Data Considerations when Teaming with Avocational Detectorists

Abstract

As professional archaeologists and avocational detectorists increasingly collaborate in field research, professional archaeologists must consider how the use of avocational detectorists may bias data. The potential biases may include the following: highly diverse discovery rates; underrepresentation of certain classes of artifacts, especially ferrous items; work rates less than those of professional archaeologists; and amplified areas of negative data due to a self-fulfilling prophecy. Archaeologists are encouraged to collect the information needed to help recognize such biases and to regiment data collection to minimize biases.