Passing on artifacts without basic information lessens their value and regulates them to mere object status, stripped of any cultural and historical relevance.
For each site I recorded location coordinates and directions along with a map section showing the terrain.
That is followed by a general description of the site and information about artifacts.
detectorists/collectors and asked them how they documented their relics. Some reported that they keep their finds separated in zip-lock bags with a note recording date and location. Others admitted that they were still at the “hadn’t gotten to it” phase and could offer little more than encouragement. Only one person disclosed that they kept more exacting records of their finds to include recording GPS coordinates for each artifact. That was one I hadn’t thought of, and as it was too late, I decided I would at least note coordinates for each site. The main objective driving this long-awaited housekeeping was to document my finds so that they could continue to tell their story to the next owner. As humbling as it is, a stone point that has already survived 6,000 years will most likely still be around long after I am gone. Our families may understand our passion for collecting and support our hobby, but they are not likely qualified to know a collection’s value or know how to dispose of it should the time come. As such, getting my collection ready was something only I could do. Passing on artifacts without basic information lessens their value
Pictures of the artifacts from the site complete the entry.
November-December 2011 American Digger Magazine
www.americandigger.com
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