REL C HUNTER

The magazine for the Searcher and Detectorist

Volume 1 Issue 1 April - May 2010

In this issue:
Detecting in Jordan WWII Aircraft Recoveries Medieval finds in Holland El Dorado in Australia Metal Detecting in a US National Park?? Corfe Castle Revisited The Staffordshire Hoard Metal Detectives University and lots more...

Relic Hunter April - May, 2010

Relic Hunter April - May, 2010

Welcome to the Premier Issue of Relic Hunter Magazine!

Were making history and somewhere in the world, weve just saved a few trees and lessened the load that will go into a land fill. By publishing this magazine on the web, being able to read it on your PC, laptop or mobile device anywhere in the world, advertising costs are greatly reduced, coverage is greater and rich media, such as videos in the next edition, can easily be presented to you, the viewer. Were starting small but have BIG ideas. Watch us grow Please, familiarize yourself with the controls shown on the bottom of the screen. The controls will help you page through, save, print, magnify a page, etc. as you navigate through the publication. Hot links are also included on all the ads!

CALL FOR ENTRIES - CALL FOR ENTRIES - CALL FOR ENTRIES

Jim Leonard Editor & Publisher (lost somewhere in England)

Share with the rest of the world and send in your hunting story along with a few photos. Ill personally make sure they are
placed within the next issue. Email your articles to: jleonard@jpl-designs.com

Table of Contents of Main Articles:

Author
Michiel Bil Neil Jones Southern Yank Jim Burnett Rob Walker Jim Leonard Various Gary Brun

Country
Holland United Kingdom United States United States Australia United States United Kingdom Norway

Metal detecting in the Middle East One of my best finds ever... Hunting with Keiths Crowd Southern Yank Digs in Palatka

Julian Evan-Hart United Kingdom

Metal detecting in a National Park? The Search for El Dorado Corfe Castle revisited The Staffordshire Hoard Metal Detectives University

Corfe Castle cover photo by Steve Crown, Middlesbrough, UK

Relic Hunter April - May, 2010 3

GREETINGS TO ALL
FROM A UK DETECTORIST
Julian Evan-Hart
Hi and welcome to all fellow readers and writers involved with this new world-wide E-zine. Firstly I would like to say a few things: it is a great honour to have been asked to submit articles for this prestigious publication, and I look forward also to reading about the many incredible finds everyone else has made in its pages. I think the most appropriate thing is to introduce myself and illustrate this introductory article with finds, and then for later submissions I can go into more specific details about other metal detecting ventures. I do many talks to schools and local clubs to promote metal detecting and find this is useful for obtaining more land, based on peoples recommendations. In 2007, I organised the first ever full archaeological excavation of a Zeppelin crash site at Theberton in Suffolk. This was really exciting and amongst items found were two officers buttons from the crew. I have a photograph of the crew and often look at it wondering which buttons on their uniforms are the ones I have. Metal detecting in the Middle East is virtually unknown due to strict laws; however I am fortunate enough to have been invited to work in Jordan as part of the Great Arab Revolt Project. We have unearthed many finds primarily in relation to World War One operations in relation to Lawrence of Arabia and the decline of the Ottoman Empire. Metal detectorists in Jordan provided the first ever results of an entire battlefront at Ma`an. Every bullet found was GPS plotted and used to create a battle scenario. This is a much neglected area of the First World War and therefore is really ground breaking stuff. In our first year out there we discovered an ancient Arabic trade market site along the Hijaz railway, and this yielded hundreds of coins mainly dating to the 13th and 14th century.

From left to right: A 3000 Year old Bronze Age gold ring. British Army button from 1917 found in desert sands of Jordan. A Gold Cunobelin issue quarter stater. Silver Antoninianus of the Roman Emperor Gordian. Gold French Ecu found in England dating to around 1485. 4 Relic Hunter April - May, 2010

The remains of an Ottoman Army tent ring

Perhaps my most incredible find out there was when I was searching next to an old Ottoman army stone tent ring, yes even after 90 years you can see where the men piled stones along the sides of their tents. Anyhow, I got a good clear signal, but when I dug it up, it was inside a ball of old tattered blue cloth. Checking it out I spotted an Ottoman button still in situ, then desiccated cigarette rolling papers could be seen, as well as fragments of playing cards. Later when checked, the uniform could be seen to have a blood stained bullet hole just below the breast pocket. What was the story here? Had a wounded soldier had his jacket removed by a comrade whilst in the tent, the jacket being stuffed into a crevice in the stones, we shall perhaps never know. Whoever he was, metal detecting has now given home some sort of simplistic memorial as the jacket will be exhibited in a Jordanian Museum.

Fragments of playing cards recovered from the breast pocket of an Ottoman soldier`s jacket found after 90 years by a metal detector.

My aim has always been to spread my experiences and knowledge far and wide, so all my finds are published and placed on the Internet for people to see.

