Treasure hunting and metal detecting with Emma Shearman Smith
Metal detecting is a unique hobby that seems to ignite that childhood enthusiasm and thrill for finding buried treasure. People who begin metal detecting want to combine an interest in history and make a little money too or they might even strike gold and get rich. It is a rewarding pastime that is both enjoyable and educational and absolutely involves a great deal of science. Many of you may have seen the wonderful engaging series The Detectorists. The plot revolves around the lives, loves and metal-detecting ambitions of Andy and Lance, members of the Danebury Metal Detecting Club. It definitely demonstrates the gentle, relaxing and somewhat frustrating side to metal detecting, although the sun always seemed to be out which could not be further from the cold wet boggy fields I have on occasions found myself on! It’s totally true that the guys I detect with all seem to wear camouflage gear from head to toe and when asked why I was informed so their partners can’t see them when they leave the house! It seems as a hobbies go this has to be the most addictive and all you want to do is be in a field as often as you can. So sneaking out at the weekend rather than being with your nearest and dearest can be an issue! Getting started can be as relatively cheap or expensive as you want, although you do find you need more equipment than you would first imagine. Detectors range from under £100 to thousands of pounds but from experience it pays to spend as much as your budget can Staffordshire hoard afford; the more expensive Copyright Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery ones most definitely have the edge with accuracy and depth. You will also need a good light spade and I would highly recommend a pointer, which looks like a long carrot and will help pinpoint accurately the tiniest of finds, with some silver-hammered coins being as small as your finger nail! Joining local groups is a great way to access land and get to know likeminded detectorists; they are great at helping you get to grips with your new detector and how to use it. It’s very important to understand the laws and guidelines around metal detecting before you start, with permission from the landowner being an absolute. It is illegal to detect on any site of Scheduled Monuments, Sites of Special Scientific Interest or Ministry of Defence property without permission from the appropriate authority. But most beaches, whilst owned by the Crown, are open to anyone with a metal detector. The Treasure Act 1996 and its Code of Practice covers finds made which meet the definition of treasure. These can include finds made when digging in a garden or during construction work, and don’t forget if you are lucky enough to find something of significant value it must be shared with the land owner! Every detectorist must read and
George III gold guinea understand these regulations and know when and what to report to your local Finds Liaison Officer, affectionately known as FLO. There have been some amazing finds over the years by detectorists, including the Frome, Staffordshire and Seaton Down hoards. The Frome Hoard, found in 2012, was composed of 52,503 Roman coins that date from AD 253 to 305. Even more importantly the majority of the coins were made from silver or bronze. One of the most important features of this hoard was that it was ground coins issued by Carausius who ruled Britain between 286 and 293. This was the first Roman Emperor to strike coins in Britain. The hoard has been valued at £320,250. The Staffordshire Hoard detected in 2009 is the largest hoard of Anglo-Saxon gold that has ever been discovered. The hoard comprises 3,500 items that are virtually all military in nature. The artefacts have been dated to between the 7th and 8th centuries and come from the Anglo Saxon kingdom of Mercia. The quality of the workmanship is superb and is valued at approximately £3,285 million. The Seaton Down Hoard found in 2003 turned out to be one of the most important finds of Roman coins in UK 17thc Civil War musket balls history. Once they had continued >
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