Every detectorist knows the feeling of packing up at the end of a long day with nothing but ring pulls and a sore back to show for it. Andy Crammond and Alan Daniels knew it better than most. The two Scottish mates had been detecting together for years and, by their own admission, always came … Read more
Every now and then a find comes along that reminds you exactly why we put up with the wet fields, ring pulls, shotgun caps and endless bloody moo tubes. The Bickmarsh Hoard is definitely one of those finds. Sixty-three coins, more than 1,100 years old, found in a Worcestershire field by a group of ordinary … Read more
Most of us have had one of those flat days. Another walk, another field, the coil swinging back and forth over ground that seems determined to give you nothing but ring-pulls, shotgun caps and bits of scrap. That is more or less how metal detectorist Kevin Houghton described the day that eventually led to something … Read more
Quick answer: A Finds Liaison Officer, usually shortened to FLO, is an archaeologist who helps identify and record archaeological objects discovered by members of the public. They are the main point of contact for detectorists who want to record an important find or report something that may qualify as Treasure. You can use our Finds … Read more
If you have ever daydreamed about your coil passing over a field and lighting up with signal after signal after signal, the Great Baddow Hoard is the daydream made real. All 935 gold coins have finally gone on public display at the Museum of Chelmsford, and it is officially the largest hoard of Iron Age … Read more
I love stories like this one, because it’s exactly the kind of thing that happens to detectorists all over the world and most of the time nobody outside the hobby ever hears about it. A Norwegian detectorist called Morten Eek dug up what he assumed was a scruffy old button, chucked it in a tray … Read more
The quick answer The biggest beginner metal detecting mistakes are detecting without permission, buying the wrong detector, running sensitivity too high, swinging too fast, digging messy holes, leaving rubbish behind, cleaning finds too aggressively, not recording find spots, ignoring the law, and expecting every outing to produce treasure. The honest version: Most beginner mistakes come … Read more
The quick answer Metal detecting is a hobby where you use a metal detector to search for buried or hidden metal objects. Detectorists may find coins, buttons, buckles, jewellery, tokens, military items, farm objects, lead, scrap metal, and occasionally historically important artefacts. In plain English: Metal detecting is basically a treasure hunt, history lesson and … Read more
The quick answer You do not generally need metal detecting insurance by law in the UK. But if you are serious about the hobby, you should strongly consider getting it. My honest answer: Insurance is cheap and provided with the NCMD membership, sensible, helps with landowner permission, and many clubs or organised digs may expect … Read more
The quick answer To identify a metal detecting find, photograph it clearly, record where it was found, measure it, weigh it if possible, note the material, shape, decoration and any marks, then compare it with trusted sources such as the Portable Antiquities Scheme database, coin catalogues, specialist find websites, books, forums, AI tools and your … Read more
