Who's got a metal detector then ?

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Shewie

Mod
Dec 15, 2005
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Yorkshire
I've always fancied one as a kid but never got round to buying one.

Any regular detectorists (sp) on here ?

Ever found anything interesting ?
 
Ive been detecting for 15+ years now..I absolutley love it.Ive learnt loads about my local history and wider from researching my finds.
Found anything intresting?Lets see, Bronze age palstave, spear, two bronze knives..iron age gold stater, roman denarii, roman brooches, medieval religeous objects, hammered silver coins, a chache of live 50 cal ammunition from 1942!!(still finding them although i avoid the area)Neolithic polished flint axes and arrowheads..i could go on.Ive also found abound 5-6 unrecorded sites dating from the Bronzeage through to saxon/medieval.

Your in a good area around where you are so if you can get permission you could do well.
As for detector.. i use a Tesoro Cortes.Its a good machine.any other q's about searching and ill be happy to help.Pity you arent closer or you could have a go here.

*i should also point out that every single piece of metal i find gets recorded as per the P.A.S.*
 
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That's quite a haul Nige

There's just something about finding those places where nobody's tried before. Getting about in the canoe I end up at some cracking spots, I sometimes sit there wondering what has gone on here before. Having a toy to play with would be a great way to spend a few hours.

Any compact sporty models to look out for ?
 
Theres so many to choose from.Depends what you want from it..Try a look at the two mags in newsagents:Treasure hunting or The searcher.plenty of ads and reviews.
The tesoro silver sabre is a good one.I started out with that model, sorta approching mid range in price, lightweight and definitly compact and easy to use.
id invest in a strong magnet as well, all those rivers and lakes you go on..
 
hmm, try these :D

dowsingrods.jpg
 
<archaeologist>Grrr metal detectorists...</archaeologist>

You're only jealous cos we find good stuff!:rolleyes:

Dont forget the hundreds of responsible searchers that have a genuine intrest in history and finding the past.And the ones who faithfully take all their objects for recording at the museums.

That last Saxon hoard discovered?Metal detector.Grr indeed.
And i wont mention all the 1000's of coins and artefacts previously unknown found by detectorists.

:mad:
 
That last Saxon hoard discovered?Metal detector.Grr indeed.
And i wont mention all the 1000's of coins and artefacts previously unknown found by detectorists.

:mad:

Last I remember the iron age coin registry had about 20 known examples before the advent of metal detecting... As Launditch says it's increased no end thanks to the effort of metal detectorists registering what they find.

Rich, if you want to give it a go I've got an old tesoro sidewinder tucked away somewhere you're free to borrow. It's a nice simple machine to use and I found some nice bits with it. Just let me know :)
 
Oh aye, plenty of important finds made by metal detectorists, no denying that. The PAS has done very well. As always though it's a matter of the responsible ones vs. the less scrupulous ones. Perhaps someone could invent a shovel that stops you digging through stratigrify? :p
 
Perhaps someone could invent a shovel that stops you digging through stratigrify? :p

Sorry, that one doesn't wash. :rolleyes:

Most detectors can't find stuff much deeper than 8"-10" and farmers plough a lot deeper than that so where's the damage to context? Added to that I've seen archaeologists use JCBs and mini diggers to take off the topsoil to get down to the level they want to investigate. :rolleyes:
 
Rich, if you want to give it a go I've got an old tesoro sidewinder tucked away somewhere you're free to borrow. It's a nice simple machine to use and I found some nice bits with it. Just let me know :)


I might just take you up on that one day Steve :)
 
There lies the problem.Whatever hobby or intrest folk persue there will always be the ones who dont play fair..
Ive got no worries about digging into stratigrify as my sites are on farmland that has been ploughed(mechanically)for at least the last 50 years, even deeper in more recent times.
Most of the thing ive found have been within the top 4-5in of soil.Depends on the size/shape and what type of metal the object is.
 

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