The page on eBay which apparently offers archaeological records for sale to the highest bidder.
Archaeologists and heritage experts yesterday voiced their concerns about the sale of sets of archaeological records on Internet auction site eBay.
Sets of over 300 cards containing references to finds and sites of archaeological interest in Durham, Lancashire and Nottinghamshire have already been sold, and another set covering Cumbria is still under auction.
The cards are being sold as having come from the filing system of a retired archaeologist and as providing information "invaluable to anyone researching into Cumberland/Cumbria's ancient history, or as a guide to finding more productive metal detecting sites".
This has led experts to question whether these could be official Site Monument Records (SMRs), which are held by local authorities and feature detailed information on excavations, location and finds.
Their concern is that whoever buys the cards may use the information to plunder archaeological sites, potentially causing irrevocable damage.
Keeper of Archaeology at Doncaster Museum and Art Gallery, Peter Robinson, told the 24 Hour Museum that if the cards are genuine and are truly being put up for sale by an archaeologist, it would be professionally unethical.
"I do think it’s an outrageous thing for an archaeologist to do," said Peter. "Perhaps if it was an ordinary member of the public I would still have been concerned, but it is someone who has been in the profession and understands the complications and issues around information on our historical environment."
"It just seems a bizarre thing for someone from that fraternity to do," he added. "It goes against professional ethics."
People can go on the site, explained Peter, "knowing full well that no-one will know who you are". The implication, he suggests, is that those not looking to use the cards in the right way would be attracted by the anonymity.
This gold cup was found by an amateur archaeologist in 2001, correctly reported to the Portable Antiquities Scheme and is now part of the collection at the British Museum, but how many treasures are found and just sold off?
However, Peter did point out that SMRs are public documents, which can be accessed by anyone and other experts have suggested that this sort of information should be freely available anyway.
This point is backed up by Richard Newman, County Archaeologist for Cumbria, who told the 24 Hour Museum that while it is a worry these cards could be used in the wrong way, people can get the information through official sources.
"It is a concern," said Richard, "but it isn’t difficult for people to get hold of this information if they know the system and it’s very difficult for us to prevent that happening."
Although the cards are said to cover archaeological sites in Cumbria, Richard doesn’t think that they are necessarily SMRs from his authority.
"I suspect that if they are the real thing they are ancient, because we are certainly not missing any information," he said.
He has managed to contact the vendor who told him that the cards were obtained during the clearance of a house formerly owned by a retired, possibly deceased, archaeologist/archivist.
Whatever their provenance, the cards open up a wider discussion of the way Internet auction sites such as eBay can be used in the trade of cultural artefacts.
Michael Lewis of the Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS), the Government funded project that records archaeological objects found by the public, explained how his organisation is working with eBay to work out a mutually acceptable way to monitor trade in archaeological material.
"There has been a concern from archaeologists and metal detectorists alike about the quantity of objects that are sold on eBay," said Michael.
This lower palaeolithic handaxe was discovered as part of a garden wall in Suffolk and reported to the Portable Antiquities Scheme.
A series of meetings between the PAS, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, members of the All-Party Parliamentary Archaeology Group and eBay have been held to try to find out the best way to prevent illegal sales.
It is currently illegal to sell archaeological objects obtained without the permission of a landowner or from a scheduled ancient monument and items of treasure (as defined under the Treasure Act 1997). If objects sold are under the lawful ownership of the vendor there is nothing the law can do.
While eBay terms and conditions forbid the sale of items if that sale breaches any local laws, the company acts only as a venue for a sale and cannot therefore guarantee an object is what the vendor says it is.
If something is reported as being on sale illegally then it can be taken down and it is hoped that negotiations will result in a set of guidelines being agreed between eBay and the PAS.
In the meantime bidding for the Cumbrian archaeological records is open until 22.15 on August 10.
As far as Michael Lewis is concerned, if they did get into the wrong hands it could be potentially damaging.
"It’s a bit worrying to see these sorts of cards online," he said. "We don’t know the nature of them, but presuming they are full data site records you’ve got location information, but also personal information."
"We all know that there is a criminal element out there," he added. "The trouble with archaeological sites is that there is no way of policing them."
