UK | Gangs of looters with metal detectors damaging many historic sites, officials say

Criminal gangs of “nighthawk” metal detectorists are stealing the country’s history in a spate of illegal excavations at some of Britain’s most important sites, experts have claimed.

Since December scores of pits have been dug overnight at sites including the field of the Battle of Hastings in Sussex and Old Sarum in Wiltshire, provoking fury from archaeologists and site custodians.

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/gangs-of-detectorists-plunder-nations-historic-sites-at-night-tn7qtmwxj