#MuseumWeek

Wow, #MuseumWeek really snuck up on me! For those of you who don't know, it's a chance to celebrate the work of museums and galleries all over the UK, giving some fascinating insight into the inner workings of these amazing institutions. To get involved, head over to twitter and use the hashtag #MuseumWeek, where you'll find all sorts of great stuff going on!

Unfortunately for me, the real world of the day job has intruded, and I'm not going to get to visit anywhere exciting during the actual week itself, but didn't want to leave such an important event go unmarked here at the Heritage Hunter blog! So I'd like to share some of my pictures from the most-visited museum in the UK, the British Museum!

What started out as the private collection of the physician Sir Hans Sloane was made by act of parliament into the British Museum on 7 June 1753, and now numbers over 8 million objects within its archive. Here are some of those that I've enjoyed over the years:

So there you have it, just a small sampling of one of the finest museums the world has to offer! If you haven't yet been - shame on you! I can highly recommend it!

Amendments to the heritage bill

Evening everone!

As you may have seen, the Welsh Assembly Government has today opened consultation on the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites 1979 Act, with regard to the criminal offences and defences in sections 2, 28 and 42. 

The sections in question relate to work being carried out on historical monuments; to intentional damage or destruction, and to metal-detecting (another hot topic of late!). You can read the Act here. 

I would urge you all to make your views felt NOW - I have! 

Remember, we only have one historical environment, and it is irreplaceable. Any damage that is done to it can currently be excused because the person involved "didn't know" this was the case. However, ignorance of the law should never be an excuse. I believe the law already gives adequate protection to people who legally have a reason to, say, take a hammer to a historic site. Section 42 in particular appears to me to be giving undue protection to illegal metal-detecting. 

So go on, drop them an email now!