Metal Detecting in Russia

Russian heritage legislation reserves the use of metal detectors to locate archaeological sites or objects to archaeological fieldwork conducted under an official permit, known as an open sheet. A landowner’s agreement does not replace that permit. The Criminal Code also addresses unauthorised searching or removal of archaeological objects that damages or destroys a cultural layer, with detector use treated as an aggravating circumstance. This should not be simplified into a statement that every detector search is prohibited, or that searching for anything less than 100 years old is automatically allowed. For modern losses, obtain specific guidance about the location, activity and applicable restrictions before searching.