Metal Detecting and Treasure Hunting - I'm a Physical History Hunter -
Metal Detecting - I'm a Physical History Hunter -
This is my favourite little toy car that I've found - Circa 1930's.
Early in 2014 I found myself in a really dark depressed place after unfortunately, having a major breakdown. There were many triggers and reasons for this and I'd just been suppressing them all until they finally erupted into a volcanic collection of anxieties, self doubts and fear.
So the story continues, and I find myself sitting on my beloved safety net (the sofa) and settling down to this new programme on BBC4 called, 'Detectorists'. It was amazing! I didn't really know the first thing about this geeky, nerdy hobby and had only ever seen some old geezers walking across farmland, head down swinging a strange looking stick that resembled some kind of giant sink plunger.
And there I was, hooked, imagining the treasure that could be lost in the mud and wondering 'I need to get me one of these things and head out Treasure Hunting'
So I did. I logged onto 'everyone's' favourite place for bargains - EBay, and bought my first proper metal detector! Secondhand, well used but a total bargain at £200! I was so excited, I couldn't wait for the postman to deliver my new Tesoro Cortes treasure wand and pin-pointer.
I continued to indulge myself in Detectorists and set about Google to find out more. There were certain laws and regulations that I needed to abide by, and, with my job I cannot risk any kind of legalities etc. I bought very own NCMD - National Council For Metal Detecting licence for £8 and actually left the house! I'd not been out for weeks and I was finally feeling like I had some motivation. How weird? something that was totally foreign to me had got me excited for the fist time in months, got me out of the house and knocking on local landowners doors. The second farm I visited granted me indefinite permission to go digging on his 100 acres of land, as long as I made sure to fill all holes after I'd dug and, bought him a bottle of single malt Whiskey now and then. 'It's a deal' I said excitingly and trundled off home.
My new detector arrived a few days later and the rest they say, is history! literally, history.
My first finds from the back garden! Now I was really hooked!
Here's some information about the show 'Detectorists' if you fancy checking it out. You can also find it on good old YouTube too.
Detectorists is an absolute gem of TV treasure. This program first aired back in 2014 much to the delight of Metal Detectorists far and wide. For a while it seemed like there was never going to be a show that brilliantly depicts our much loved, and very popular hobby.Both stars Mackenzie Crook and Toby Jones are very well known actors who have starred in some huge blockbusters - Pirates Of The Caribbean (Crook) and The Hunger Games (Jones) are usually busy on other more glamorous Hollywood projects. So, especially as it’s written and directed by Crook I’m overjoyed they’ve made time for another series. Enjoy it people, as sadly this is due to be the last.
I try to get out digging and physical history hunting whenever I can. I've met loads of like minded and really passionate history hunters since starting this wonderful hobby, and also gained a huge bank of historical knowledge about the people that once graced these shores.
One of my first military finds was this Royal Marine Labour Corps badge.
I researched this for days, and had found myself in a rather unusual happier place? looking for clues of what it might be? I'm not really into wars and fighting being a pacifist but, I was really intrigued to what it could be...and Hey Presto! I found this info!
Here's some really interesting finds from the past few years, and some are even recorded with the Portable Antiquity Scheme, which enables other historians and Archaeologists to research their own finds and pieces of history that was once 'Lost In The Mud'.
This was found 5 miles from my home in a farmers field that had been ploughed and worked for the past 400 years!
It has now been recorded on the national database.
Unique ID:** DENO-C6E263
An incomplete lead alloy tablet of the Post Medieval period, dating from c. AD 1500 - c. AD 1700.
It is is part of a miniature horn-book showing the English alphabet. About 75 % of the rectangular tablet is present, the lower left corner is broken off. Any frame or handle that may have been fitted is missing. The letters are raised and the alphabet is split over four lines reading; A b c d e f / g h I k L m/ [n o] P q r s / [v] WXY
The letter J is not included, suggesting that the horn-book predates the publication of Charles Butler's English Grammar (1633) which first distinguished between I and J.
The letter Z is also missing (or not placed at the end.) As it is very uncommon in Latin, it was sometimes omitted from children's alphabets.
The reverse is blank except for a series of incised parallel lines running vertically from top to bottom, dividing the rectangle into seven more or less equal columns.
The object measures 33 mm by 41.5 mm and is 2 mm thick. It weighs 16.2 g.
Next is this Queen Victoria silver coin collection pair - One shilling 1866 and sixpence
Please note - Never clean coins with anything other than warm water and an old toothbrush as this can completely devalue them.
