Is metal dectecting a harmless hobby or looting? [Video]

Mike Guarascia, the host of the “Metal Detecting Museum,” with some of the items in his relics collection in 2022.

An upcoming exhibition of relics unearthed by local metal-detecting enthusiasts is becoming a flashpoint in tensions between the hobbyists and professional archeologists.

Collections from 20 area detectorists will be on display and hundreds of people are expected to attend the one-day show.

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Detectorists displayed their collections of relics on tables at the crowded Metal Detecting Museum popup in January 2023.

Trevor Denman photo

Mike Guarascia, who calls himself Mike Relics and is the host of the popup Metal Detecting Museum, demonstrates his metal detecting equipment in 2020.

Mark McNeil photo

A display from the inaugural Metal Detecting Museum pop up on Jan. 28, 2023.

Trevor Denman photo

A display of found items at the inaugural Metal Detecting Museum pop up on Jan. 28, 2023.

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