METAL DETECTING IN THE UK
Everything you Need to Know!
There are many questions that we get asked time and time again here at Roman Found about metal detecting, and we can’t always do the answer justice in a reply to the comments. So if you have any burning questions about metal detecting in the UK, or maybe you’ve just started out and have received your first ever metal detector in the post, you could just be interested, fascinated and want to know more about what happens behind the scenes in the digging world of Roman Found. Then this is the article for you!
THE FINDS
Here in the UK we are very lucky that our hobby of metal detecting is so well supported. Unlike some other countries we have a government scheme that allows and encourages the recording of archaeological objects found by members of the public in England and Wales so they add to the archaeological record and don’t just sit in a drawer. This is called the Portable Antiquities Scheme and since its main introduction in 2003 over 1.5 million items have been recorded to date and all of these are made publicly available on its online database. We are self recorders as part of this scheme which means that most Fridays Ellie visits our local Finds Liaison Officer, an archaeology specialist that every county has, for a 2 hour session logging our latest finds onto the database.
To help with our recording and to protect the contextual data of our finds, everytime that we find something that we recognise as historic or of significance we record the location using the app What 3 Words. This records the location down to the nearest 3m. But recording the location of your finds doesn’t just have to be for the archaeologists. Knowing exactly where our finds have come up on our permission gives us a better understanding of just what we are finding and helps us spot patterns and figure out new areas to target based on other finds that we have found in that area.
One thing that we certainly don’t do with our finds is sell them. We are far too invested in their history to ever part with our finds and a lot of time spent after a dig is in the identification of the artefacts that we have found. For proper identification to happen this normally means the cleaning of our finds which can be a very controversial topic in the trade. We personally believe in removing nothing but the dirt from our finds and opt for a very gentle cleaning technique that involves distilled water and cotton buds, employing a dulled wooden toothpick if the dirt is very encrusted to gently remove the dirt whilst retaining that all important patina. The find has spent hundreds or thousands of years creating that patina so it’s important to respect it.
We use distilled water specifically as it contains no other chemicals that are present in tap water that could have an adverse reaction with sometimes the very delicate surface of our finds. We also sometimes use renaissance wax after a clean to seal the artefact and enhance its patina if it’s appropriate. This archival wax is removable and used by plenty of museums as well as being easily available through popular online shopping sites.
With everything clean, we get to do the fun bit! Identify them! For this it’s worth investing into a helpful resource library if you can. Books always trump the internet especially if they are about the niche that you are searching for and the vast breadth of the Roman Found library is often essential when it comes to identifying and researching our finds. If we have a grotty Roman Ellie knows exactly which book to pull that will identify it. If you are intrigued what treasures are lurking in our library then be sure to check out our article: ‘WHAT WE ARE READING THIS MONTH: ALL THINGS ROMAN’.
One small finds tip that we have if you are just starting out, is to never throw anything away until you are 100% certain on what it is. When we first started digging it was a long learning curve in being able to recognise artefacts out in the field. Some of those medieval artefacts can be rather obscure. So we clean everything and then ask a very important question. Does this look like it was made or used for anything? In fact in our very first bag of scrap lead our FLO found a medieval token and an ampulla fragment. The more you dig and come across these artefacts the better you will get at spotting and identifying them.
So cleaned, identified and recorded. If the find does not class as Treasure under the Treasure Act of 1996 then we get to keep it. If it does however class as treasure we legally have 14 days to report it to our FLO for it to go through the treasure process and we may not see it again for quite some time. We luckily have a good relationship with our landowner who lets us keep our finds, unless it’s the next Sutton Hoo we have been told! But the usual rule of thumb for most landowner relationships is a 50/50 value split which is the same as in the Treasure Act.
For the safekeeping of our finds we have the Roman Found finds cabinet which we picked up from an antique sale and inside everything is carefully labelled, stored and displayed. Each artefact has its own ID card where we have its period and use carefully written down, and we like to store our finds in a drawer for each field that they have come from as opposed to period. We do have big dreams of a full glass display cabinet for the future tho …
THE PERMISSIONS
Getting permission. Lots of people within the metal detecting hobby preach securing a permission before you even purchase any of the equipment because in the UK you need the landowners permission to legally start metal detecting and this is the hardest hurdle you have to leap upon entering the hobby. And we aren’t going to lie here, it isn't the easiest of tasks.
But the best way to start out is by reaching out to all and every contact that you have who may know somebody ,who knows somebody, who owns a little piece of land. You can’t be picky on exactly where you want to dig and to be truly honest artefacts are out there everywhere just waiting to be walked over. We actually first started in people’s back gardens and found all sorts of lost household treasures that really got us hooked!
There can also be plenty of success to be had by putting your big boots on and just going up and asking. A very daunting task and you have to be prepared for rejection, but just by going up, introducing yourself and explaining that you're looking for a place to metal detect can get you in the door if you ask the right farmer. Of course if this terrifies you, you can also try phoning up or sending a letter. We have had success over the phone before and every new connection opens up new doors and opportunities around because it can get easier once you get that first permission. It’s not all a struggle.