Seal matrices, buttons and decorations once belonging to Ottoman soldiers in Jordan
Relic Hunter April - May, 2010

Another aspect of metal detecting I enjoy is aviation archaeology, the excavation of Second World War aircraft: having been involved in some 300 searches for and excavations to date. Looking back, I never really enjoyed the dusty dry history lessons at school, but due to metal detecting I simply cannot get enough of my passion for history now. The honour of being able to find and touch ancient to modern metallic objects is simply incredible. When my children do historical projects at school what a privilege to be able to give them coins and artefacts to take into school. I have been a metal detectorist in the UK now for over three decades and have written numerous articles for other publications as well as the media. In 2006 I, and a fellow detectorist David Stuckey, co-authored the Beginners Guide to Metal Detecting, published by Greenlight Publications. Since then I have been involved in writing a county by county history of avia-

tion in a new series of books called War Torn Skies published by Red Kite books: www.redkitebooks.co.uk So far Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire have been published and will shortly be followed by Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Essex. Each book involved eye-witness accounts of major aviation related incidents such as crashes, that were located and excavated, local lore, official documents as well as often unique never before published photographs. Without metal detecting, most of these crash sites would have been almost impossible to locate accurately. Like many detectorists, I have tried to advertise the positive benefits of metal detecting mostly to an avid audience but the hobby still has its critics, although to be fair, most of their criticism is founded on total ignorance. The benefits of metal detecting? Well, take for example the dog tag that was located on the crash site of a USAAF B17 bomber just down the road from me. This was found

Cambridgeshire Crash

It was 27 years before anyone visited the crash site of F8+AP again. In 1969, the East Anglian Aviation Society recovered more substantial parts, including a propeller boss and reduction gear, now in the Tower Museum at Bassingbourn. At about the same time, it was rumoured an mad had found a twisted and broken machine gun from this aeroplane whilst he was clearing a ditch.
A true time line indeed!! In 2007, Maurice Pearce points up to the section of sky in which he spotted the blazing Dornier, recalling the dramatic event after some 65 years.

In September 1991, it was re-excavated by Peter Stanley. This excavation went down about five feet, where a mass of crumpled metal and parts were found and a newspaper dated 1969, from the original excavation. Several parts of the engines emerged from the hole and two BMW badges from the engines. Numerous manufacturers plates were found (most dated 1942) as well as exploded ammunition. Much airframe still had camouflage paint on it, like the crushed dark green spinner that had several manufacturers plates from VDM (Vereinigtes Deutsches Metallwerk) riveted to it. Straw from the 1942 harvest had been carried into the ground by the wreck and preserved by the oil and anaerobic conditions underground.
6 Relic Hunter April - May, 2010

The crash site as it is today. Small fragments of twisted metal can still occasionally be found on the surface.

by another detectorist some years ago, and I researched the history behind this incredible find. Finally, the dog tag was with all the associated emotions returned to the crew members younger brother in the United States. Can one imagine the feelings his older brother Lester was killed 63 years before and then someone, against all odds, located his dog tag... Another incident I was involved with was the collision in Hertfordshire of two B17 bombers on August 26 , 1944 over the village of Weston. Since starting this research I have had family relatives of the deceased aircrew members come over and visit the crash site. Perhaps the most astounding thing from this is that I have been able to put such relatives in touch with each other and they have been able to share wartime photographs, all down to metal detecting. Many of us are not qualified historians or academics but most definitely due to our positive input we most certainly stand on an equal footing with such persons. One never knows exactly what will be found next, many times I have been out and one minute I am holding part of an ancient axehead or other ancient item, then the next find is something more modern say for example...part of a Messerschmitt, that disintegrated overhead during an aerial combat seven decades before. The one thing to always be aware of is that we metal detectorists are only very short term custodians of our finds, we must and should make every effort to conserve objects of historical value, and if we dont know how to we should not be put off in asking people who do. Metal detecting has many privileges but perhaps the biggest one is the huge circle of associates and friends spread all over the World, some I have never met but just exchange updating emails with, but we are all united in one aim to rescue and conserve objects that have been lost or mislaid from the ground. Its almost 100% that if we detectorists did not find these things nobody else would have done so...so thats also what puzzles me about our critics.... even though coins and artefacts are an exhaustible resource, how or why would anyone wish to consign these historically important things to being left in the ground is a true mystery. Through our finds its not unusual for a detectorist to cause theories or books to be re-written and this can only be beneficial.

The more positive things we achieve the further away from reality we push our critics.... well some are so far from reality there is probably not much we can do!!!... In all, I believe metal detecting to be one of the Worlds most intriguing, fascinating and rewarding hobby and will always promote it to the best of my ability and I am always available to assist others in their research whether in pursuit of writing their own book or to gain academic qualifications. Well that is probably me in a very tiny detecting nutshell I hope readers enjoy seeing just a tiny section of my finds and would like to finish by wishing all detectorists and anyone associated with this hobby all the very best and most of all Happy Hunting for 2010. Cheers all - Julian Evan-Hart

Relic Hunter April - May, 2010

One of my best finds ever...

