Vermin Killer

[Tom Hughes]

Well, that's the most elaborate mousetrap I have ever seen!!
Congrats to your find, awesome!!

As for relic hunting and metal detectors ... I got one for Christmas last year. I knew that probably I'd have to get permission to do use it on someone's property, but here it's much worse than that! I have learned that I must take part in a mandatory two day lecture about relic hunting in general, where I would learn where I may do it, what finds I may keep, what I have to give to my home state etc., but to enlist to one of these classes I must show up in person to a State authority and have me interviewed and checked if I am worthy of learning how to use my detector. These classes are fully booked until 2022. After the theory class I would have to take another one day course in handling my own detector (which is only once a year, so I can only vaguely imagine when I would be able to secure a place for me there!) so that I would not destroy any valuable artifacts while digging them up. I don't feel like jumping over all these bureaucratic obstacles, so there is no chance that I may lawfully use my detector.
I just hope that the coming summers will be hot and dry again, like last year's summer, so that the rivers dry up and parts of the river bed become accessible. Last year we found a very nice metal object, maybe even from Roman times, in the riverbed of the Rhine, plus some blades, pottery parts and horseshoes - and WWII ammo (which of course we did not touch!)

Wow! That's a lot of regulation involved. Are there any state
sponsored professional digs you can participate in? That way you get the joy of uncovering artifacts and helping your country preserve its history.

 

[Kurt G]

Well, Germany is a crowded little country with an extreme rich history and probably lots of artifacts still resting underground somewhere. Probably the authorities don't want it to be dug up completely… and as for the penalty, I had to look it up myself. I found that 1000,- Euros is minimum for illegal digging. If you worsen the situation by not properly handing in your finds, it may become more.
And for me as a state employee, it would result in a severe dent in my career if I was sued for some illegal action.

I know people who used detectors to find lost keys in snowbanks , etc . If this happened could some one be hired to find the lost item ?

 

[FarawayFriend]

I know people who used detectors to find lost keys in snowbanks , etc . If this happened could some one be hired to find the lost item ?

I'm not sure about that.
But when I still thought that I would start that great hobby I bought a book written by a guy who is a professional "finder". People hire him to find keys or jewellery they had lost while swimming or hiking or just cannot find anymore. So I guess when people even can make a living from metal detecting, there will be no exception for ordinary, unlicenced amateurs.

 

[FarawayFriend]

Wow! That's a lot of regulation involved. Are there any state
sponsored professional digs you can participate in? That way you get the joy of uncovering artifacts and helping your country preserve its history.

That's a good idea! I might ask if some museum or archaeological project needs volunteers... but that will have to wait until retirement. While still working fulltime I can't spend enough time on a regular basis for it.
But thank you, a good perspective!