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Crow's Nest owners looking into who said 175 relic hunters could dig on land. Date published: 10/31/2006
By MEGHANN COTTER
The owners of Crow’s Nest are looking into who gave nearly 175 relic hunters permission to search for buried history on their land this weekend. The treasure seekers carrying metal detectors and shovels came on Friday from as far as Alabama, California and Illinois, thinking their three-day Grand National Relic Shootout had been authorized. But landowner K&M Properties of McLean, who denied knowing anything about the event, had police escort the group off the 3,230-acre tract that evening. Shootout organizers told police that a previous caretaker of the peninsula accepted money and signed a contract allowing them to be there. Attorney Clark Leming, who represents K&M, said the person the relic hunters named also has denied any knowledge about the event. The Sheriff’s Office is still investigating the situation. The gate locks at the peninsula’s entrance were scheduled to be changed yesterday. K&M plans to inspect the land for any damage. Leming said the relic group has promised to produce the contract and proof that each participant paid $200 to attend. That information will help K&M decide whether to take legal action. Leming called the relic hunters “innocent third parties,” and said the issue is now between his client and the person who agreed to allow use of the land. Relic hunting is legal on anyone’s property as long as the landowner gives permission. Stafford County spokesperson Cathy Riddle said code administrators have no reason to believe the group disturbed enough land to require any permits. Organizers have held the Grand National Relic Shootout in other places around the country for the past nine years, with nothing more than a landowner’s permission. Event organizers also appear to have navigated around the twist in their weekend plans. Conversations on a message board at thetreasuredepot.com indicated the group spent Saturday and Sunday searching and digging near Waugh Point in King George. Larry Cissna, a founder and committee chairman of the relic hunting organization, declined to comment when reached by cell phone Sunday. Many people who left messages online said they were disappointed that the event met with roadblocks, but were impressed with how quickly organizers executed a backup plan. Others defended their hobby, saying they never intended to do anything illegal. Some people hunt relics to sell them, they say. But many do so for personal or public collections, displaying them in museums or using them to aid preservation and historical efforts. “Many people work hard to put on these events in an ethical and responsible manner. We have a difficult road ahead of us and there are many groups and individuals that will continue to stand in our way,” wrote “Panther Mike” of Charlotte, N.C. “The ironic thing is that many of the relics on public display are there as a direct result of the relic hunter and common metal detecting hobbyist and without their participation much of our lost history would continue to stay lost forever.” To reach MEGHANN COTTER: 540/374-5434 mcotter@freelancestar.com
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