What to Do With Metal-Detecting Finds

A practical triage system for trash, modern coins, identifiable property, archaeological objects, weapons, ordnance and possible human remains.

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01Make safeDo not handle ordnance, firearms, needles or possible human remains.

02Record contextPhotograph in place and save coordinates privately before moving uncertain finds.

03ClassifySeparate trash, ordinary modern finds, identifiable property and protected material.

04Report or conserveFollow the land manager and lost-property rules before cleaning.

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Bottom line

Classify the find before cleaning, keeping or posting it—ownership and safety depend on what it is and where it was found

The wrong first action can erase archaeological context, damage value, expose a private owner or create a safety hazard. Record the location privately and use a stop-and-report workflow for anything potentially protected or dangerous.

Important: General information only—not legal advice. Verify the current property rule and applicable law before detecting, digging, keeping or transferring a find.

Detailed guidance

What matters in practice

Ordinary modern finds

Remove sharp trash safely. For common coins or unidentifiable low-value objects, follow the written property policy. Identifiable jewelry, phones, tagged items and higher-value property may require surrender or a found-property report.

Historical or archaeological material

Leave it in place, photograph without disturbing it and contact the responsible land manager or state archaeologist. Never publish exact coordinates before protection is arranged.

Hazardous discoveries

For possible ordnance, do not touch, move or mark directly beside it; retreat and call emergency authorities. For possible human remains, stop, secure distance and contact law enforcement.

FAQ

Seven questions specific to this page

Should I clean every coin immediately?

No. Cleaning can destroy numismatic or archaeological value; identify the material and context first.

What should I do with a class ring?

Record where it was found and make a reasonable owner-search or found-property report without publishing identifying details.

Can I keep jewelry found on public land?

Not automatically; agency policy and state lost-property law can require reporting or surrender.

Should I post an old find with GPS coordinates?

No. Public coordinates can expose a sensitive site to looting.

What if I uncover ammunition or a shell?

Do not touch it; back away, keep others clear and contact emergency authorities.

How should possible human remains be handled?

Stop immediately, do not disturb the area and call local law enforcement or the coroner.

What information should I record?

Date, private coordinates, property manager, depth, orientation and in-place overview and close photographs.

Choose equipment for the actual site and target

Verify the current model, package, rules and recovery method before committing.

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