UK based Metal Detecting Clubs
Do you want your detecting club listed here?
last updated 7th January 2008
Berkshire
Wessex Metal Detecting Association
website : http://geocities.com/SiliconValley/Monitor/7843/two.html
THE CONSERVATIVE CLUB at CHEAP STREET, NEWBURY. We meet at this very pleasant location on the first and third Tuesday of each month at 8.0pm. New members are always welcome both total beginners or fully experienced detectorists
Buckinghamshire
South Bucks Metal Detecting Club.
Dr.Andy Spragg. spragg.a@sky.com
Treasurer & Membership Secretary
Treetops,
Pinewood Road.
High Wycombe,
Bucks. HP12 4DD
Magiovinivm Milton Keynes Metal Detecting Club
website : http://www.magiovinivm.freeservers.com
membership is made up from both experienced and beginners to the hobby - they encourage newcomers and you will find their members friendly and willing to give advice to all.
Monthly meetings are held on the second Sunday of every month a the Roman Centre, 1 Constantine Way, Bancroft Park, Milton Keynes. at 7-30 pm.
Milton Keynes Searchers Metal Detecting Club
website : http://mysite.orange.co.uk/mksdetecting
Meet last Sunday of the month around 7.45pm in Milton Keynes
Please see our website for more details. The membership fee is subject to change and will be increasing in February. Details TBC.
Cambridgeshire
Phoenix Metal Detecting Club (Peterborough)
Meetings held last Thursday of each month 7.30pm for 8pm at Peterborough Sports and Social Club Lincoln Road.
Cambridge and East Cambs Metal Detectors Club
We meet on the first Wednesday of each month.
Contact Derek Fitch, the Chairman.
The club email address is cambsdetectors@aol.com
Cheshire
West Kirby Metal Detecting Club
We Meet On The First Thursday Of Every Month At 8pm ,at West Cheshire Sailing Club situated on Coastal Drive New Brighton Wirral
Contacts:
Phil Moy (Chairman)
Telehone No
0151 638 3450
Sarah Clarke (Secretary)
Telephone No
0151 604 0492
Crewe and Nantwich Metal Detecting Society
website : http://www.cnmds.freeservers.com
The club meets at the Wheatsheaf Hotel in Sandbach on the 4th Monday of the month at 8pm.We have 25 members.For full joining details email paul haslam at paulhaslam@hotmail.com
Vale Royal Metal Detecting Society (Cheshire)
website : http://www.moulton.demon.co.uk
We are a small club of some thirty or so members, whose interest is the hobby of metal detecting.We meet on the third Monday of the month at The Knights grange public house, Grange Lane Winsford Cheshire.
Cleveland
Cleveland Discoverers
website : http://www.fqm.me.uk/
The club meets in Redcar Library at 7.30pm. on the second Monday of each month.
Visitors are always welcome!
Cornwall
Kernow Search & Recovery Club Cornwall
Meetings every last Tuesday of the month 7ish at Hayle rugby Club.
Pretty laid back lot - anyone welcome to pop in and take look or join.
Find of the month, Club land when available.
Co Durham
FREEDOMSEARCHERS MDC
Freedomsearchers metal detecting club based in Darlington, County Durham
A newly established club covering North Yorkshire and north east of england .We have two digs per week mainly on Thursdays and Sundays. We have a limit of 25 members which is now been reached - anyone wishing to apply for membership can email the club at freedomsearchers@hotmail.co.uk and you will be notified by email as soon as a position arrises and will be kept on file .
thanks
THE MANAGMENT
Gateshead Detecting Society
Meetings held fortnightly on a thursday at the Gateshead Bowling Green Club.
Outings every sunday. domino cards, anywhere between 4-6 rallies a year, auctions and of course find of the month..
Ring Terry on O191 2530567 or email tp002c7840@blueyonder.co.uk
Tyneside Metal Detecting Association
website : http://www.tmda.co.uk
The club's meetings take place every two weeks at the Gateshead Bowling Green Club 10 Prince Consort Road Gateshead, on Monday nights at 7.30 pm. You are welcome to visit us, if you first contact the Secretary: Helga or the Chairman: Mel.
Quakers Acres Detecting Club
was established in 2004 by several experienced metal detectorists who wished to create a club that encompassed a limited membership, and whose patrons were genuinely interested in the historical aspect of the hobby and whom all would agree to operate within a strict set of professional guidelines.The club itself is based in Darlington, County Durham, and meets locally on a fortnightly basis with actual "digs" more or less arranged once a week for club members only.
contacts:
Lee Todd julee2@ntlworld.com
Treasurer Colin Henderson susan-colin@tiscali.co.uk
Cumbria
Kendal Detectors
website : http://www.kendaldetectors.co.uk
Kendal Detectors meets at 8PM on the last Thursday of each month, upstairs at the Cock and Dolphin pub in Kendal. If you are interested in Metal Detecting then you are very welcome to join us. For membership information please contact: boots@kendaldetectors.co.uk
Derbyshire
Chesterfield MDC
Contact (for details): Andy Morris by e-mail at andymorris001@hotmail.co.uk - ukdn forum name SQUONK
Club meets on the first Monday of each month (second Monday if first co-incides with a Bank Holiday) at:
The West End Hotel
Westthorpe Rd
Killamarsh
Sheffield
S21 1EU
Club meetings are often attended by the local FLO and occasional speakers / finds experts.
Club searches take place every 2-3 weeks.
Club membership is limited to 30.
Devon
South Hams MDC
Mike Long. 5 Coppice Wood Drive, Woolwell, Plymouth, Devon. PL6 7QN
email mike@mikelong.fsnet.co.uk
Torbay Metal Detecting Club
website : http://www.communigate.co.uk/twc/tmdc
The club meets on the 2nd Tuesday of every month at The Butchers Arms, Abbotskerswell, South Devon at 8 pm. Prospective members are assured of a warm welcome at any of our meetings or alternatively at one of the club searches.
East Devon MDC
Contact Nick Tucker 01395 232834
Monthly meetings at the Malsters Arms, Woodbury, Devon
Plymouth Detector Club
We meet on the 2nd Thursday of each month at 1930-2130 - venue is the British Railway Club, Mullet Road, Laira, Plymouth.
Potential new members are always welcome at our club, come down and see what is going on and if you like what you see then simply join our ever expanding club
Dorset
Weymouth and Portland Metal Detecting Club
website : http://www.wpdetectingclub.org.uk/
Meetings are held at 8:00 pm every third Monday of the month at Weymouth New Police Station, Radipole Lane (opposite Weymouth F.C.).
Membership is open to all responsible detectorists, who must abide by all club rules. An annual fee of £13.00 is payable on joining the club.
For further details please contact the following people:
Club Chairman: Paul Rainford
E-mail: paul.rainford@onetel.net
Club Secretary: Mike Apps
E-mail: michaelapps@yahoo.co.uk
East Yorkshire
The Metal Detecting Society Cottingham East Riding
NEW MEMBERS ARE ALWAYS WELCOME - For further details, please contact: Mr Barry Freeman of Cottingham Telephone: (01482) 843213
Bridlington metal detecting society
Meets at 1930hrs, first Wednesday of every month at the Black Lion, Bridlington old town, all welcome
Essex
Essex Detector Society
We meet on the third Monday each month at:
Hockley Community Centre
Westminster Drive
Hockley
Essex SS5 4XD
7:30pm (ish) to 10pm (ish)
As of November 2007, we are getting very close to membership limit.
Brentwood and District MD Club
Paul Shrubb, PRO, 21 Berry Close, Hornchurch, Essex RM12 6UB
meetings commence at 8pm on the 3rd Monday of every month at Pams Bar, The Essex Arms, Warley Hill, Brentwood, Essex (next to Brentwood Station)
Anyone with an interest in our activities is welcome to come along to their first meeting as our guest before they commit themselves to joining up as a member.
