Pieterjan Deckers is assistant professor in the Historical Archaeology of NW Europe at KU Leuven. His research broadly concerns the material culture of medieval communities around the North Sea. His exploration of detector finds as a key source of information focused his attention on the individuals who discover and collect these artefacts. He is particularly interested in how policy and professional practice can productively enhance the scientific valorization and effective management of finds and sites uncovered by avocational heritage practitioners.