METAL DETECTOR-
DRIVERS
As a detector operator, you help discover, preserve and communicate the past. We are ready to help you all the way from discovery to research.
METAL DETECTOR-
When you go metal detecting, you help open the door to the past. Every year, objects are discovered that change our knowledge of life in ancient, medieval and modern times – and many of these finds are made by skilled and curious detectorists.
Museum Southeast Denmark receives and assesses finds from our entire area of responsibility: Greve, Solrød, Køge, Faxe, Stevns, Næstved and Vordingborg. The cooperation between detector operators and the museum is a cornerstone in the work of preserving cultural heritage, and we greatly appreciate both commitment and care in the field.
Once an object is dug up from the ground, decomposition begins immediately, and its historical value depends to a large extent on how accurately it is registered. We therefore recommend that you maintain regular contact with the museum. Here you can get an assessment of whether a find has significant cultural and historical significance and whether it may be a Danefæ. If this is the case, the object must be handed in so that it can be preserved for posterity and included in research. For objects of particular national importance, the National Museum assesses whether a Danefæ allowance should be paid.
DANEFÆ - WHEN A FIND BELONGS TO ALL OF DENMARK
Some objects have such great cultural and historical significance that they belong not only to the finder, but to the entire country. These finds are called danefæ, and according to Chapter 9 of the Museum Act, they belong to the State. This means that you may not keep, sell or pass them on – but in return you will receive compensation from the National Museum if your find is declared danefæ. The size of this compensation depends on both the significance of the find and the care you have shown in handling it. You can read more about danefæ and the rules for handing it over on the National Museum's website: Handing over danefæ to the National Museum .
The National Museum assesses not only the object itself, but also how you have handled and documented it. A thorough and correct effort may trigger a care allowance, which increases the total compensation. Here are the criteria that are included in the assessment:
13 points for care allowance
- Careful handling of the object – no unnecessary touching or cleaning.
- Careful packaging so that the material is not damaged.
- Contact the local museum quickly so that the object does not have time to decay.
- Pay attention to other cultural traces in the soil, such as pottery shards, charcoal, bones, burnt stones or dark cultural layers.
- Accurate GPS localization in UTM 32N / ETRS89.
- Photo documentation of both the condition of the find and the reliability of the GPS measurements.
- Collection of relevant non-Danefæ findings to illuminate the context and increase scientific yield.
- Electronic report of finds to the museum with serial numbers, coordinates, photos and possibly DIME references.
- No digging below plowing depth (max. 25 cm from the surface).
- Contact the museum immediately if you suspect deeper finds such as graves or treasures.
- Ongoing briefing to the landowner and museum about significant finds.
- No cleaning, impregnation or casting of the object.
- No damage from incorrect storage , e.g. drying out, moisture, heat or long periods in plastic bags.
SUBMISSION OF FINDINGS
To ensure a smooth process, we handle submissions twice a year – the first Tuesday in May and the first Tuesday in November. Before you show up, you must send complete lists of finds to the museum no later than 14 days before. It is important that each location has its own form, that the coordinates are measured in the correct UTM Zone 32 system, and that all information about the finder, contact information and any DIME numbers are provided. We review the lists in advance, and if anything is missing, you will receive them back so that everything is in order on the day of submission.
When you submit your findings, we will not issue a receipt on site, but you will later receive a comprehensive overview via email, where both journal numbers, location names and a special ID number are added. The journal number and location name are used for future submissions. The ID number is linked to the individual submission. If you have questions about a submission you have made, you must provide the ID number so that we can see how far the case has progressed.
Send your complete lists of findings no later than 14 days before the submission date to: detektorfund@museerne.dk
Please attach clear photos (front and back) and coordinates if you contact us about a specific find.
WORTH KNOWING
What do I do if I think I have found Danefæ?
You must contact the museum as soon as possible and handle the object as gently as possible. Please send pictures and coordinates. The National Museum will make the final assessment and pay any compensation.
Why are coordinates so important?
The precise location of the find can be as important as the object itself. The museum's systems work in UTM Zone 32, and measurements in other zones – especially in the Østmøn and Stevns areas – must be converted to make sense of our records.
What is the difference between Danefæ and finds of “significant cultural-historical value”?
Danefæ belongs to the state and is assessed by the National Museum. The museum can request that finds of significant cultural and historical value be handed over if they are of research interest and can contribute to a larger story.
How deep can I dig?
You must never dig below the plow layer, typically about 25 cm. Deeper finds may lie in untouched, archaeological layers that only archaeologists may examine.
How long do I have to wait to submit findings?
Items must be returned within 12 months. After that, they risk permanent damage and important information may be lost.
Can I get help as a new detector driver?
Yes. You are always welcome to contact the museum with questions, to have your finds assessed or to receive guidance on equipment, measurements and documentation.
How can I submit my findings?
Museum Southeastern Denmark has two annual submission days: the first Tuesday in May and the first Tuesday in November. It is only on these days that we receive larger batches of detector finds for assessment.
No later than 14 days before the submission date, you must send complete lists of finds to detektorfund@museerne.dk . We will review the material in advance so that the submission can proceed smoothly.
GUIDE FOR THOSE SEARCHING WITH A DETECTOR
Before you go out, it is a good idea to investigate the area thoroughly: find the title deed and land registry number, check the Fund & Fortidsminder, create the location in DIME and agree on access with the landowner. During the actual search, it is important to go systematically, also looking for iron signals, and collect scrap metal if you and the landowner agree on this. Keep an eye out for anything that can tell you something about the place – ceramics, glass, flint, charcoal – and note the conditions.
When you find something, handle it as little as possible. Use one bag per item, and clearly write where and how it was found. Avoid cleaning it with anything other than slightly demineralized water, and take photos with a scale so that the condition of the find can be documented.
Your efforts make a difference – and the more precisely and carefully you record your findings, the greater the value for research.