What We Offer
Few university programs and field schools have begun to include metal detecting in their training of undergraduate and graduate students, there remain only a limited number of professional archaeologists with detailed knowledge, expertise, and experience to teach this subject. AMDA provides an opportunity for archaeologist to update and expand their knowledge and practical skills, while also being exposed to the current technology.
- Gain an understanding of how metal detecting works
- Learn through case studies the range of resource types that can be effectively examined through metal detecting
- Learn how to maximize the data return from metal detecting efforts
- Gain a familiarity with the various devices available, their strengths and weaknesses, and their cost points, such that RPAs can make knowledgeable rental or purchase decisions as needs arise
- Gain experience using a variety of today’s metal detectors in a field situation
- Take away a resource book and product literature for future reference when a metal detecting need arises
- The success in mastery of the subject will be self-evaluated by the RPAs in attendance.
- Long-term, the success should be reflected in the increased quality of the research
Metal Detection Verses Shovel Testing as a Recovery Technique on Military Sites
| Area Tested | Number of STPs | Artifacts from STPs | Artifacts Metal from Detection |
| 2.5 acres (10,118 sq. m) | 101 | 1 | 635 |
| 0.62 acre (2,509 sq. m) | 36 | 3 | 222 |
| 0.11 acres (464.5 sq m) | 25 | 0 | 58 |
| 0.9 acres (3,642 sq. m) | 38 | 0 | 119 |
| 0.67 acre (2,712 sq. m) | 46 | 0 | 79 |
| 1.87 acres (7,568 sq. m) | 32 | 0 | 146 |
| 75 acres (303,515 sq. m) | 292 | 2 | 1,679 |
| 7.7 acres (31,161 sq. m) | 479 | 3 | 1,698 |
| 10 acres (40,470 sq. m) | 349 | 5 | 1 |
| 15 acres (60,703 sq. m) | 829 | 1 | 140 |
| 25 acres (1,087,000 sq. m) | 387 | 1 | 1,842 |
| 16 acres (64,750 sq. m) | 391 | 3 | 2,034 |
| 3005 | 19 | 8,653 |
Benefits to Archeology
- Metal detection provides the only proven methods currently available to develop meaningful material culture data from some site types such as battlefields, conflict sites, bivouacs, and campsites.
- Metal detection provides a different data set than can be obtained through other methods allowing researchers to develop and address different and more robust research questions
- Allows for expedient identification of historic archaeological sites and the locations of buildings and activity areas based on the concentration and patterning of metallic objects
- In certain cases, metal detection provides the opportunity to develop data where excavation is not an option; with the caveat that metal detector target IDs are not absolute but dependent on operator experience, type and quality of machine, environment factors, etc.
Benefits to Contracting and Review Agencies
AMDA addresses several key concerns:
- How to develop RFPs
- How to evaluate proposals
- How to evaluate proposer experience
- How to evaluate level of effort
- What should be collected and how.
- How to evaluate appropriateness of metal detectorist experience, quality of machines
- What types of information needed in proposer responses
- How to review a metal detector project
- What types of information should in a metal detector report
- How to evaluate research design, field methods, analysis and results
Benefits to Individual Researchers
- What is a metal detector
- How to use a metal detector: what it can and cannot do
- Variables that will increase the probability for collecting the most data
- How to develop a metal Detector Project
- Types of research questions that can be addressed
- What are the components of a metal detector project
- Appropriate field methods and object recovery techniques
- Recordation procedures
- Post-fieldwork analysis
- Meet RPA Continuing Professional Education criteria
Benefits to CRM Firms
- Staff development
- Increase range of services offered
- Increase experience; thus, creating opportunities
- Ability to develop realistic proposals
- Ability to address client needs under Section 106
- Enhance ability to successfully propose on Section 110 and non- compliance projects
- Appropriate technology to use
- Budgeting
- How not to get in over your head
- What is appropriate level of effort
- Collection strategies