This story and others like it hurt to the core those of us who enjoy the 
activity of metal detecting and wait patiently for the opportunity to do so 
under the direction and supervision of legitimate archaeologists.
    There are those within the Forest Service, BLM, National Park Service 
and private archaeological firms who use the detector as one of the tools in 
their work. As "historical" sites such as military camps and forts, Indian 
and military battlegrounds, historic trails and roads, homesteads and other 
1880s sites become more important to archaeological study, some of us are 
finding a place along side the archaeologist in this work. We are 
professional, protective of the artifact and it's provenience, and a good 
steward of the landscape.  AND, most of us work free!
    Our challenge is to find the activities that allow us to be of 
assistance to folks like those on this list.

    I  agree 100% with the need to control the unlawful use of metal 
detectors, and hope that pressure can be place upon private landowners as 
well. It has been an up hill battle for all of us.
Gail Carbiener
Sunriver, Oregon
========================
>
> In a message dated 4/16/2006 6:14:20 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time,
> [log in to unmask] writes:
>
> http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/15/AR200604150118
> 7.html?sub=AR
>