and Peel Crags [Credit: Telegraph]
The fortification, a World Heritage Site, is being targeted by illegal digging, which has seen unregulated users of metal detectors cause damage to priceless archaeology.
English Heritage, the National Trust, Northumberland National Park Authority and police are now working together to identify perpetrators, fearing the “heritage crime” could cause untold and irreversible damage to one of Britain’s prime areas of archaeological importance.
The damage is understood to be caused by “nighthawking”; the illegal use of metal detectors by either unwitting amateurs bumbling through digs or unscrupulous thieves.
It is thought that a rise in so-called heritage crime has been fuelled in part by an increase in amateur detectorists, who believe they could find a treasure trove of gold or coins after seeing significant hauls such as the Staffordshire Hoard publicised.
The unregulated digs are now being investigated by experts, who say they cannot tolerate anything that “harms the appreciation of our collective heritage”.
They have already found turf pulled from the ground at Steel Rigg and Peel Crags at Hadrian's Wall in Northumberland, as would-be treasure hunters rake through the dirt to steal items which could have lain hidden since the Roman era.
Mark Harrison, English Heritage national crime advisor, said such incidents were caused by a “tiny minority” of detectorists, as he implored members of the public to come forward with information.
If the damage was a “genuine error” made by an amateur, he said, it would be “dealt with appropriately”.
"The practice of nighthawking, particularly from such important sites as Hadrian's Wall, is an issue that we take very seriously,” he said.
"We recognise that the majority of the metal detecting community comply with the laws and regulations relating to the discovery and recovery of objects from the land, but just as it is against the law to break into someone's house and steal their possessions, so it is illegal to damage land and steal valuable historical artefacts.
"The objects they are stealing belong to the landowner, in this case the National Trust, and the history they are stealing belongs to all of us."
Eric Wilton, National Trust countryside manager for Hadrian's Wall Country Group, which looks after over six miles and more than 700 archaeological features along the wall, said: "This is extremely damaging and it is a heritage crime.
“It is disappointing at a time when archaeologists and legitimate metal detectorists are working together more closely that this incident has occurred.
“The National Trust wants the public to enjoy its many and varied sites, such as these, but cannot tolerate illegal metal detecting that harms the appreciation of our collective heritage."
"We want people to be aware of what has happened and to contact us if they see anything suspicious."
Chris Jones, historic environment officer for Northumberland National Park, added: "The illegal removal of archaeological material is a serious offence. Such criminality has a damaging effect on people's ability to understand and enjoy the cultural heritage of the national park.”
The sites near to Hadrian’s Wall are legally protected as scheduled ancient monuments, and it is a criminal offence to use a metal detecting equipment without authorisation from English Heritage.
Patricia Birley, director of the Vindolanda Trust, which helps run organised excavations at a Roman fort nearby,said the “destructive activity” only served to “cheat ordinary interested people” by stripping away archaeological value.
Anyone with information is now urged to contact Northumbria Police.
Author: Hannah Furness | Source: Telegraph [February 11, 2015]