Here is an article that highlights how collectors, museums and archaeologists can co-exist and work together towards a common cause.
Dorset detector users and local Museum “highly commended” in archaeological awards.
Author:Ciorstaidh Hayward Trevarthen
Summary 
orset detector users and local Museum “highly commended” in archaeological awards
Content:
Dorset detector users and local Museum “highly commended” in archaeological awards
The Stour Valley Search and Recovery Club and the Priest’s House Museum and Garden, Wimborne Minster were highly commended in the Dorset Archaeological Awards on Friday (06/03/09).
For three years the Stour Valley Search and Recovery Club has been putting displays of finds recovered in the course of club members’s metal detecting activities into the Priest’s House Museum and Garden in Wimborne Minster. New groups of objects are put in at regular intervals and the finds are chosen, arranged and labelled by the club members in a dedicated case in the newly re-displayed archaeology gallery. The case is now a permanent fixture of the Museum’s archaeology displays, providing a varied and changing compliment to the more fixed display of material.
The club and the museum have developed an excellent partnership, providing the museum with a regularly changing display which encourages visitors to return to see what has been added. The aim is to have the case updated monthly to make it ever more interesting for local people and visitors to the area.
This is a fine example of community engagement and partnership working, demonstrating the benefits of liaison between museums, metal detectorists and the wider public.
The winner of the Dorset Archaeological Award 2009, for an outstanding contribution to archaeology in Dorset, was Dan Carter for his research into the Verwood Pottery industry, runner-up went to Martin Papworth for his PhD thesis “Deconstructing the Durotriges” and the “Farming in the Lym Valley Project” was also highly commended. The Ian Horsey Memorial Award for a significant personal contribution to archaeology in Dorset was presented to Trevor Steptoe. The awards were persented by Professor Mick Aston.
Contact: Ciorstaidh Hayward Trevarthen 01305 22492
Tags: metal detectorists, museums, PAS