Here's a Sterling .925 silver bracelet that I found a while back. it was almost 10 inches deep in the middle of a field and came out looking like this after a gentle water bath.
I have not found out any info as of yet but I'm guessing 1920's possibly earlier.
This coin is a large gun money half-crown (or thirty pence, hence XXX above the crown) which was issued by James II from about June 1689 until May 1690.** **This issue was superseded in April 1690 by a smaller coin of similar design which lasted until October 1690. The later coins were struck in Limerick as the Dublin mint was captured after the Battle of the Boyne in July 1690 and closed.
A small collection of finds from the 11th -18th century
Here's another collection of finds from a few months ago.
This was 4 hours out walking and hunting with a group of fellow detectorists.
This was just a small selection from my large finds collection that I've ammased over the past 4 years.
I have so many finds that I could ramble on all day about them! I'll be sure to post some more blogs about my world of detecting over the spring and summer months as the weather warms.
Thanks for reading, commenting, up-voting and sharing.
I hope you found some value in my post.
Thanks
Darren
Nice post, and your recalling of how this new hobby helped you find your way out of the darkness, is really educational for others who aren't coping well with life and motivation. IMO, you have transformed, and now you have the will to never give up, and will fight through any obstacle life has in store for you. Amazing!
BTW, that bracelet looks PRIME! Peace, brother.
Thanks mate! It'd strange how random hobbies or events can change your perspective and outlook on life.
The bracelet is stunning.
Cheers
Darren
you know I started just looking into coin collecting and came by your post, I always thought the people looking around with those metal detectors are such dorks lol but you guys look like bad as mofos with the gear jk...heheh but now have an understanding why it is so addictive for you guys....best of luck hunting.
Cheers for checking out my post.
It's an amazing hobby that has taught me so much about the history of the British Isles.
Thanks
Darren
That's quite the cool collection! Those old coins are really fascinating!
Aren't they wonderful? My favourite is the 1690 gun money half crown and half cut penny.
They did that back in the early medieval period because, there wasn't any small change like we have nowadays. They even had cut quarters and also just little tiny pieces broken off as payment for everyday items.
Nice one man. I borrowed a metal detector once cos I lost my phone at the beach. Felt great having it in my hand. I felt like a Darlek from Dr Who..
I found my phone too :)
Cracking finds there. I love those types of programs and often find myself searching for the australians finding gold lumps!!
A great hobby on top of your music. Glad ya pulled through.
Peace.
Brilliant that you found ya phone man!
Isn't it a great feeling waving around that treasure wand? Check out the show Detectorists as it's a great watch.
Thanks again
Darren
This is pretty awesome Darren... I've considered getting into this hobby myself because I love the whole idea of digging up the past int he form of trinkets and coins (we have a coin collection).
Cheers mate! It's really exciting when you see that magical roundness in the hole! You gently remove the sod of earth and carefully extract your prize that's been sitting there waiting for you for the last few centuries. Then a whole other thought process starts! Who dropped it? How did they feel when they knew it was gone? Where did they work and live? So nostalgic man.
Cheers again for taking they time to have a look at this post.
I am a big history buff and found your article very interesting. It also made me aware of a television show I had not yet heard of.
I'm pleased you found some value in my post and am certain you'll really enjoy the show Detectorists!
Thanks
Darren
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wow good luck hunting, hoping you find more! :)
impressive findings!
You have made some amazing finds
The thrill of finding treasure takes us back to that wonderful and hopeful feeling of being a child.
Where I was living a couple of years ago was an amazing place to go hunting with and without a metal detector. It is a stones through from Cherokee Town and I have found so much crazy stuff.
Found tons of arrowheads and broken stone tools. Found a hand made pot that was in perfect condition that was buried in the side of the creek bank about 8 feet down from the top of the bank. I just barely saw something poking out when I was fixing one of the fences in the creek. Dug it out carefully and it was still in perfect condition. There is no telling how long that had been there.
Too much to list really. One of the coolest things was found when helping a neighboring farmer. He was plowing is field and got hung up on something. When we started digging it up it was a huge perfectly smooth stone that looked like a giant elongated egg. Throughout the day we found more of them from about the size of a football to stones that were to big to lift without the tractor. They were all exactly the same size ratio. That's what was so crazy. Also he has been farming the same land for about 50 years and never found these until now.
Does that bracelet you found not have a makers mark? I did a lot of research for my cousin's antique shop at one point and looked up several bracelets that looked similar. I could see if my cousin still has the info on all that old jewelry if you would like.
I'm looking forward to seeing more finds