Development, improvement and mass spread of devices used for prospecting of metal objects in the ground entails an enormous problem to archaeology. The problem lays in mass misusing of metal detectors by amateur users or, in worse-case scenario, misusing by organized groups of thieves and planned plundering locations. Those illegal activities lead to irretrievable devastation of the cultural heritage along with the loss of information and thereby imminent danger to possibilities to learn our history. Misusage of detectors has become a society-wide problem. In a competent person's hands detectors can bring an unexpected look into the past and thus they should not be looked past by the experts. Also the potential of amateur seekers, who offer helping hand in official archaeological explorations, often lies fallow. The presented thesis is trying to describe the complicated problem of metal detectors in the broadest range and simultaneously to accent some details that the author considers to be important (e.g. pastlooked aspects of possible cooperation among archaeologists and treasure hunters). The core of this work involves four main thematic groups: metal detectors in terms of their technological development and their types, legislation and its working in practice within the Czech Republic and...

In this paper I assess the potential for improvement in the documentation of metal detecting in the Swedish contract archaeology. I then investigate how such an improvement could be achieved. The study consists of three parts. I begin by defining what makes up high-quality documentation of metal detecting. I then use this definition to develop criteria for an assessment system. In the second part I use this assessment system for a quantitative analysis of archaeological archive reports from four of the largest contract-archaeology organizations in the Lake Mälaren area. Finally I report on interviews I have made with representatives from two of the studied organizations to seek possible explanations for the results of my analysis. My study confirms that there is considerable room for improvement in the analyzed archive reports, and sheds light on what parts of the documentation show frequent flaws. The results suggest that information specific to metal detecting is the most lacking, such as the selection of metal indications and fieldwork conditions. But there are also considerable flaws in more elementary information about surveys, which would probably never be accepted if it were a question of more traditional fieldwork methods.

(in English) This diploma thesis deals with coin finds and their contexts in church interiors in Bohemia. It evaluates this issue and methodology and puts emphasis on usage of metal detectors in archeology. Coin finds are divided according to their relevant locations to two categories - mass findings or single findings. The knowledge is then evaluated in terms of church interiors and also in wider context. For easier orientation, in the total context, a history of every mentioned church is drawn in connection with coin finds. Integral part of diploma thesis is a well arranged catalogue of coin finds in churches interiors in Bohemia. At the end, coin finds are evaluated from several different points of view.

The submitted archeological exploration of area associated with the important battle of the Hussite wars near Lipany on May 30, 1434 was primarily focussed on searching for material remains of this short military event. The project is essentially based on field research using the methodology of battlefield archaeology - the most often research approach concerning conflicts in the early modern history both in the Czech Republic and abroad. The field research was preceded by an analysis of written and iconographic sources relating to the Battle of Lipany and Hussite Wars and by a detailed study of historical maps. The detector prospection combined with targeting the findings by GPS coordinate method for more than four years brought approximately forty findings directly or chronologically related to the event being investigated. Most of them are small militaria (crossbow bullets, projectiles for firearms, spur fragments), the set is complemented by small coins and personal items. Findings related to the battle indicate a spatial relationship, they refer to some of the terrain sites that were the scene of different phases of the conflict. The exploration presumably managed to locate the place where the wagon fort of radical Hussite was situated, other sites indicate a relation to combat maneuvers...