2025/09/03 by Michael Lewis, Frida Ehrnsten, Tuuli Kurisoo +2 · 1 voice · 1 citation
Arts and Humanities · Computer Science · Earth and Planetary Sciences · #Archaeological Research and Protection #Conservation Techniques and Studies #Image Processing and 3D Reconstruction
paper · pdf · doi:10.1017/eaa.2025.2
openalex publication_date 2025/09/03 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/03
This article concerns opportunities for improving systems for processing public finds through digital technology and citizen science, taking England, Estonia, and Finland as case studies. These three countries have differing legislation, but all face a significant growth in hobby metal detecting and consequent increase in archaeological finds being reported, which places pressure on existing resources for recording them. While archaeologists in the different countries all value public finds as items that add to public collections, provide information about sites at risk, and can advance research, their priorities vary. This has an impact on approaches to processing finds, but offers the chance to embrace digital technology and involve the public. This article shows how digital technology and public involvement in archaeology have already facilitated change in all three countries and highlights further opportunities these might provide, given a growing desire to democratize archaeology and share public finds data as widely as possible.