02/07/2026
Press Release
DESTRUCTIVE ‘NIGHTHAWKING’ AT CAISTOR ROMAN TOWN REPORTED TO POLICE DURING ASB AWARENESS WEEK
Sadly, yesterday, we reported an incident of ‘nighthawking’ (illegal metal detecting) at Caistor Roman Town to the police.
The incident coincides with national Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) Awareness Week. The Trust is highlighting the case to raise awareness of the permanent damage that illegal metal detecting causes to protected heritage sites.
Several unauthorised excavation holes were discovered on the 120-acre scheduled monument.
Natalie Butler, Director of the Norfolk Archaeological Trust, said:
"This is a damaging act of vandalism that impacts a publicly accessible historic site. The real loss here is the history that has been permanently taken away. Once the archaeological context is disturbed by unauthorised digging, that information is lost forever. It is a sad loss for the local community and anyone who values our shared heritage."
Caistor Roman Town is a Scheduled Monument, and unauthorised metal detecting is a criminal offence under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979.
