Public finds in 2025: regional patterns and developments in the use of metal detectors

Abstract

This article reviews archaeological finds reported by members of the public in Estonia in 2025, examining regional patterns and recent developments in recreational metal detecting and finds management. The overview includes 145 find spots, the lowest annual total since 2018, with 86 in northern, 37 in western and 22 in southern Estonia. Most finds date from the Late Iron Age onwards, while exceptional discoveries include an Early Bronze Age tutulus from Kojastu, a medieval gold ornament from Sutlepa and a late medieval smith’s hoard from Kobruvere. Only around 5% of the 1,395 search-permit holders reported finds of cultural value, and cases of delayed or misleading reporting and unauthorised excavation highlight continuing challenges to heritage protection. Cooperation with the Finnish Heritage Agency and the planned development of a new digital register aim to improve finds management, alongside the continuing need for timely reporting and effective cooperation between detectorists, archaeologists and heritage authorities.