ave2018/AVE2018_18_Rammo-Smirnova_New-finds.pdf [Last accessed: 10 January 2024]
Rammo, R., Kangert, N. and Tasuja, K. 2014 'Landscape surveys and new monuments discovered in 2013', Archaeological Fieldwork in Estonia 2013, 245-58. https://arheoloogia.ee/ave2013/AVE2013_21_Rammojt_NewSites.pdf [Last accessed: 10 January 2024]
Rasmussen, J.M. 2014 'Securing cultural heritage objects and fencing stolen goods? A case study on museums and metal detecting in Norway', Norwegian Archaeological Review 47(1), 83-107. https://doi.org/10.1080/00293652.2014.899616
Thomas, S. 2012 'Searching for answers: a survey of metal-detector users in the UK', International Journal of Heritage Studies 18, 49-64. https://doi.org/10.1080/13527258.2011.590817
Ulst, I. 2010 'The problems of “black archaeology” in Estonia', Estonian Journal of Archaeology 14(2), 153-69. https://doi.org/10.3176/arch.2010.2.04
Ulst, I. 2012 'The Role of Community Archaeology in Heritage Protection: Responsible Metal Detecting as a Tool for Enhancing the Protection of Archaeological Heritage', Unpublished Master's thesis, University of Tartu.
Valk, H. 2022 'Eesti arheoloogiapärand: kaitstud või kaitseta?' ['Estonian archaeological heritage: protected or unprotected?'], Sirp, 10 June.https://sirp.ee/s1-artiklid/c21-teadus/eesti-arheoloogiaparand-kaitstud-voi-kaitseta/ [Last accessed: 8 January 2024]
Valk, H. and Kaseorg, M. 2021 'Archaeological investigations in the vicinity of Sammaste Taru Kirikumägi stone cairn cemetery', Archaeological Fieldwork in Estonia 2020, 133-42. https://www.arheoloogia.ee/ave2020/AVE2020_10_Valk-Kaseorg_Sammaste.pdf [Last accessed: 10 January 2024]
Wessman, A., Thomas, S., Deckers, P., Dobat, A.S., Heeren, S. and Lewis, M. 2023 'Hobby metal-detecting as Citizen Science. Background, challenges and opportunities of collaborative archeological finds recording schemes', Heritage & Society 16, 89-108. https://doi.org/10.1080/2159032X.2022.2098654
Internet Archaeology is an open access journal based in the Department of Archaeology, University of York. Except where otherwise noted, content from this work may be used under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 (CC BY) Unported licence, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided that attribution to the author(s), the title of the work, the Internet Archaeology journal and the relevant URL/DOI are given.
Terms and Conditions | Legal Statements | Privacy Policy | Cookies Policy | Citing Internet Archaeology
Internet Archaeology content is preserved for the long term with the Archaeology Data Service. Help sustain and support open access publication by donating to our Open Access Archaeology Fund.
Home
