Mona Chalabi, 'Gold rush: how much hidden treasure is found each year?', The Guardian Thursday 31 October 2013.
this post will explain all and tell you how much is found where" [...]["You're"? Metal detectorese in the Grauniad?]. I think if "serious" papers like the Guardian can publish such things, the British archaeological establishment and heritage professionals have got their message entirely wrong, and there is certainly a case for claiming that the interests of the public - both preset and future generations - are being ill-served by those responsible for outreach on "portable antiquity issues".
Metal detecting beats archaeology
92.7% of treasure was uncovered using a metal detector, compared to a mere 3.4% from archeological digs. Whatever you do, don't leave it to chance though - only 1.7% of finds were stumbled upon by chance. Another inaccurate romanticism is about woods and water - just 0.3% of treasure is found in woodland and 1.1% in open waters. You're best bet is to head to some good old cultivated land where 82.5% of treasure is found.