East Coast Searchers Club
website : http://www.eastcoastsearchers.co.uk/
jbar440236@aol.com
The club meets a Mistley Football club. second Monday of each month.
Club secretary is:
Glen (Ginger) Blake,
Tele 01206 251802
Colchester And District Metal Detecting and Artefact Club
website : http://www.colchestermetaldetecting.co.uk/
Meet on the first Friday of every month at the Arena Colchester at 8.00pm.
Club Secretary Maurice Rogers Tel 01206 734763 E- Mail maurice@beehive734.freeserve.co.uk
website administrator Roy Charlton E-Mail pjcrjc@colutd00.fsnet.co.uk
Gloucestershire
Taynton Metal Detecting Club
website :http://www.glevumdetecting.co.uk/
Club Meetings are held every two months.
We aim to have a minimum of one detecting outing a month.
Prizes for Best Finds between meetings and a special annual prize.
We now designate the first 3 people on the waiting list as 'Prospective Members' and they are allowed access to some club facilities ie: to digs for a small fee.
Loads of details on the website, plus pictures of finds.
Hertfordshire
Herts and District Metal Detecting Society
website : http://www.hdmds.co.uk
If you would like more information regards membership, please go to the membership page, where there is a simple form to submit to apply for details.
Isle Of Wight
Vectis Searchers Club (Isle of Wight)
Kent
Canterbury and District Searchers.(C.A.D.S)
Chairman: Neil Allen. - neil@cads1.wanadoo.co.uk
Folkestone Metal Detecting Club
website : http://www.masong.freeserve.co.uk/hp/md.html
No longer a members club, just a few friends who have a search together now and then
Mid Kent Metal Detecting Club
website : http://www.mid-kent-mdc.co.uk/
The Club meets every second Saturday of the month from 7.30pm. At:
St. Nicholas Church Hall, Poplar Grove, Allington, Maidstone , Kent .
We are a friendly club offering the benefits of regular monthly club meetings at which our members (who come from many areas all over Kent) benefit from information on club matters, (N.C.M.D) matters (both regionally and Nationally the club is affiliated to the National Council for Metal Detecting (N.C.M.D) and any members joining must be fully paid up members of this organisation which is at the forefront in protecting and fighting for the best interests of the hobby). The club also provide members with various other benefits including club rallies (where land is available), and during the course of the year Speakers who are invited to give talks on their specialist subject
New members welcome
Romney Marshland Metal Detecting Club
website :http://www.btinternet.com/~philip.waterhouse/default.html
currently our membership is 74 this being a mixture of Full, Associate and Honorary members.The Club meets on the second Wednesday of each month at The Clubhouse, Marlie Farm Holiday Village, Dymchurch Road, New Romney, Kent.
Swale Metal Detecting Club
We have, at present 32 members at all levels of ability and experience and we always welcome newcomers to join us in our fascinating hobby. Our catchment area is the Medway Towns which consist of: Rochester, Strood, Chatham and Rainham, but also include The Isle of Sheppey, and Sittingbourne. Most of our members are from the Medway Towns, although we meet in Sittingbourne, Kent.
Gloucestershire
Cotswold Heritage and Detecting Society
website : http://www.chadsdetecting.org.uk
Club meetings are held on the 1st Monday of each month (unless Bank Holiday) at the Exmouth Arms Public House, Bath Road, Cheltenham, Glos. Guests welcome on the night
Lancashire
Lune Valley MDC
Website http://lunevalley.no-ip.co.uk
Lune Valley M.D.C meetings are held on the first Tuesday of every month at the Lansil Golf Course Clubhouse, Caton Road, Lancaster. The meetings start at approx 7.30pm and lasts until approx 10.30pm.
Contact Information via our online submission form for membership info & club chairman.
- Meeting Events
- News Letter
- Raffles
- Finds of the Month
- Guest Speaker
- Rallies - Information
- Any other club business
- (twice yearly buffet)
Please come along to our meetings, enjoy friendly conversations with other members & discuss any detecting related issues, problems, hints n' tips,advice, how to clean & conserve your finds etc etc. Find out all the latest news about our hobby and how it might affect you in the future. A club is only as good as it's members and the effort that they put in. We need members like you !
West Lancs Metal Detecting Club
website : http://www.westlancs-mdc.co.uk
Based in Blackpool and meets monthly at the St Annes Rd Working Mens Club in Blackpool on the last Thursday of every month. Anybody wishing to join our Club or wanting information about the Club please email or turn up at a meeting
South Lancs and Cheshire Metal Detecting Club
website : http://www.slcmetaldetectingclub.co.uk
We now meet at the ROAB 78 The High Street, Runcorn WA7 1JH
Runcorn town centre on the 1st wednesday of the month
New Members still welcome.
The SLC is reputed to be one of the oldest and one of the more successful Detecting Clubs in the UK, and with membership now hovering around the 80 mark, we are probably one of the largest clubs too.
Preston Metal Detecting Club
website : http://www.treasure-seekers.org.uk/
Meetings: 3rd Monday of every month @ 8pm
Meeting held at "Celebrations", (bowling club)
Mornington Rd (off New Hall Lane)
Preston
Leicestershire
Hinckley Search Society
The Hinckley Search Society meet on the first Tuesday of every month at Westfield Community Centre in Hinckley. Currently there is a waiting list to become a detecting member and non-detecting members will be given first priority when vacancies occur in the new year.
Lincolnshire
Lindum Searchers Metal Detecting Club
No Meeting place, but digs take place every 2 to 3 weeks - web based so meetings will be sorted online or on the digs
£12 / year membership
Website: http://www.lindum-searchers.com
contact: Michael on 07986 680032
Wolds Historical Research Society
Meet at the George Hotel Spilsby every third Tuesday of every month
All things detecting including talks, detecting days etc. Relaxed atmosphere and good company. Prospective members welcome.
Secretary - Kev Woodward (01507) 534005 kevandjenn.woodward333@btinternet.com
Scunthorpe Metal Detecting Society
Welcome to the "Scunthorpe Metal Detecting Society". We are a small friendly club with around 30 members. We meet every second Monday of the month at the Flixborough Inn in the middle of the village of the same name, at 7.30pm.
Because of our close relationship with the North Lincolnshire Museum, where all our interesting finds are taken for recording under the "Portable Antiquities Scheme", we get several visits during the year from our F.L.O Lisa Staves and also Dr Kevin Leahy who present our members with some very interesting talks. We hold a raffle each month and also find of the month and every other week we hold a Sunday club dig and several club rallys in between.
For further information please contact Ken Jacobs (Chairman) on 01724-734236 or e.mail:- ken_n_jean@hotmail.com
Stamford and Spalding Search Club
website : http://www.metal-detecting.co.uk
If you are Interested in joining Stamford And Spalding Search Club E-mail: New.Member@Metal-Detecting.co.uk We hold a monthly meeting on the last Tuesday of the month at The Lady Anns Hotel. Our members represent a cross section of society. Many of our members have been detecting 15 years + . The Club has a maximum of 35 members.
Lincoln Historical Search Society.
Meet at the Cherry Tree Pub in Cherry Willingham on the 3rd Thursday of every month. Contact Chairman Chris Jones on 01529 413905 or pm BobHoe on UKDN
Nottinghamshire
Warsop Metal Detecting Society
website : http://www.warsopmds.co.uk/
has a fixed membership of 40. The society holds general meetings on a monthly basis, we welcome everyone who actively wishes to share their interests of this fascinating hobby.
