More than a Hobby: How Metal Detectors Aid in the Search for Missing Service Members

On this episode of Discover the Truth, a podcast by Garrett Metal Detectors, host Tyler Kern talked with Danny Keay, Conflict Archaeologist and retired US Army, about conflict archaeology and metal detecting in Germany.

Conflict archaeology is a new subfield in the world of anthropology. According to Keay, it used to be known as battlefield archaeology, but that term was restrictive, as the assumption was that it referred to just the battlefield. Academics that focus on this area of study don’t focus on just modern war. They also focus on older conflicts, including wars that were fought in the stone age.

“They changed the name to conflict archaeology to encompass, for instance, construction sites, factory sites, prisoner of war camps, areas where soldiers rested or camped out – it includes the whole aspect of war, not just the battlefield,” Keay said.

Currently located in Germany, Keay said metal detecting is borderline illegal because of the number of explosives in the ground. It is something that has always been frowned upon, but the majority of people didn’t say anything about it.

Over the past 10 years, the laws have changed, however. Anything that’s older than 50 years is considered a national monument or a heritage site. If you want to metal detect, and the state archaeological agencies do not license you, you’re doing it illegally.

“Of course, we’re talking about a country that has, starting in 1944, heavy conflict, heavy land battles and heavy aviation battles,” Keay said. “You have crash sites all throughout Germany as early as 1939.”

Listen to hear more about metal detecting and conflict archaeology.

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Twitter – @MarketScale
Facebook – facebook.com/marketscale
LinkedIn – linkedin.com/company/marketscale

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Image

Latest

startup accelerator
Why Culture, Conscious Capitalism, and Purpose Beyond Profit Are Essential to Startup Accelerator Scalability
October 6, 2025

As the startup ecosystem continues to evolve, pitch competitions and startup accelerators are shaping the way founders connect with investors and communities. According to the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor data, U.S. entrepreneurial activity climbed to a record 19% in 2024—the highest level ever reported—highlighting just how fertile the ground is for platforms like CodeLaunch. This…

Read More
accounting
Building Careers, Balancing Life: A CFO’s Journey from Public Accounting to Pipeline Construction
October 1, 2025

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that employment of accountants and auditors will grow by about 5 percent between 2024 and 2034. That growth is fueled by a combination of factors: companies facing increasingly complex regulatory requirements, an expanding economy that requires financial oversight at every level, and ongoing retirements and career shifts that…

Read More
future of healthcare
Leading Through Change: Dr. Kevin Stevenson on Workforce, Innovation, and the Future of Healthcare
October 1, 2025

Healthcare is at a critical turning point, where staffing pressures, shrinking reimbursements, and rising patient expectations are reshaping the future of healthcare. According to the AACN Nursing Workforce Fact Sheet, the federal government projects more than 203,000 new registered nurse positions will be created annually from 2021 to 2031, reflecting high demand from an…

Read More
Non-traditional students
Holistic Support in Higher Ed: Why Non-Traditional Students Need More Than Just Financial Aid
October 1, 2025

Non-traditional students—adult learners, student parents, veterans, and first-generation college-goers—are carrying heavier burdens than ever. Upswing’s 2024 Ana Insights Report found that nearly nine in ten students intended to complete a FAFSA application, while many also sought help with essentials like food, housing, and bill payments. Perhaps most concerning, students expressed declining confidence in higher…

Read More