What do you need to know as a metal detectorist?
Metal detecting is not specifically mentioned in the Cultural Heritage Act, but the activity can easily come into conflict with the law if you don't know the rules. It is your own responsibility to familiarize yourself with the applicable laws and rules before you search. The University Museum wants good cooperation with metal detectorists, because
You must have the landowner's permission
You must have the landowner's permission before metal detecting on cultivated land. At the same time, check that there are no registered cultural heritage sites in the area.
Stay away from registered cultural heritage sites
It is illegal to use a metal detector on already registered cultural heritage sites, such as burial mounds and similar, without permission from the museum. It is also not permitted to dig in the ground near registered cultural heritage areas.
Cultivated and uncultivated land
We strongly advise against metal detecting in uncultivated land, because you can easily disturb automatically protected cultural heritage sites. On land that is ploughed annually, loose cultural heritage objects are gradually broken down. The museum therefore considers it beneficial that objects from the plough layer are recovered through metal detecting on cultivated land.
Follow the Directorate for Cultural Heritage's guidelines
The Directorate for Cultural Heritage has prepared common national guidelines for metal detecting, and a dedicated find report form. Familiarise yourself with these before you head out.
More information
Here you'll find information about the rules for metal detecting, and how to check whether an area has automatically protected cultural heritage sites.