Ashfield Metal Detecting Club
Website http://www.ashfield-mdclub.co.uk
Membership held at 30 members
Meet at the Rifle Volunteer Inn, Forest Road, Skegby, Sutton-in-Ashfield, Notts. NG17 3BL on the first Monday every month unless this is a Bank Holiday, then the following Monday.
email : webmaster@ashfield-mdclub.co.uk
Oxon
Phoenix Archaeology & Historic Group
website : http://www.phoenixarchaeology.co.uk/
We are an amateur group who wish to investigate as much land as possible in the area around Banbury (Oxon) in order to map out the land usage and settlement from prehistoric times to the present day. We do this by document research, field walking to recover items such as flint or pottery and, wherever possible, we use Metal Detectors to recover buckles, buttons and coins ets which are dateable evidence.
The items that are recovered are carefully cleaned, conserved and recorded. Objects of importance are then recorded with the Find's Liaison Officer for the area. This is all carried out in accordance with the Portable Antiquities Scheme.
Finds are then preserved by members of the society or placed in a museum in accordance with the landowners wishes. All information is recorded by area or farm and a copy of the file passed to the landowner. All our members work within our constitution rules and our health and safety policy, copies of which are available. The society and members are all insured with the Federation of Independent Detectorists, and have public liability insurance up to £5,000,000. Our group also offers a free search and recovery service to members of the public and farmers.
Our meetings are held every first Tuesday of the month at the Flowing Well Pub, Broughton Road, Banbury, Oxon and this includes talks and a chance to share information and discussion of finds.
Scotland
The Scottish Searchers
website : http://www.scottish-searchers.co.uk
A new Scottish club started in September 2007
We have two FREE digs per month
We don't have meetings as we know detectorists have busy life's so we have online meeting on our club forum. As a club we stick clearly to metal detecting as a fun pastime. Our members have years of experience in this hobby and have made some wonderful finds. to find out more please log on to our forum....link above or call Toddy Irvine on 01324876369 or e-mail sales@northernmetaldetectors.co.uk
We charge a yearly sub of £99 which has optional FID
Members 15
The Ayrshire Research and Detecting Group
The Ayrshire Research and Detecting Group was formed in 1980 and meets on the second Wednesday of the month at 7.30pm in Dreghorn Community Centre , near Irvine.
The meetings are very informal and last approx. one hour. There is one outing per month , usually on the Sunday following the meeting. Outings range from beaches to parks and can be anywhere between Dundee and Carlisle.
Usually two rallies are attended each year and these count towards the club championship which is held at the AGM in March. There is also a prize for the best site , best coin and artefact .
The club has 15 members and costs £10 per year to join. There are no other fees to pay but members are encouraged to join the FID to obtain insurance.
If anyone requires other information on the club or would like to join the secretary, Alan Leishman, can be contacted on 01294-466450 or audidoleish@btinternet.com
Highland Historical Search Society- Based Inverness
My name is Len Pentecost-Ingram, you may have seen me often in Treasure Hunting or Searcher in an ad for cordless headphones standing near Loch-Ness . I have been running the Highland Historical Search Society since 1988.
We are a fairly small club of around 25 and hold an evening meeting at Whites Electronics Inverness every other month, and have a club search once a month. We find much the same type of stuff as most clubs but far less amounts due to the low population in the past around these parts. We, also like many other clubs have been involved with "Two men in a trench" and "Time Team" and countless radio interviews/press features.
Some of the highlights in the past for me have been working with archaeologists on an ironage site and finding a hoard .
I caught the detecting "bug"way back in 87' and have never looked back I ,still always enjoy that exciting sense of the unknown every outing and so far have never got tired of this absolutely fascinating hobby.
Len
Scottish Artefact Recovery Group
website : http://www.sargclub.co.uk/
Contact : Lesley Sleith Club Chairwoman, 01698-458340
email Lesleysleith@blueyonder.co.uk
If you are interested in finding out about Metal Detecting or want to join, you would be most welcome to come to our Club meeting which takes place:- On the last Tuesday every month in the Bonnybridge Social Club in Bonnybridge Stirlingshire at 7.30 pm.
The Club is an affiliated member of the NCMD and the Scottish NCMD Region.
The Club consists of 40 members(2006)
We have Club digs once a Month organised by our site officer.
Club Syllabus in place showing all Club events and Speakers for the year, rules, contact numbers.
Monthly newsletter posted to all members.
The Scottish Detector Club
website : http://www.scottishdetectorclub.com/
is Scotland’s oldest established, founded in 1977.
The SDC meets on the first Monday of every month at 7.30 within the Ex- Servicemen’s Club, 7 Smith Place off Leith Walk, Edinburgh.
Everyone has a chance to air their views about the running of the club, and most of all, we have a lot of fun.
Currently, there are 39 members, and our meetings are very informal. We try to arrange outings to farmland on Sundays whenever sites are available, usually in the Lothians and Borders areas, sometimes in Fife. We have also done a lot of work over the past 2 years in East Lothian carrying out survey work for archaeologists at the sites of the Battle of Pinkie (1547) and Prestonpans (1745). The site of the Cromwellian battle at Dunbar (1650) is also scheduled for survey this year – all interesting stuff! Some of our members have appeared on ‘Time Team’ and ‘Two Men In A Trench’, so we think we have a good track record! The club also makes a point of attending a few metal detecting rallies in Yorkshire in August/September each year, and this season’s finds have been impressive, ranging through Roman, Saxon and medieval coinage and artefacts.
Membership runs from the A.G.M. in April until the end of March and currently costs £15 a year, £5 of this going towards NCMD membership and insurance.
If you are interested in joining the SDC, you will be made very welcome. Contact the Club Secretary, Alastair Hacket at: alastairhacket@blueyonder.co.uk
Secretary - Alastair Hacket - telephone 0131 447 5167
Shropshire
Mercia & Marches Metal Detecting Club.
Covers Shropshire and its borders including mid Wales.
Based around Shrewsbury .
Contact Mr Pete Jones email address: merciamarchesmdc@aol.com
Marches Metal Detectorists
meetings held at Stretton Hall Hotel, Shrewsbury Rd, All Stretton.
contact denise.gunn@btinternet.com for any further details.
South Yorkshire
Doncaster Detector and Collectors Club
website : http://doncasterdetectors.tripod.com
If you want to get in touch with us please email Vanessa at askiie@hotmail.com
Staffordshire
North Staffs Historical and Search Society
website : http://www.northstaffsdetecting.co.uk
Present membership in excess of 100. We meet at the Smallthorne Victory Club in Hanley Road, Smallthorne, Stoke-on-Trent on the second Monday of every month at 8-00pm.
Suffolk
Ipswich and District Detecting Club
We meet the last Tuesday of every month at the Whitehouse Community Centre, Limerick Close, Ipswich at 7.30pm.
Surrey
Camberley and Bagshot Metal Detecting Club
The club has a limit of 40 members (now fully subscribed) who come from Surrey, Hampshire and Berkshire. If you would like to be placed on the club waiting list, please email using the following link, including your phone number and address jrhodes31@ntlworld.com
Wales
Rhondda Artefacts & Research Enthusiasts
Website : http://www.freewebs.com/raremdclub/
Rhondda Artefacts & Research Enthusiasts club are currently based at Ferndale Rugby Club, Rhondda Cynon Taff. We are a warm and friendly club. We hold meetings every fortnight (see club meetings on website) and we welcome any new members to join our club.
Wrexham Metal Detecting Club
limited to a membership of 60 and are subject to a waiting list. We meet at the Community Centre, in Frances Avenue, Wrexham and start at 7:30 pm. You are welcome to come as a guest and chat to our long standing and experienced members, so why not come and visit us.
Wrexham Heritage Society
This is a new club recently formed in Wrexham, Wales. Membership limited to 25.
Contact Roy on 01978 352535 or Dave on 01691718878.
Meet on the 1st Monday of the month at Little Acton community centre.
Swansea Metal Detecting Club
website : http://www.geocities.com/capecanaveral/hall/2643
Swansea and surrounding area is rich in history as is most of the countryside around the UK.
