Every year, thousands of metal detecting finds are submitted to the county archaeologists all around Norway. Finds that are automatically protected by the Cultural Heritage Act are transferred from the counties to the regional univeristy museums in Tromsø, Trondheim, Bergen, Stavanger og Oslo. This concerns all objects older than the 1537 protestant reformation, all coins older than 1650, and all Saami finds older than 1918.
The museums do a second evaluation of the knowledge potential of the finds that are submitted, that is whether they can tell us something about the past and thus should be included in the collections for use in future research and dissemination, such as exhibitions and other media. The objects are also appraised for finder's fee, which is to be shared with the land owner. The final conclusion on this matter is made by the Directorate of Cultural Heritage.
A new digital solution
Today's system for recording, submitting, and evaluating finds is outdated and cumbersome. Consequently, both detectorists and archaeologists wish for a new digital solution to be developed. The aim is to construct an app that everyone who does metal detecting can download and use to record their finds. However, we also wish for this app to communicate with other existing databases and archive systems to simplify the procedures following submission of finds and thus make this work more efficient.
Several European countries have similar solutions, for example DIME – Digitale Metaldetektorfund (Digital Metal Detector Finds) in Denmark. However, it is important that a Norwegian app is customised for use in Norway and the systems and legal frameworks we have here. The preliminary project aims to find the best possible technical solution that will meet the demands and expectations of all the different user groups.
The preliminary project is led by Associate Professor Marte Spangen, and will be finalised within the end of 2024.