A Guide To Finding The Right Sites - The Holistic View
Treasure Hunting magazine|July 2017

If you are new to detecting you will know how hard it is to get somewhere to detect.

Andrew Wight
A Guide To Finding The Right Sites - The Holistic View

The rising popularity of the hobby means many farmers now already have a club or individuals on their land and are often unwilling to give somebody else search permission.

So one thing the new detectorist should do is to make sure that when he or she does seek permission they try to identify the sites that have the most chance of producing good finds. Of course, there will always be some sites that produce great finds even though they do not appear at face value to offer much opportunity.

However, when searching for permission it is better to consider sites that do relate to the criteria described below. To start with, we must remember that most of daily life in the past took place in the countryside (as agriculture was the most important industry). The most intensively used land will be where most people would have spent their time and therefore where the most losses were made. This land will be that best suited to farming or habitation. We can start to look at the quality of farmland by using the following criteria.

Drainage

For best crop production drainage needs to be good to avoid water logging, as this inhibits root growth and makes the soil hard to work. Heavy, wet soils are also slow to warm in the spring so it is hard to get crops in early. Modern farming systems can of course easily install drains in poor soils. So try to consider the site itself. (e.g. Is the site naturally well drained? Does the land slope slightly downhill to a stream?)

Soil

Are the local soils heavy or light? A heavy soil will contain a lot of clay. You can test a soil by taking a moist handful and squeezing it, if it forms a solid ball and when you rub your fingernail on it the surface takes on a shine then the soil has a high clay content. Soils with high clay content tend to drain slowly.

Denne historien er fra July 2017-utgaven av Treasure Hunting magazine.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

Denne historien er fra July 2017-utgaven av Treasure Hunting magazine.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

FLERE HISTORIER FRA TREASURE HUNTING MAGAZINESe alt
New Detector Network – ‘A Treasure Unearthed for Detectorists'
Treasure Hunting magazine

New Detector Network – ‘A Treasure Unearthed for Detectorists'

www.detectornetwork.com is a new online platform that has recently been launched for both beginners and experienced detectorists to share their finds, advice and learn even more about this exciting hobby.

time-read
2 mins  |
September 2020
Only a Bit of Lead
Treasure Hunting magazine

Only a Bit of Lead

As in common with most people, when asked if they have found anything, the reply can often be “Oh, only a bit of lead.”

time-read
5 mins  |
September 2020
My Great Uncle Joseph's Anglo-Saxon Sword
Treasure Hunting magazine

My Great Uncle Joseph's Anglo-Saxon Sword

My Great Uncle Joseph’s Anglo-Saxon Sword

time-read
3 mins  |
September 2020
Roman Lead Ingot Update
Treasure Hunting magazine

Roman Lead Ingot Update

I would just like to update readers of Treasure Hunting magazine with some further information about the Roman lead ingot I found back in September 2019.

time-read
2 mins  |
September 2020
The Westbury Sub-Mendip Roman Hoard
Treasure Hunting magazine

The Westbury Sub-Mendip Roman Hoard

The Westbury Sub-Mendip Roman Hoard

time-read
7 mins  |
September 2020
The Family Hoard
Treasure Hunting magazine

The Family Hoard

It was the end of the second week of the school summer holidays in 2019.

time-read
3 mins  |
September 2020
Remembering the 1970s
Treasure Hunting magazine

Remembering the 1970s

Remembering the 1970s

time-read
10+ mins  |
September 2020
No More Moon Boots?
Treasure Hunting magazine

No More Moon Boots?

In more than four decades of detecting, the weather and varying soil conditions have all had a huge influence on the level of my enjoyment of this noble hobby.

time-read
2 mins  |
September 2020
My A-Z of Detecting
Treasure Hunting magazine

My A-Z of Detecting

Part 1: A-G

time-read
10+ mins  |
September 2020
Lost and Found?
Treasure Hunting magazine

Lost and Found?

There have been several instances over my long detecting career where, not only has it has been a delight to be able to help people who have lost things, but also a great thrill when such losses are returned to their owners. I have several memories of such occurrences.

time-read
2 mins  |
September 2020