By joining a club, you will share in the vast knowledge within the membership, pick up tips and receive help in identifiying some of those odd bits of metal you regularly find.For further information on our Club, when and where we meet and how to join, contact the Club Secretary
Cardiff Scan Club
website : http://www.cardiffscanclub.co.uk/
The club meets at 7.30pm every 2nd Wednesday of the month at the Cathays Liberal Club, Cathays Terrace, Cardiff - new members are welcome
Gwynedd Recovery and Search Society
website : http://www.grass.i12.com
We are centered in North West Wales but have members from as far away as Oswestry. Our main detecting areas are around Bangor and on the Isle of Anglesey but we like to travel to other areas when possible.
Pembrokeshire Prospectors Metal Detecting Club
website : http://www.pembsprospectors.co.uk
The Pembrokeshire Prospectors Society now meets at The Cricket Club, Dale Road, Haverfordwest on the first Thursday of the month at 8pm
The Historical Search Society (Mold) (North Wales)
website : http://www.geocities.com/hssmold
The original & best metal detecting club, which has been in existence since it's formation by 6 detecting enthusiasts in 1976 is based in the historical town of Mold, Flintshire, North Wales. U.K.
We currently have around 80 members, both men and women.
We meet on the second Friday in each month at St Mary's Church Hall, King Street, Mold. We try to arrange for speakers to give presentations whenever possible on appropriate subjects. A Find of the Month competition is held each month. Displays of members finds are also on show.
Meetings start at 7.30pm for 8 and usually finish around 9.45 to 10.00 pm.
Please feel free to visit us at any meeting without pressure or obligation, If you do visit please ask any member to be introduced to one of our committee members upon your arrival, you will be made most welcome. All our members are members of the National Council for Metal Detecting and are covered by Insurance for public liability for £5,000,000.
To attend our club outings you must be a member of the National Council and so hold the required insurance cover.
Our club Chair is George McKean. The Secretary is Anne Wilkes.
Warwickshire
Long Compton Archaeology Group
website : http://www.longcomptonarchaeology.co.uk
We are an amateur archaeology group which is part of the Compton District History Society. Our aim is to investigate as much land as possible in the area around Long Compton, Warwickshire in order to map out the land usage and settlement from prehistoric times to the present day.We do this by document research, excavations and field walking to recover items such as flint or pottery and, wherever possible, we use Metal Detectors to recover buckles, buttons and coins etc which are dateable evidence.
The items that are recovered are carefully cleaned, conserved and recorded. Objects of importance are then recorded with the Find's Liaison Officer for the area. This is all carried out in accordance with the Portable Antiquities Scheme.
Finds are then preserved by members of the society or placed in the village museum in accordance with the landowners wishes. All information is recorded by area or farm and a copy of the file passed to the landowner.All our members work within our constitution rules and our health and safety policy, copies of which are available to members. The society and members are all insured, including public liability
Our plan for 2008 is to excavate a double winged Roman Villa and Medieval site.
The group also offers a free search and recovery service to members of the public and farmers.Our meetings are held every second Wednesday of the month at Long, Compton Village Hall and this includes talks and a chance to share information and discussion of finds.
West Yorkshire
Wakefield District Relic Hunters
website : http://www.detectorpro.co.uk
we are a small detecting club, based in the Wakefield and Five Towns ( Pontefract, Featherstone, Normanton, Castleford and Knottingley) area of the West Riding of Yorkshire, Great Britain.We have a monthly meeting, usually the first Monday, to discuss finds, metal detecting issues and to generally have a good laugh. You can contact us via this email link for more information: info@detectorpro.co.uk
Two Dales Metal Detecting Club
Would be members of the Two Dales club go on a six month probationary period. During this period we ask you to attend three club meetings. The minimum time requirement to fullfil the Membership criteria is just three months, after which you can apply for full membership. We meet on the first Tuesday in the month at 7.30 pm in the " Old School Room" Addingham.
Worcestershire
Redditch and District Historical Detection Society
website :http://www.redditchhistoricaldetectionsociety.co.uk
contact Frank Wiley, 21 Penn Manor, Finstall, BROMSGROVE, Worcs
Secretary :- Mark Pugh
admin@redditchhistoricaldetectionsociety.co.uk
Comment [1]
Tags: metal detecting, metal detecting club, metal detecting rallies, metal detector, our past history, portable antiquities scheme, recording
PAS update 8th Dec
Is for the funding for the Portable Antiquities Scheme to be maintained.......
Not a lot to ask for really?
Are we saying goodbye to PAS ...........?
There has been a lot of speculation recently about PAS funding going forward - now things have taken a major turn for the worse
The funding for PAS comes from the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA) whose budget is being cut by 25% over the next three years. The DCMS, (although their ministers like PAS very much and are always happy to take the credit for its successes) have failed to ring fence their funding.
Roy Clare is clearly confirming that the budget is to be frozen next year at this year's level of £1.3 million, which means PAS would lose 5 posts. Most importantly this clearly contradicts what he said at the launch of the PAS Annual Report launch on the 22nd Nov, when he said in the presence of the Minister that funding for next year would be maintained at this year's levels and that "everyone's jobs would be safe".
So what has happened?
At a meeting of the Scheme's Advisory Group on Wednesday 4th December, the Chief Executive of MLA, Roy Clare announced that PAS funding for next year would be frozen at this year's level (£1.3 million), even though at the press conference for the PAS Annual Report he and the Minister (Margaret Hodge) announced that the funding for their current levels of activity would be preserved next year.
It's a big difference, as PAS need £1.49 million to keep going at the same level of activity next year.
Freezing the PAS budget will mean they will have to lose 5 posts out of 50.
5 less FLO’s in one fell swoop from March!
It gets worse!
On a more serious note, Roy Clare wants to review PAS's funding for 2009/11 and integrate them into the programme called Renaissance in the Regions which is funding 42 hub museums. This in effect means Mr Clare is getting rid of the PAS central Unit which includes Roger Bland, Michael Lewis, Dan Pett and others, which will basically mean the failure of the PAS.
We here - and the members at UKDN think if that happens the work of the FLOs will be diluted and the national side of PAS will be weakened. What could happen is 9 different regional PAS's, all with their own priorities/ standards/ and answering to bosses with different opinions and attitudes to detecting.
All this uncertainty must be incredibly damaging to the morale of the hard-working FLOs who at the moment don't know if they have a job after March.
The PAS will fail if it comes into contact with Roy Clare's Axe, if that happens then the hobby of detecting will suffer for sure. This is not some kind of scare tactic, but a straight forward, no punches pulled assessment of where things are going. If you don't believe me then buy a copy of the current British Archaeology and read page 7.
"In the week that it emerged the Government was soon to announce that the £150m Stonehenge roads and visitor project was to be scrapped, the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council said it planned to shed the Portable Antiquities Scheme's central unit, effectively initiating the scheme's end.
Angie Bolton, FLO for Warwickshire and Worcestershire, told British Archaeology that they could not do their job without the central unit. "We need the expertise of the finds advisor's", she said, "we need the database". Asked if the scheme would fall without the central unit, she replied, "Definite, yes. It will fold"."
So if that's how a senior FLO like Angie sees it then there's the evidence for the real threat to what you do each week legally. Let us say this loud and clear, that if the PAS fails then our hobby at some point after this event will be going the way of fox-hunting and the like.
What can we do?
In talking to people that matter we need to do get in touch with our MP's, in doing so we need to put some pressure on straight away. An early day motion is going before Parliament next week and we need to get this issue in the faces of those who represent us.
We need to be asking them to ring-fence the PAS funding and preserve the level of services they currently give in line with inflation. We also need to say that the MLA is now prejudicial to the PAS (they want shot of it) and that the best home for the PAS is in the British Museum. We'd like to encourage all responsible detectorists and UKDetectornet members to do the following to help preserve the PAS and to help ensure the very existence of our hobby.
