Main dataset of the MetDect project

Abstract

This dataset contains data collected and organised at Tallinn University, as a part of the MetDect project ("Metal-detected past: a study of long-term developments in settlement patterns, technology and visual culture on the example of metal-detector finds from Estonia" funded by the European Commission, Grant Agreement ID: 101003387). The main dataset contains information on metal-dected artefacts found in Estonia and identified by local archaeologists in the form of expert opinions (EH for short). Each record corresponds to one artefact, regardless of its condition (e.g. fragmented, burnt) or determination (e.g. unidentifiable), as long as it is recorded in the EH. Information is provided on artefact types, dates, contexts and general location. The MetDect dataset contains nearly 42,000 records. Sensitive information (excat location information) is not publicly available. The supplementary dataset shows how the EH-s are systematised for the main dataset. The number of EH-s is almost 800 and all EH-s were completed between 2013-2021.