But it is incredibly important to work hard on your relationship with your landowner and farmers. They are essentially doing you a favour letting you on their land and it’s important to give back. We often pop over to our landowner for a cup of tea after a dig or to take the latest finds round to show. Complete transparency goes a very long way, as does chocolate at christmas or maybe a bottle. You will find that most farmers know each other so getting on good terms can help in putting a good word in for you on their mate Jim’s farm over the road. On this same note, out on your permission you will often come across members of the public and they are, more often than not, always intrigued by what you are doing so stop and talk to them! We’ve had offers of new land this way before and it helps people understand your intentions and get to know you better.
THE DETECTORS
So the Detector. Possibly the most important piece of equipment for metal detecting and there’s certainly a lot of choice out there on the market and it can feel incredibly daunting starting out and picking one. But there are a few metal detectors that we would recommend to those just starting out.
Our first ever detector was a Minelab Vanquish 340 which retails for £229 and that will always be top of our list and have a very special spot in our hearts. We still own and treasure our very first machine. You don’t need all the bells and whistles to find something, if it's there and you walk over it you'll find it. We found everything from gold to silver to roman with the Vanquish and it’s an excellent starter machine. But the Nokta Simplex that retails for £279 is also a firm choice, like the Vanquish, it’s an affordable multi frequency machine that offers a lot of user friendly features as well as being fully waterproof up to 5 metres, something that the Vanquish is unfortunately lacking.
We would recommend not going too deep into the wallet to start with and investing in a starter machine. Metal detectors don’t tend to lose too much of their value second hand so there is always the option of upgrading down the line. Which is exactly what we did going from the Minelab Vanquish to the Minelab Equinox 800. It’s also always handy to have a back up machine as well, especially one that’s geared for beginners if you want to introduce friends to the hobby. But if you do want one of the big guns metal detectors straight off the bat and go all in, then it is important to first establish where you are planning on mainly digging. Is it the beach, is it arable land or is it pasture? Different machines have their different strengths but here is what we would recommend for each of these different conditions.
For best performance on the beach the Nokta Legend is a solid choice, it retails for £689 and is an excellent multi frequency detector. It also comes with headphones and these Nokta Headphones are actually the ones that Lucie uses for our Minelab Equinox. They are just super comfy and the best pair we’ve ever used. On arable land, such as ploughed farmland, then the Deus II is meant to be king. Retailing at £1399 it does once again come with headphones, and we couldn’t recommend detecting with headphones more to really allow you to get into the zone and make the most out of your machine. On pasture the Minelab Equinox 800 like we have is a weapon. It retails for £899 and is our favourite machine. It has recently been upgraded by the Equinox 900 but we haven’t had any experience with one of these yet and it does retail for a little bit more at £1099. We also can’t forget the Nokta Legend here either, which performs really well on pasture and is a brilliant all rounder for its price.
Of course the metal detector isn’t the only equipment that you need to go digging but for the essentials so long as you have a good pinpointer which will help you locate the find in the hole, a spade for digging the hole and somewhere to put the finds you’re finding then you’re pretty much good to go. Some people will preach about the best pinpointers and spades too but we won't get into that, if you want a more in depth equipment guide then be sure to check out our article: ‘THE ROMAN FOUND GEAR LIST’. Instead we will just tell you what we love and use, which is the XP Mi4 Pinpointer and a £12 B&Q Spade. It doesn't always have to be expensive or complicated!
THE DIGGING
You’re all kitted out with the gear and the detector of your choosing and there’s only one thing left to do, and that is to get digging! Here at Roman Found we do things a little bit differently than the norm choosing to operate as one digging unit. Lucie finds the target, Ellie digs it, Lucie captures the content. It’s unique, it's a bit unusual out on a group dig but it’s our system and we don't mess with it. So find what works for you!
Generally out in the field as long as you stick to a few golden rules then you can’t really go too wrong. We fill all of our holes in, respect the land and take the trash that we dig with us leaving the location looking the same as when we first arrived. This helps us keep respect with the landowner and is just considerate metal detecting practice. Of course leaving the land as you found it can be a bit tricky on pasture but we do have a tip for that! The most important technique that you can learn is digging a 3 sided plug. It’s quite simple just cut a U shape out into the earth with your spade then the top of the U that you haven't cut acts as a handy hinge for levering the clod out of the ground with and is essential for placing that clod back exactly where it came from making minimal disturbance to the grass and it also doesn't cut off the flow of nutrients to that patch either so it won't leave a nasty brown spot in your wake.
On the note of digging holes we do also recommend wearing gloves, you never know what nasties could be hiding in the ground and you often only see us with our gloves off to handle a recently excavated find or to pick up a delicate artefact where better control is needed. For these delicate artefacts we only spray distilled water upon a find on the field if we are sure it won’t cause damage and will help with identification for the finds recording, all the careful cleaning should happen at home. An important part of digging practice is also knowing when to stop. If you believe you have come across something of historical significance such as a buried hoard or important artefact then the best thing to do is stop and get on the phone to FLO.
Some locations also prohibit metal detecting such as scheduled monuments and sites of specific interest so it is important to check before you get stuck in and dig those holes! Always check with the landowner and the online website historic england also has a helpful map and database that has every location logged.
But the most important thing is just to have fun! Feel free to be random and potter. Often people will preach the method of gridding and yes this is a tried and tested technique but so is following your heart and the vibes. It’s your time out in the fields and it's your time to enjoy it! Have fun and find the treasure!