Copy and paste the message at the end of this page and submit it to all 3 of the following people: email him at: Your MP You can do this online at: Rt Hon James Purnell MP, Secretary of State for Culture, Media &Sport Online here http://www.culture.gov.uk/global/ContactUs/ . There is a real fear amongst responsible detectorist's that if the Portable Antiquities Scheme is regionalised then finders will have a different service offered to them. This is why central co-ordination is essential to maintain the progress of the Scheme. We believe that the DCMS, from which all the money comes, needs to get involved and sort this out. We need to preserve the level of services PAS currently give in line with inflation. If necessary, DCMS should take PAS away from MLA and give it to an organisation that is really committed to the work of PAS and the ongoing relationship with responsible detectorists - for example, the British Museum. MLA is now prejudicial to the PAS (they want shot of it) - The long term future of the scheme will be safer in the hands of the British Museum than with the MLA. Roy Clare - Chief Executive, MLA
Please, please, please - give your help by lobbying the following people with this message - just copy and paste the text or change the wording to make it more personal:The Message
Before we had the Portable Antiquities Scheme, finds were largely not reported or recorded - How different things are now.
Increasing numbers of responsible detectorist's are now contributing in numbers to the most comprehensive database of its type in the world with over 300,000 finds now recorded.
Any cuts to the scheme could mean that the proactive way in which Portable Antiquities Scheme operates through its backbone of Finds Liaison Officers and the Central Unit will be severely curtailed - this will have a negative effect on the hobby of metal detecting and put us as responsible detectorists back to where we were a number of years ago.
The scheme has also had a significant role in the Treasure process which has made a vast difference to the sheer number of Treasure finds being reported - thus ensuring proper financial recognition for responsible detectorists who report finds.
It beggers belief that this lack of certainty over adequate funding for a National Scheme could ultimately jeopardise the progress made to date on building and maintaining relations with responsible detectorist's and promoting good practise.
end of message
Press Releases: http://www.mla.gov.uk/website/news/press_releases/post_csr_planning Notes Museums, Libraries and Archives council (MLA) is the government's agency for museums, galleries, libraries and archives. They are sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) The Portable Antiquities Scheme is led by MLA, who work in partnership with some 63 national, local authority and university organisations. It is funded through the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Department for Culture, Media & Sport and other partner organisations.
http://www.mla.gov.uk/website/news/press_releases/CSR_Renaissance_plus
Tags: "portable antiquities scheme" "portable antiquities" funding pas mla dcms
The Dvrobrivae Project August 2007
Detectorists at Water Newton Rally
A detailed report on the Water Newton rally can now be accessed on Scribd here
Background
Circumstances (i.e. That old devil called work!) have stopped me dead in my tracks as far as getting out and about detecting for a number of months now - so when I was given the opportunity to work alongside Badger and his team at the recent Water Newton rally I jumped at the chance to be involved.
Badger (David Connolly) had been invited to work alongside rally organiser Norman Smith to help ensure the rally went ahead in the face of opposition from a number of groups including the local county archaeological unit. To say they had to fight tooth and nail to achieve this would be an understatement.
Badger submitted a comprehensive project design detailing the way in which the archaeological team would record finds in the field using GPS, identification of the finds made at the rally and what would happen going forward including publication of the records made.
The archaeological team was made up of Badger and his partner Maggie, a troupe of young lady students from Newcastle University, a host of Portable Antiquities Scheme staff as well as other helpers.
The actual site of the rally was held in the small village of Chesterton - a short distance from Water Newton and the site of Roman Dvrobrivae.
How it worked
As rally members left the main marquee area on their way to the fields they were given zipped bags, pens and markers (initially coloured tags but quickly changed to re-usable pin flags as the GPS team had trouble finding the tags!)
The idea was when a find was made, it was popped into a numbered bag and retained by the finder. The spot where it was dug from was marked with a pin flag on which the finder had written the number from the bag.
The GPS team found these flags in the field and recorded them as the findspot – with the bag number as the id record.
When the finder then presented the finds bags at the Portable Antiquities desks the bag number was entered as part of the record – this will then be matched up against the GPS reading to ensure accurate find spot recording.
Sounds simple and it was!
Suzie Thomas from Newcastle Uni recording findspots on GPS
Who took part in recording?
Well - not everyone participated in recording (it was voluntary) – but many, many more did.
The sheer numbers of people attending (way over the 250 originally advised and including day attendees) meant that not everyone heard the PA system or understood the request for recording before the start – and a great many people don't think roman grots are worth recording too :) There were also people turning up on the day not knowing about the recording function taking place.
Walking around the field there were a number of people who didnt have bags and flags – but as many if not more did. It was encouraging that some people asked for extra to try and encourage the others around them to get involved too.
Was it worthwhile?
The proof will be in the pudding i.e Badgers final report, but I think the answer has to be a resounding “yes”!
The benefits of having an archaeological presence there were appreciated by the majority of detectorists and prove that we can work together where there is a will. That said, there is no reason why detectorists could not pull off a rally of this type without any archaeological input – it just requires the organisation of find spot recorders and an identification team to attend, do the recording and photography and the final records to be passed onto either the PAS or direct to the HERs.
I wonder however which is the easiest option? Id go for the professionals to make life simpler all round.
The local archaeological Unit visiting the rally
Teething problems
There were some teething problems, lessons to be learnt etc which Badger has taken on board and will be reflected in his report.
From a personal point of view some areas for consideration are:
When an event of this type takes place the attendees need to be fully briefed beforehand so they know what is expected if they choose to get involved.
- The PA system needs to be adequate to cope with the number of attendees at the rally.
- Bags and Flags are great from an recording standpoint but maybe some thought needs to be given as to how practical pin flags are for detectorists to carry about easily.
- Involve the local community. There were a steady tickle of visitors to the marquee during the event from the village who were curious to see what was happening on their doorstep and to discover what was found. Many had conversations with detectorists – no bad PR for our hobby. Badger is also returning to the village after his report has been written to give a talk to the locals about the event and the findings themselves. Its good to give something back to the local community.
- Finds cabinets – there were no finds cabinets in place for people to see what had been unearthed during the weekend. Given the relucatance of people to part with their finds it would be good for the images taken by the PAS to be shown in the evenings on a slide show on a laptop
- Involve some detectorists in the archaeological and findspot recording team – it helps break down barriers
- A smaller scale event would perhaps have been better – for no other reason than the logistics. Most of the above hic-cups would have been prevented if there was a more manageable number attending.
The good bits
This was first and foremost a detecting rally - not archaeology. You could say it was a “best of both worlds” rally where we all proved we could co-operate without getting in each others way. Most of us came away feeling that we had worked together as equals, that we got on with each other, we had respect for each other and that we all can learn from each other.
The rally was very much about sharing and caring for our history and heritage. The final report by Badger will tell a story – a true one at that! - of the landscape and the shadow of the people who walked this ground before us.
The rally detectorist's were shown in a good light – we were seen as people who care for our history and the importance of artefacts as much as any professional. As an added bonus BBC tv cameras were there to record it too to broadcast it to the nation.
Even my mum watched !
Lights, Camera, Action!
Links
British Archaeological Jobs Resource
Tags: bajr, british archaeological jobs resource, dvrobrivae, metal detecting, portable antiquities scheme, water newton
Standards in Detecting
If you follow a planned and structured approach to Metal Detecting, it not only shows you are responsible and serious about what you are doing, but also means you have thought about what you are doing and are dealing with a specific area with a purpose rather than random detecting.
If you then present the information both on the site and the finds in a professional manner, it will make it more relevant and also more useful to a wider audience of researchers. The detectorist (you!) will be playing an important part in the provision of information, conservation of the resource, finds, the site and the surrounding land.
