was dug up during an illegal private metal detector search
People just still do it, but don’t report anything. I don’t think the average illegal „hunter" is interested in finding a treasure and illegally selling it on black market, making his potential punishment even worse. In Germany it’s on the federal state to create the legal basis for a lot of things which you probably know, muelltonne, metal detecting is one of these. This makes the legal situation even more complicated with some states completely prohibiting and some allowing it if the land owner agrees. The Nederlands on the other hand have the same legal situation in the whole country, as far as I know, where searching for archaeological objects is legal with very few bureaucratic restrictions and a nation-wide app for registrating seekers and uploading their findings to the authorities. They’re happy with that.
And then there is the whole issue with private property - even if you’re not allowed to use metal detectors, there is nothing preventing you from digging holes in your own garden. But that is not what most people are doing - most suburbs are getting an archeological survey before they are build and then the construction will destroy everything else. So most metal detectors are running around on fields, through woods, some with private owners, some in state ownership
People just still do it, but don’t report anything. I don’t think the average illegal „hunter" is interested in finding a treasure and illegally selling it on black market, making his potential punishment even worse. In Germany it’s on the federal state to create the legal basis for a lot of things which you probably know, muelltonne, metal detecting is one of these. This makes the legal situation even more complicated with some states completely prohibiting and some allowing it if the land owner agrees. The Nederlands on the other hand have the same legal situation in the whole country, as far as I know, where searching for archaeological objects is legal with very few bureaucratic restrictions and a nation-wide app for registrating seekers and uploading their findings to the authorities. They’re happy with that.
And then there is the whole issue with private property - even if you’re not allowed to use metal detectors, there is nothing preventing you from digging holes in your own garden. But that is not what most people are doing - most suburbs are getting an archeological survey before they are build and then the construction will destroy everything else. So most metal detectors are running around on fields, through woods, some with private owners, some in state ownership