Finds from Toddy's Digs Scotland

As a dig organiser I am always looking to provide a good day out for detectorists with all levels of experience.

- Toddy Irvine

The Dream Digs – Day 1

When I was new to this hobby, I searched Victorian dump fields, so you literally had a target every step you took. Some of my finds were interesting, but as you’d expect nothing of any real age was encountered. People at the beginner stage of the hobby need to be digging lots of signals to learn the craft of identifying finds, and the many varied metals and alloys that have been used over the centuries.

Beginners can also pick up vitally important information from the more experienced of my dig attendees, such as concerning how to clean artefacts with due care and consideration. As a general rule beginners are often excited by pretty much all that they find. The more experienced time-served detectorist has usually progressed from quantity to quality (but maybe exhibits the occasional complacency too).

So as you can no doubt appreciate my job can be quite difficult in catering for all these variable skills and experience levels. Site variation is also something ever present; a good site with quality finds, but not that many of them, may become rather boring to a keen and enthusiastic new beginner. Our New Year Digfest Weekender turned out to be a perfect event, with a good mix of both beginners and old hands. It was really enjoyable to witness many people finding their first hammered coin or even Roman brooch. My research led me to an area on which I have held many previous digs over the years. Originally it didn’t look that good on documentary records. However, I got a call from the farmer and was asked to pay a visit to discuss the possibility of having a few digs on his land.

I popped down there along with my wife Pauline, accompanied by some American relatives; it is such a beautiful part of the country I thought they would all appreciate the trip.