You will also benefit from having a more intimate knowledge of the land you detect on, which could give you a better understanding of the continuity of use of the land over a period of time
This article has been written with the idea of helping you apply to detect on land farmed under the Countryside Stewardship agreement - but the ideal is a good standard for a detectorist to aspire to achieve.
Recommended Link : David Connollys excellent Short Guide to Field Survey, Field Walking and Detecting Survey
In a Nutshell
If you wish to detect on land currently under the Countryside Stewardship agreement you need to apply for a permit to do so from Natural England.
This is to make sure that where you detect, that high standards are maintained and that ‘responsible’ detectorist practices are followed.
This is the link to the Natural England website, although its still under development and a lot of info is still linked back to the founding bodies website - http://www.naturalengland.org.uk
The information required by Natural England is:
- A completed application form
- A copy of the agreement of the agreement holder and landowner, if different
- A map of the area to be surveyed
- Details of the purpose of the activity
- dates during which it will be undertaken
- Details of the methods to be used
- Details of the number of people involved
The permission is also granted to the farmer or agreement holder rather than the metal detectorist as it is the agreement holders responsibility to make sure that his agreement conditions are fulfilled. This permission is issued as a one year derogation so will need to be renewed .
If you are granted a permit to detect Natural England will insist you:
- Report all archaeological objects to the Finds Liaison Officer within three months of the discovery.
- Do not disturb ground nesting birds or other features of ecological significance - there may be time constraints on some sites to minimise this disturbance
- Record all findspots for all archaeological objects (including those outside of agreement land) to at least 100 m. square and show all findspots either on a map of at least 1:10,000 scale or provide GPS data.
- Follow the rules of the Treasure Act 1996 and its Code of Practice.
- Work on ground already disturbed and within the plough depth.
- Seek expert help if something large is discovered, or if you think that an artefact is still within its primary context
- Record and report all non metal finds i.e. pottery etc
- Adhere to the principles laid down in the Codes of Conduct of the NCMD and FID, whether a member or not.
- NCMD code: http://www.ncmd.co.uk/
- FID Code: http://fid.newbury.net//html/code.htm
The basic information in the plan should include:
A map outlining the extent of the land with scheduled sites, SSI’s or areas of known archaeological interest highlighted. Your local HER can help provide you with this information if needed.
What your intentions are towards the farm as a whole as well as any special areas already highlighted on the map
If the land includes a scheduled site then you should acknowledge this and indicate what safety no go zone you will leave around it.
If there is a known site of archaeological interest that is currently being ploughed you should specify if he wished to detect within this area.
If the land is part of a Natural England CSS agreement you should indicate that a permit has been given as well as outlining the reasons for wanting to detect this particular area. The reason may be to prove a particular theory or could be to conserve any remaining artefacts from potential agricultural damage.
Any known history of the site should also be included – here again your HER will be able to help with any known information
You should keep a diary of activity showing the times you have detected on the land and at what locations. It should also include finds made, when they were recorded, how they were preserved, where they are kept and any other relevant information.
You should include a copy of the detecting permission agreement of the agreement holder and also the landowner, if different.
Conservation of the site
Conservation of the site falls into two caterogies:
- Areas of archeological interest
- Structured methododical detecting has to be practised
Areas of archaeological interest
It is your responsibility to find out what if any parts of the land are scheduled, have SSSI’s or may have known areas of archaeological interest. Your local HER will be able to help provide this information
It is your responsibility that these areas are conserved and protected. Scheduled sites and SSSI’s should be respected as no-go areas. However there is potential for detecting on SSSI’s – you would need to ask the Conservation Officer dealing with this element of the application totalk to the regional Historic Environment Advisor
You should apply for a permit to detect any areas under CSS with the detecting plan included to support application.
In all areas good detecting practise must be followed at all times.
You should note if any land is under CSS for reasons other than archaeological activity and you should find out what other environmental considerations need to be made - for example are rare flora and fauna being protected? If so it is the responsibility of you to find out what care should be taken in those areas or whether they should be avoided
Structured methododical detecting
Have a disciplined approach to contextual indictors such as top soil and sub soil levels.
Record any indications of physical remains and if found, you should stop detecting until advise is sought from an archaeologist. You shouldn’t intrude into archaeological layers – detecting is the recovery of artefacts in context in the disturbed top soil
On random searches for scattered finds a looser approach to detecting can be practised, however you should take care to recognise contextual indicators and signs of physical remains
Conservation of the resource
Although it is impossible to place a definite figure on the number of artefacts present in any given location, it has to be noted that by the very nature of recovering the finds, the resource is being depleted through the removal of finds by detecting.
There are two ways of looking at this :
- A productive site where a track record of finds have already been made - perhaps there once a representative selection of finds has been made and recorded any further investigation of the site will lead to a depletion of the resource – should you stop?
- An unknown site or speculative field search where the depletion of the resource will not have a marked effect on a known site but could add positive information to other sites in the area and on a broader scale – carry on?
Conservation of the find
Once you have made a find has been made, its now your responsibility for the preservation and storage of the find.
You need to decide whether the preservation and storage is within your capabilities or whether professional advice or services should be sought.
Private ownership of the find is a political/ moral issue and is not the issue in question in this article. The safe keeping of the find is the main issue and you feel that the care of any particular artefact can be better served outside of your keeping, then this should be explored.
If you find you are able to provide suitable care for the find then this should not be an issue in the short term - However the long term custody of the find is an issue that needs to be considered.
Consideration of single finds and collections and their care after death for example, must be considered and arrangements made in advance. This needs to be recorded and there are several avenues open, Ownership may pass to a family member, a museum, or a private collection.
Conservation of Information
Conservation of the information that a find and its find spot may hold is every bit as important as the find itself.
Recording with PAS is essential at whatever level Structured Metal Detecting is practised.
For items or information that PAS will not deal with, its worth building a good rapport with the local HER – they will be interested in scatters of building materials, different colour of soil, non metallic finds like pottery or oyster shells associated with the metallic finds scatters or scatters of material with no metallic finds in association as well as flints/stone tools.
Findspots should be plotted with GPS equipment or NGR
Many thanks to Peter McCrone, Historic Environment Advisor with Natural England for his help with this article
Tags: metal detecting, metal detecting club, metal detecting rallies, metal detector, our past history, portable antiquities scheme, recording
Identify your finds
Cosmetic Grinders
Lead Cloth and Bag Seals
Identifying your finds
Trade Weights
Medieval Pot Mends
Those rings yet again!
Coins of Roman Britain 1st & 2nd century
Coins of Roman Britain - 3rd and 4th Centuries
Roman Brooches
Tags: metal detecting, metal detecting club, metal detecting rallies, metal detector, our past history, portable antiquities scheme, recording
Roman Brooches
Brooches weren't just for decoration - they were worn by both men and women to secure clothing and they were similar in their securing technique to modern safety pins.. They were normally made of bronze and were commonly decorated with coloured enamels.
Found by detectorist Dave Ollis
Brooches were already being worn by the native "British" before the Roman invasion, so a number of brooches of the Roman period show a mixture of both British and continental styles.
Most were mass produced - but they are rarely found intact by detectorists, usually at least the pin is missing. Most date to the 1st and 2nd century AD when brooches were fashionable - after the 2nd century the range and number reduce greatly - the only brooch of note to remain is the crossbow, which is seen as a marker of high status. The majority of brooches are of copper-alloy - Silver and gold are rare.
The forms can be split into three main types: safety pin/bow , plate or disc and pennannular.
Safety Pin/Bow-shapedTypes
There are two techniques of tensioning the pin - sprung and hinged. The Sprung Pin - This doesnt need to be as strongly built as the hinged pin as the sprung pin spreads the tension. These are the most common in Britain. The Hinged Pin - The pin swings on an axis and is restarined by a stop on its head.
