Did we find treasure?............. Unfortunately not.
Archaeologist son thought he would bring his metal detector and swish it over the meadow before I moved away, don't know why we'd not thought of doing it before, but he had been looking at "finds" maps of the fields around about and discovered that a few treasures had been found not far away.
So we all dressed up in our warm clothes (the forecast for a mild weekend forgot about Saturday's chilly wind blowing across the Suffolk fields) and stood around while he waved the detector backwards and forwards waiting for bleeps.
The first bleep found a ring-pull, next bleeps found a teeny piece of lead and an equally tiny bit of copper.
Then a lump of old iron. By which time I'd decided that I would never have the patience to be a metal detectorist!
Wiggly worms were found, I held one on my hand and Youngest Granddaughter asked "does it tickle?" But when I put the wiggly worm on her hand so she could see how tickley it was - she soon shrieked. Youngest Grandson was watching all this well wrapped in his pushchair.
More bleeps and a large "find" was a Stanley knife, clogged with mud and lost by someone years ago and then finally, before we gave up and went in for a warming cuppa he found a couple of points from archery arrows.....not ever so old but a little bit interesting.
Who had used the meadow for archery? we wondered...... maybe the son of the previous owner.
One thing I learned about digging for treasure is how cruel it is for earthworms. I'm sure a few were inadvertently chopped in half!
I'm fascinated that this is the first time he's visited with his detector. I have always imagined that people who own these gadgets use them every time they encounter an accessible field. So sorry you never found Sutton Hoo #2 or something similar. How far down does it measure? At least the snow has gone, which makes treasure hunting easier.
ReplyDeleteThe one he has is just a cheapy, and doesn't go down far, ones he uses at work and what serious detectorists use cost thousands and go quite deep
DeleteWhat a shame you didn't find a Sussex Hoard! Have you ever watched "Detectorists", with Mackenzie Crook and Toby Jones? We love it. It's just such a lovely, gentle comedy. Highly recommend. xx
ReplyDeleteOr even a Suffolk hoard! No I've never seen that TV programme i must have a look
DeleteOooops! Sorry. It was early in the morning, the only excuse I can offer!😭 xx
DeleteWe loved that show, really gentle as you said.
Deleteloved that show!
DeleteThat is so exciting! I would love to do something like that and even the archery arrows and stanley knife are treasure in their own way. We used to have farm buildings hundreds of years ago where our house is and we are always digging up things. Maybe I should get a metal detector at least the garden would get dug over for spring!
ReplyDeleteMy childhood home had the remains from some old cottages all over the back garden and we dug up clay pipes and broken blue and white china everywhere
DeleteWe have a metal detector - must blow the dust off it - probably just find bits of old horse-shoe here as this used to be the carriage house for the Big House next door. Back at our old house it was only ever bits of very old (17th C) wine bottles we found, or else bits of farm machinery.
ReplyDeleteThat said, I planted two roses yesterday and found the raised bit of lawn at the side starts off as builder's rubble a foot or so down.
Quite a lot of rubble here too but the bungalow I'm buying was only built in the 1980s on greenfield so I doubt there will be any treasures there
DeleteAn interesting hobby and you have given me an idea for a present when my Son or GD needs a birthday present.
ReplyDeleteHazel c uk 🌈🌈
Son uses expensive equipment at work some cost thousands
DeleteYour son must have the patience of a saint to become an archaeologist, but when something more worthwhile is found I expect it's worth it. You had to try though.
ReplyDeleteHe's never had any hugely exciting finds in all his years working but he loves the smaller bits and bobs that are found too
DeleteMy father in law found a 2000 BC axe head when he was ploughing one of the fields on the farm. The stone came from the Lake District the Museum in York thought. When I left the farm I gave it to the farmer's niece - I thought it should stay in the family. I agree with you Sue - you have to be deducated to do it as a job but he was just ploughing - much easier.
ReplyDeleteEverytime I walked across the field at the bottom of the meadow I hoped to find a stone axe head - no luck!
DeleteI can think of worse ways to spend a few hours in the fresh air with the family ... not many though ;-)
ReplyDeleteGood for your son, but I wouldn't have the patience to be an archaeologist, when I see them on programmes brushing the dirt off things in the ground I'm usually shouting at the telly ... 'just dig the bloody thing up will you and let's see what it is!!'
He would happily spend all his time digging things up, but has to spend more time in the office writing up reports for the contractors/councils who they've been hired by
DeleteWow! I think that sounds like a great adventure and I would be making up stories in my head about any of those little finds!
ReplyDeleteI'd love to know who practiced archery down the meadow
DeleteI've always thought it is so interesting that your son is an Archaeologist. I love that he checked your land before you move because you never know what you may find. I would love to have a metal detector and be able to check areas like that.
ReplyDeleteOne of those jobs that you have to love - specially when working outside in winter!
DeleteWere you looking for the next Sutton Hoo find? I love that your son was all about checking out your land. Finding the archery points was fun!
ReplyDeleteSome Saxon jewellery would have been good!
DeleteYou never know when you might get lucky, an incredible saxon torque was found a couple of miles away from me
ReplyDeleteOh I would be out there digging around all the time. (Yes... I watched The Dig a few days ago...why do you ask?)
ReplyDelete