Detectorists 2

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Howburn Digger H
Howburn Digger Oct 30, 2015 14:46:11
Replying to nigelswift

They didn't detect at the (non-standing) stone.

I'll repeat that. They didn't detect at the (non-standing) stone.

That the stone was shown in a flashback having once been erect was unknown to any character in the series. There was nothing to say or even infer that it was a "standing stone" in the series. It could have been a depiction of an old cattle rubbing post, a waymarker or a stump of a fieldgate.

That was what was so funny. Like the climax of series one where the shot tracked to the soil a little deeper below where they were detecting to reveal all the unfound Saxon Trinkets. It is a lovely gentle, harmless touch. Great intentions, commitment, self-taught historical knowledge and informed conjecture from two beautifully drawn, flawed characters - but they pack up for lunch a few yards from a pile of treasure.

Then don't go back. Brilliant.

N nigelswift
nigelswift Oct 30, 2015 15:48:12
Replying to Howburn Digger

"I'll repeat that. They didn't detect at the (non-standing) stone."

Had it been scheduled they were certainly likely to have been detecting within the boundary of the designated scheduled area.

"That the stone was shown in a flashback having once been erect was unknown to any character in the series."

Had it been a real happening that wouldn't be accepted as an excuse. Detectorists are supposed to check there are no scheduled monuments on the fields they are detecting. In addition, "permission" can't be given by a landowner to detect there. And in addition again, if he did then he'd lose any payments from Natural England, a condition of which is not to allow detecting on Scheduled Monuments, Sites of Special Scientific Interest and known archaeological sites on Agreement Land. NB, "known archaeological sites" not just scheduled ones.

I can see I'm being thought of as a spoilsport over a gentle, lyrical programme and defences or excuses are being offered on behalf of the (fictional) characters. So be it. Someone has to point out what's right - that implying there may be treasure under standing stones to an audience of perhaps thousands of people who are thinking of going out tomorrow to buy £25 Tesco's detectors is a damn bad idea.