Dolphin form
common in 1st and 2nd Centuries AD
Named this because it looks like a leaping dolphin. These are simple bow brooches although there are some later hinged examples. Both sprung and hinged forms are found in south and midland England , petering out in the north. They have a transverse head with short wings protecting the spring. In some cases the wings can be long and decorated. The bow which may have a beaded design along the back can be square, D-shaped or V-shaped. The catch plate is small
Aucissa type
Circa AD 50-65
These were imported by the Romans from the continent and are an early example of a hinged pin, sometimes on an iron axis. This brooch type was first made in Gaul during the first half of the 1st century AD, and appeared in Britain, c.AD 50.
There is sometimes the word avcissa or atgivios on the head of the brooch which is assumed to be the maker's name. This type is well known on military sites throughout Britain but seems to have been replaced by British made brooches.
Crossbow form
Circa early 3rd-4th century AD
This is the most complex of the Roman brooches. In the early verions the terminals were more bulbous and part of the bow and wing. In the fourth century the knobs became very large with some being screwed on. A hinged pin ran through the top of the bow holding the top knob in place.
The bow and catchplate could be elaborately decorated with incised patterns - ring and dot, lines, chevrons and spirals. They ahve been found made from most materials from bronze to gold, or gilded bronze. Crossbow brooches were common on the continent, but tended to be hollow, unlike the solid Romano-British types.
Fantail form
Circa 1st to mid 2nd century AD
This is named for its triangular foot. The most famous examples of these come from Greatchesters on Hadrians Wall an also ffrom Tre'r Ceiri, Caernarfonshire.
Trumpet form
Circa AD 45- 2nd century
This is named after the shape of its head which looks like a trumpet and is one of the best known brooch forms of the Romano-British period with the peak of production in the early 2nd century AD. The finest of these brooches were made of silver, sometimes gilt and they were normally worn in pairs. Surprisingly they are rarely found outside of Britain.
The earlier versions have simple waist-knobs with later versions having a waist-knob set between opposing acanthus leaves. These brooches were common in military areas especially in the north in the first half of the 2nd century.
Plate / Disc types
Plate/Disc types
2nd century to end of Roman Period
These were most popular during the 2nd century and there is a huge range of these brooches.
They are usually flat, but may have a domed centre.
They are often decorated with enamel, glass, silverwork or semi-prescious stones with colours that are normally red, blue, orange, green and yellow
Dragonesque
1st -3rd century
In the 1st century these consisted of a plain plate with two arms, one at the top for the hinge and another at the base to serve as the catchplate. They were usually enamelled, very colourful and the patterns were derived from "Celtic" art.
They are mainly found in Northern Britain but were exported as far away as Hungary, France and Germany.
Plate skeuomorphic
2nd-3rd century
These brooches imitate an object - most popular are daggers, axes, soles of shoes, phalluses, swastikas, cornucopiae, wheels and chatelaines. They probably served as amulets or lucky charms
Plate zoomorphic
2nd-3rd century
These were made in a number of designs such as dogs, hares, cockerels, dolphins, flies, birds, fish and horses. Animal brooches in particular are found on religious sites. Many horse and rider brooches have been found at temple sites indicating a cult significance.
Pennanular types
Pennanular
Iron age onwards - so difficult to date
A very common type - used for over 1000 years. They consist of a broken hoop with a pin folded over the rim that can swivel around. Terminals are sometimes folded over or pinched in with simple designs, or are highly decorated, sometimes fashioned into animal heads. Terminals with elaborate zoomorphic designs began in the last 2nd century becoming most popular in the 4th century.
They were made by casting or from a bent rod. The pins were made separately and are either humped or concave.
A roman pin is shorter than the saxon version
(To fasten a penannular push the pin through the fabric to be held, then flip the ring down so that the pin comes up through the gap, and then rotate the ring so as to hold the cloth on the pin.)
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Tags: metal detecting, metal detecting club, metal detecting rallies, metal detector, our past history, portable antiquities scheme, recording
Getting involved
Many responsible detectorists are actively involved in working with the Archaeological community in a diverse number of ways - from detecting on archaeological digs, giving talks and presentations on detecting, attending archaeological conferences, helping with displays at History Fairs and Museums plus many other areas.
The following are a flavour of the kind of activity undertaken with the Archaeological Community - more to come.
Tags: metal detecting, metal detecting club, metal detecting rallies, metal detector, our past history, portable antiquities scheme, recording
PAS Conference 2007
In April 2007 four of us like minded Essex detectorists spent two days at the British Museum at the annual Portable Antiquities Conference.
This year the theme of the conference was to demonstrate the impact that the Scheme and analysis of collected data, has made upon the archaeological world.
The speakers presented papers which clearly demonstrated the research being undertaken using PAS data and these talks covered the spectrum of periods recorded by the scheme.
The papers from this conference are to be published -and a number of the powerpoint presentations are available on the PAS website blog
Of all the papers presented, the one which really caught my imagination was Torksey: Finds from a Viking Winter Camp))suggest that the army and its followers were actively trading, using silver and gold bullion as well as coinage and engaged in some metalworking in copper and perhaps silver presented by Mark Blackburn from the Fitzwilliam museum and Finds Liaison Officer Rachel Atherton. This research on the finds which points towards a Viking Winter Camp has been the result of a large volume of detectorists finds. The Vikings had spent the winter of 872/873 at Torksey after campaigning the previous year. The finds from the site of the camp (including Arabic dirhams
The conference was a great opportunity to be able to talk to the other delegates as well as the speakers - there were a number of detectorists in the audience. Its also always a pleasure to meet up with the PAS folk themselves.
All in all an excellent couple of days - and a reminder of the benefit and value of recording your finds with PAS - we are in effect an unpaid army of recorders for the academic world who conducts this type of research - a point well made by one of the speakers.
Roll on 2008!
Some of the guest speakers at the Conference
Andrew Richardson and Laura McLean
Some of the PAS folk
Laura and Caroline
FLO Angie Bolton
Tags: metal detecting, metal detecting club, metal detecting rallies, metal detector, our past history, portable antiquities scheme, recording
Getting Started
Some pages to help you on your way to responsible metal detecting
Tags: metal detecting, metal detecting club, metal detecting rallies, metal detector, our past history, portable antiquities scheme, recording
What are you throwing away?
a cautionary tale from a detectorist
Its easy to just chuck away what you might think of as junk - but many detectorists also keep all their finds - including items they havent got a clue what they are and are unaware of what the object represents. The following article written by "Sukisal" brings home an important message..........
This find has been recorded with the Portable Antiquities Scheme and was subsequently submitted to Mark Hassell who is a Reader in the Archaeology of the Roman Provinces at University College London. Finds of this nature are submitted by Sally Worrell, Finds Adviser: Prehistoric & Roman Artefacts to Britannia and produced by The Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies.
Sukisal's Story.....
Linda and I had recently been given permission to search a known Roman Villa site. I will just add that permission had been given to a couple, and they had been very regular visitors to this site for a few weeks previous to our first foray. This site has also been regularly detected in the past when it was in different ownership.
We were going to spend all day on this site, which was large, had quite a steep slope to it, and had two woods either side of it.
We spied many holes from the 'other ones'. and did not find much really at all. Loads of lead, a lot of it just dropped back onto the field as junk by them.
We went back to my car for a cuppa and a bite to eat, as we were chatting we were comparing finds, a few grots, and with a sigh we both cursed all the lead we were digging up.
I was just showing Linda a folded flat piece, when something stopped me chucking it in our waste bin, I could see an 'X' scratched into it. I said to Linda " is it me or has this got some sort of writing on it?" We both looked closer and could make out a few more scratched marks. I said "ooh, I think I will keep that and have a closer look at home".
Well I later showed it to someone else who said that it could be important, and could have more writing inside the fold. He took it away and very carefully opened it for me. He rung me up later very excited and said there indeed was more writing and clearer as it had been protected from the elements on the inside.
