The final report of the Scottish Treasure Trove review has now been published. While the feedback gathered by the Review team has demonstrated support for the core principles of the treasure trove system, respondents do want the existing system to work better.
It was good to see that despite a small number of respondents suggesting that there should be some form of licencing system for metal detecting, it was not believed that such as system would be of any benefit. An extract from the review says, “Instead the Review supports the existing position that if best practice guidance is shared and followed. The benefits to heritage offered by the current approach to metal detecting outweigh risks to heritage or challenges regarding pressure on the treasure trove system.”
It was also great to see acknowledgment of the role detectorists play. The report said, “Metal detecting makes a key contribution to the picture of finds distribution across the country that is being built and preserved in our museums, and some of the most important and spectacular finds of the last 20 years have been made by metal detectorists.”
Part of the Review has also recommended the creation of a steering group to support KLTR. As the metal detecting representative organisation with the largest membership in Scotland, the NCMD has been invited to be part of that group.
To read the full review you can download it from HERE
We look forward to serving our Scottish members as part of the steering group, and as always, we will keep you informed of any updates.