Metal detecting buddy.

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nosferatu
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Metal detecting buddy.

Postby nosferatu » Sun Jun 14, 2015 3:19 pm

Is there anybody in the Hastings area who wants to get together for a few hours detecting? I don't have any farmland sites, but there's always the beach and Camber and I have permission for a large wooded area with Roman history.

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moonjiver
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Location: St Leonards-on-Sea

Re: Metal detecting buddy.

Postby moonjiver » Tue Jun 16, 2015 11:39 am

I pricked up my ears (or eyes!) when I saw this. Never done metal detecting before and at the moment I am quite busy trying to organise some events.

But I studied classics years ago, did some archaeological digsin Kent and Surrey. For a while was making a collection of Roman pottery and coins! In London once I made a study of the Roman Wall, spent hours following the line of it and bits which are still visible above ground. All that stuff is irresistibly fascinating to me.

If you think there is a strong possibility of some Roman remains buried somewhere locally, I would like to hear more. Have you had much luck with finding things so far?

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moonjiver
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Re: Metal detecting buddy.

Postby moonjiver » Thu Jun 18, 2015 1:03 pm

Clearly no exciting Roman discoveries here so far! I have noticed that quite a number of Forum posters don't trouble with the courtesy of a reply or a thank you when people respond to their enquiries ..

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Richard
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Re: Metal detecting buddy.

Postby Richard » Thu Jun 18, 2015 2:26 pm

I'd be very interested but am tied up for a few weeks.
Not sure what model of detector is best or perhaps Amazon has recommendations, but nothing cheap is any good, I suspect.
You do see people on the beach with detectors but I think they are looking for any stuff dropped by tourists.
Perhaps there are fields which can be searched after permissions as I wouldn't want to be chased off by angry farmers, though some groups go searching at night to avoid detection.

It is possible to find silver coins from the realm of King John (silver cross) which would be exciting, just by poking around in the ground almost anywhere.

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moonjiver
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Re: Metal detecting buddy.

Postby moonjiver » Fri Jun 19, 2015 1:41 pm

Becuause coins were so often buried in times of trouble (or simply got lost), they have often been found in all sorts of places and metal detecting seems to have been a very effective way of turning these up again. But why King John especially?! I think all kinds of things turn up, mediaeval certainly but Roman, Celtic if you are lucky ..

It's a bit hit and miss but, if searching is done in an area where other ancient remains are suspected (bits of settlements etc.), then the possibilities suddenly get really intetesting. That's why it occurred to me that my knowledge of the past combined with someone else's metal detector could be a powerful partnership.

I think I'll keep that idea for the future - when I'm too tired to do much beyond some enjoyable tramping around in the countryside!

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nosferatu
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Re: Metal detecting buddy.

Postby nosferatu » Fri Jun 19, 2015 7:19 pm

Hi, moonjiver. Apologies for not replying sooner. I've only found one Roman coin so far. That was in Brede High Wood and was from around the year 364 AD. I have permission to detect anywhere in the wood and intend to spend more time there...when I have the time! I did find a Mediaeval sixpence in the field at the bottom of my garden some years back and I feel there's more Mediaeval remains there, but the farm has changed hands and the new owner is not friendly. There's got to be many landowners who would like to know what's under their fields but unfortunately some detectorists have given the hobby a bad name and many farmers aren't keen on giving permission. I'm a member of the National Council for Metal Detecting and that provides public liability insurance plus a code of conduct that we're expected to adhere to. As regards the best detector, that depends on your budget and where intend to use it. Some machines are better on the beach and others better on soil. I use a C-Scope model and find it's a good general machine for all sites. Plus C-Scope are based in Ashford so handy to get to if you need them at all. It's a great way of passing a few hours wandering up and down the beach digging up a few coins and chatting to passersby. I'm still after somebody to buddy up with, so, anybody who's keen, drop me a reply.

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moonjiver
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Re: Metal detecting buddy.

Postby moonjiver » Fri Jun 19, 2015 8:25 pm

Well, that's really interesting. Did you get an opinion on the Roman coin and get it dated? AD364 was not that long after Constantine the Great's time! Besides the areas you have been looking at, there is of course what might be the PROPER site of the Battle of Hastings - do you know about all the research done on that? Can't at this moment remember the name of the guy who has presented a very convincing case for the historians having located the battle completely erroneously.

Some bits of weapons etc. have already been unearthed on the alternative battle site - now if your detector could turn up some more potential "evidence", that might really set the cat amongst the pigeons ..

I'd like to have a chat with you some time, maybe look over some maps. Maybe Richard might like to contribute some brain power .. ? At the moment I am working flat out trying to organise an indoor market but early August I'll be more free. Send me a PM if you would likw to keep in touch.

Atleast keep posting on 1066 if you have any more thoughts or any news! It's very relevant indeed to the locality!

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Gerry Glyde
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Re: Metal detecting buddy.

Postby Gerry Glyde » Sat Jun 20, 2015 2:50 pm

Time Team's researchers placed the battle as being around A269/2100 junction. There was a programme on it about a year ago.

You never know a Saxon hoard may be found like the one about 2 years ago in the Midlands , but you may have to dig up the road!

TanLew213
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Re: Metal detecting HELP

Postby TanLew213 » Fri Mar 04, 2016 4:46 pm

Hello fellow metal detectors,
Myself and my husband are new to metal detecting and are in hastings for the weekend. We have a crown permit and have bought our detectors along with us. We were hoping to get some advice on where to detect on the beach or perhaps bexhill etc. Any info would be greatly appreciated :) We look forward to hearing from somebody. :)

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Geoff
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Re: Metal detecting HELP

Postby Geoff » Sun May 08, 2016 2:34 am

TanLew213 wrote:Hello fellow metal detectors,
Myself and my husband are new to metal detecting and are in hastings for the weekend. We have a crown permit and have bought our detectors along with us. We were hoping to get some advice on where to detect on the beach or perhaps bexhill etc. Any info would be greatly appreciated :) We look forward to hearing from somebody. :)


To be completely honest here, if I was a into "tecting" and knew a good spot the last thing I would want to do is share my findings with someone else. I think most detectors will work alone, and understandably so.


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