I handed it over to my Finds Liaison Officer and the rest is in the Portable Antiquities database report on the link here. (This link tells you what the object is - and its rarity and importance)
I will just add again, please look at your lead very carefully, I could so easily have chucked this tatty bit of important history. I do think that the detectorists on there had, in all probability chucked this piece back onto the field, if not I know they would have done so if they had dug it up.
I think by the very nature of what these are made of, that this is the reason they are so rare, I bet you many have been discarded as rubbish.
The Find
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Tags: metal detecting, metal detecting club, metal detecting rallies, metal detector, our past history, portable antiquities scheme, recording
Record your finds with PAS
Tags: metal detecting, metal detecting club, metal detecting rallies, metal detector, our past history, portable antiquities scheme, recording
Treasure in the Field
by Mary Chester-Kadwell
photo by Alan Radley
(Mary uses PAS data from detectorists in her research at Cambridge University)
First published in the Streetwise magazine with the theme of 'treasure', December 2004
Metal-detecting started to become a popular hobby in the 1970s when lighter and less expensive machines became available. Since then it has become a pastime that enthrals all ages, including children who go out detecting with their families at the weekend, and retired people enjoying the exercise and excitement through the week. At the moment there are probably about 30,000 active detector users in England. That's a lot of people, and a lot of finds - probably about 400,000 a year!
Finds can be from almost any period in history when they had metal. This means you could find a lead shot ball (from a gun) from 300 years ago, a Roman coin from 2000 years ago, or even a rare Bronze Age axe head from 3000 years ago! The main problem is telling this exciting treasure from all the rubbish, because the soil is stuffed full of bits of agricultural machinery and rusty iron nails. Luckily, that's quite easy to do because most metal-detectors have what's called a 'discriminator' which can tell whether the metal is iron, bronze, or even gold. But despite that, metal-detecting isn't really about treasure in the usual sense. It isn't all gold jewellery and pieces of eight.
Most of the things that detectorists find are broken, rusty or corroded, and quite small, but that doesn't mean they have little value. All finds have the potential to tell us about where people lived or were buried in the past, what they were doing and why. Artefacts may also be beautiful because of the quality of the craftsmanship or fascinating because they are very different from the modern objects we are used to seeing today. As with many things, the value is in the eye of the beholder.
Metal-detecting is quite easy to do. It's possible to buy a metal-detector for as little as £100, though the most expensive ones can be anything up to £800. You just have to have a lot of patience and a strong arm because you might be waving the detector over the land for hours! The hard part is getting permission to use someone's land, because without that permission you're breaking the law. In fact, during the 1980s, there was a massive campaign to make metal-detecting completely illegal, as it is in many other countries. This is because some archaeologists considered metal-detecting to be 'stealing heritage', and they even suggested detectorists were 'pillagers'.
It is still true that some people raid fields and even archaeological sites with metal-detectors in the middle of the night, leaving giant holes, and stealing objects. It is very difficult to know how many of these people there are, but they probably number in the thousands. Only a few are ever caught and brought to justice. However there are also many law-abiding detector users who enjoy the discovery of ancient artefacts, learning about history, and having fun together.
All this fuss in the 1980s eventually lead to the Treasure Act in 1996 which, among other things, set up the Portable Antiquities Scheme to make it easier for the law-abiding detectorists to report their objects. There is a Portable Antiquities Scheme Officer for each county, and they borrow objects for recording, making a description and a photograph or drawing available on their online database: www.finds.org.uk. This site can be searched by anyone - try it! This means that everyone can have a chance to enjoy the objects, rather just the person who found it. What happens to the artefacts is then up to the owner, but at least some of the information about the objects will be saved for future generations, because once these finds are gone, they will never be replaced.
It's thought that in about 30 years time, those archaeological sites that are currently in ploughed fields will be gone, churned up in the soil, scattered and broken down into tiny pieces. No more treasure. The past will be lost. So in a way, the law-abiding metal-detectorists are doing everyone a favour by recovering the artefacts that would otherwise be ploughed away. Some of the most dedicated detector users even work closely with archaeologists to uncover sites such as Anglo-Saxon cemeteries from 1500 years ago in order that they can be properly looked at and recorded. It's such a shame that, as with all things that promise gold, there will always be those who are only interested in how much they can sell the objects for and will willingly destroy sites to get at them. By stealing these objects they prevent other people from enjoying them. The thieves are so preoccupied with treasure and financial value they forget that other people treasure and value these objects too.
Mary Chester Kadwell website and information
Tags: metal detecting, metal detecting club, metal detecting rallies, metal detector, our past history, portable antiquities scheme, recording
Metal Detecting Clubs
There are some advantages for those who join a club - although you may question the need to do so.
A number of detectorists are fully independant and prefer their own company. A number would also find it difficult to attend meetings, functions etc because of other commitments.
Metal Detecting clubs have members from a wide variety of backgrounds and age groups and at all levels of ability and experience .
For those who choose to join a club, monthly Club meetings are an essential part of club life, it is during these meetings that members are kept up to date on all areas of club life, including what is happening within the hobby at a national level. The benifits of membership are normally access to club sites, club library, club outings and "find of the Month" competitions which often lead to the " Find of the Year" contest
A number of clubs will negotiate for club sites with farmers and landowners to have access to land, enabling members to enjoy a days detecting on a new site.
Each month all the members are asked to bring along their best coins and finds to the meeting, and to submit them for entry to the Find of the Month competitions
From time to time, guest speakers are invited to talk to the club members on a wide variety of topics. The type of speakers could be Archaeologists, Bomb Disposal Officers, Manufacturers of metal detectors, Local historians, coin collectors etc
A lot of clubs have waiting lists.
The standard and quality of detecting clubs vary greatly - from the very good to the downright boring and un-informative - it's worth asking around on the online forums guidance.
Tags: metal detecting, metal detecting club, metal detecting rallies, metal detector, our past history, portable antiquities scheme, recording
Young Archaeologists Club
Terry and I joined up with Young Archaeologists' Club - Colchester Branch in May 2006 to help them in their quest to find a long lost farmhouse. The youngsters spent their time doing a geofizz survey, metal detecting, learning how to use GPS for recording findspots, and some field/hedge walking - everyone had a go at everything
It was good fun, totally rewarding - and it's encouraging to see how enthusiastic these youngsters are.
Tags: metal detecting, metal detecting club, metal detecting rallies, metal detector, our past history, portable antiquities scheme, recording
Essex History Fair 2006
Terry, John and I were at the Essex History Fare in July 2006 which was held in Braintree town centre. We were in a group of three local detectorists and the Essex Finds Liaison Officer , Caroline McDonald who had been asked by Robert Rose of Braintree Museum to host a display for the day.
The objective for the day was to let people see and touch finds made in the areas of Kelvedon (by Terry and myself), and for Castle Hedingham and Sible Hedingham.(By detectorist Jon Adkin)
Our first port of call after setting up the stands, tables and finds pit was to sneak upstairs in the museum to see the display of finds made by members of the public - which included a very unusual gold phallus (a must see !!)
After that it was back to the tables for John and me and into the finds pit for Terry.
Terry was kept busy all day long with his detector and trowel in the find pit we had for the children - they were able detect for badges and coins in the finds pit which also contained large sherds of real roman pottery.
We all had a great time and really enjoyed ourselves - and I think our visitors did too
Information board on our Kelvedon finds
Terry at the sand pit
More customers!
FLO Caroline McDonald talks to a visitor
Terry and John admire the finds
One of the PAS information boards on display
Tags: metal detecting, metal detecting club, metal detecting rallies, metal detector, our past history, portable antiquities scheme, recording
My Treasure Diary
In August 2005, less than a year after starting metal detecting I was lucky enough to find my very first Treasure Item. This is the story and diary of my journey through the Treasure Act for a very small but very important piece of gold........
