The definition of metal detecting.

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Filed under: Articles, General — Norfolk Wolf

In all the time that I have spent metal detecting, whether it be for pleasure or work; I have always been at a loss in how to define or categorise it. A hobby? To me this conjures up tubes of glue and a model air-plane kit, I don’t think so! The same can be said for the expression “past-time”, not really; it certainly doesn’t fit in with needlepoint, basket weaving or crochet. So how about “sport”, a definite and resounding “no”; there is no competition involved. It has never been a team game or a one on one contest.
I suppose a word that comes close to describing it is hunting,(treasure). Perhaps searching (historical artefacts) might be used, but how to equate these with a couple of hours at the top of a dry sandy beach; a tad over the top wouldn’t you agree?
The closest that I’ve ever come to describing it is when I compare it to fishing (angling if you want to be posh and some regard this as a sport).

Detecting and fishing have many similar disciplines as shown below.
It is possible to buy a rod, reel, line and float, attach the bait to the hook and cast it out on any old river or lake and if you’re lucky you catch your first fish. However, this doesn’t mean that you are now a full blown fisherman, but there was a definite holding of breath and adrenaline rush when the float went under. Then there was the playing (?) of the fish and the admiration of your catch when landed, perhaps even a photograph? One thing’s for sure, you will never forget that first catch and if you have anything about you at all, you will want more! —–Are any bells ringing yet? —–

Before long you begin to fathom it out, if it was luck or chance, it appears that everyone else seems to be a darn site luckier than you. There has got to be more to it than meets the eye; so you read books, talk to other anglers, and perhaps join a club. This fishing lark has grabbed you and you want to learn so that you can increase your catch, but there is so much to it. The first lesson is to put the bait where the fish will be; otherwise it is going to be a long uneventful day. —–Any yet? —–

Trouble is now, that although you’ve managed to understand where the fish lie in your river and you’re getting the odd decent fish; if you were to buy new equipment to match the conditions and the type of fish in your river, you could improve your catch rate by quite a bit. ——How about now? ——

One day you see this other angler and decide to watch for awhile. The most noticeable thing about him is his total concentration, even when he isn’t catching. His movements are so fluid it’s like poetry in motion, no rushing or jerking and yet he accomplishes more in a shorter time than you ever can. You cannot believe how quickly the time has flown just sitting and watching this guy making it look so easy. There and then you knew that there would be no more days of the “chuck it and chance it”, from now on you would want to know the reason why you caught and even more so, why you didn’t. Some of it you could learn, the rest would be down to the amount of time in the saddle. Experience.
—–If you haven’t sussed it yet, may I politely suggest that you take up knitting?—

People come up and ask me what I get of metal detecting; you know the stock questions. “Is it the money?” “Is it finding fabulous 2000 year old artefacts?” “Neither although both do play a part. It’s the buzz”. I get a buzz just thinking about going, where I’m going, what type of machine and what coils to take and what the area might contain.

The buzz is there when I’m driving to the site, even more so when I arrive and set up the detector and choose the coil. The heightened anticipation and concentration waiting for the first signal, the longer it takes the more acute my senses. Then “Bang” a good signal, the adrenaline flows with a rush, levels out on a plain when digging and soars skyward when the object is retrieved; stays high for a few moments for inspection and identification and then recedes leaving me wanting more. Although I have been fortunate with what I’ve found; if it was just for the money, I would have stayed at my other profession as a Casino manager.

This is hunting pure and simple. Pitting your wits, knowledge and expertise, not against a dumb animal, but the ground conditions and little or unknown history. For quite a long period during my detecting, I was quite happy to dig up whatever came along; eventually learning to recognise where habitation was most likely to be, whether Roman, Saxon or Medieval. Then I found Celtic. This to me is the ultimate period in detecting; the metallic workmanship of these people blew me away to where everything else, no matter what its value, would still remain secondary. Nothing was ever written by these people, what little we can garner comes from the conquering Romans. Living where I do in Norfolk, it was the homeland of the most well known of all the Celts; Boudicea, Queen of the Iceni.

Can you imagine the buzz when you have found an undiscovered site and the first signal you dig reveals a tiny gold quarter stater?
The photo shows two on an 18-mm 5-pence coin.


I still cannot give you the definition of metal detecting; hunting comes closest, but I suppose I’ll stick to what I always hang on door. Gone Metallin’.

John