By Michiel Bil
Im Michiel, a metal detectorist from Holland. I live a few meters below sea level and the area where I live is famous for its floodings in medieval times. In medieval times Zeeland, The Netherlands, was very important because a lot of the important harbours of that time, Bruges, Gent, Antwerpen are close by. Because of the floodings the older stuff can only be found at large depths, so its always good to keep an eye on places where they are digging. For my work I travel occasionally and I saw they were digging near the village of Biervliet. A few Saturdays later my detecting buddy and were wondering to go so I mentioned the place in Biervliet and we drove there. It was an hour drive and we detected for about 2 hours. There was some medieval pottery but not much finds. At the end I had large signal on the deepest part. I dug just over 2 feet and had a big piece of metal. I didnt see what it was and it was quite heavy so I put it on the site halfway to the car. Half an hour later we still didnt had a good find, so we went back to the car and drove to another good field 20 minutes from there. We had some nice medieval coins there and we walked back to the car to get back home I realized I forgot that big lump of metal at the other site. I told my buddy that I forgot it and he told me it was probably rubbish and we should get home. I told him it was about a feet and a half deeper as the layer with medieval pottery so it should be older as the 14th century pottery as the site seemed undisturbed.
8 Relic Hunter April - May, 2010

So we went back and luckily it was still there. When I got home I started to clean it and in about 20 minutes I started to recognize what I had found, a medieval candlestick and quite an early one. The top was a bit damaged bit it was all in one piece and in my books I could only find parts of it. I knew I had something special and reported my find to the local archaeologists on Monday. They also recognized and confirmed it was a 12th century candlestick, very rare to find a complete one. The archaeologists did a very good job on cleaning and conserving the find and gave it back to me. Knowing it was a good find and that it should be quite valuable I went to a TV show where they valuate your antiquities and I made it to the TV part with an interview. It was very funny that I told what I knew about my find and that the interviewer asked the expert what he could add to that and the expert said he couldnt add anything! They valuated it for at least 10,000 Euros.

Hunting with Keiths Crowd

Neil Jones, Slow-n-Low, Leeds UK Went on my regular Sunday outing with Keiths crowd, it was a slow start with finds being sparse. I did a lot of walking just to find an area to work. Near the end of the day I decided to try a short stubble field in the distance. a piece missing I had not found one like this before. I checked it out on wildwinds.com using the partial inscription search and found it was a Antoninus Pius 161 AD with the reverse being a four tiered funeral pyre.

The Pius bronze The area of stubble

I headed for an area near the top end of the field and on my way I pulled up a roman bronze, although it had

Having at last found something with age I got my head down and worked the immediate area slowly.
Continued, next page

Relic Hunter April - May, 2010

Hunting with Keiths Crowd

Neil Jones, Slow-n-Low, Leeds UK My next find was another bronze, this time a radiate type which was perfect for a clod cam shot. After several clicks of the cameras button I got my coil swinging slowly again pulling up the usual bits of lead, shotties and fingies. Then a lovely sweet high tone stopped me in my tracks. Homing in on the signal and digging the second spade full out I could see the find stuck to the soil and staring at me. I first thought it was a jetton but looking closer I could see what it really was, not only that but very detailed although a little bent ( I will straighten it ), YES SORTED eyes open wide and buzzing like a good un. I havent pinned the ID down yet as there are so many different types, now Ive got my photos working properly again while put it on UKDFD database. What greeted me !
The cam shots and coin.

I carried on and found nothing more of note just a very grotty roman bronze. It was getting dark and I was dying to try the maize field next door that Keith had got last minute off the farmer, I got the top end of a tudor clothing fastner just as muddy mick was giving me a found a hammy signal in the distance on the same field which turned out to be of the soldino type.
The tudor fastner and maize field.

The results from a days hard graft.

Wow, sexy isnt she?

It was dark when I came off the field thinking the day had turned out good and I suppose now its time to do my usual take a wrong turn and get lost again routine.

10

Relic Hunter April - May, 2010

SouthernYank digs in Palatka

A friend gave me a call this afternoon to ask if I would like to go to Hastings and detect in front of an old barn where he attended an auction last night. Well of course I replied. So we headed over and discovered that it had been filled with limestone about three inches below the surface. In most places the lime had conjoined to form an in-penetrable layer. We detected for about a half hour before giving up, but during that time I was happily surprised to find myself a 1929 Mercury Dime. Not knowing anyplace else to go in the tiny town, Bob asked if I had any suggestions. I told him we should go to the Riverfront Park in Palatka. He has always been reluctant to try this spot due to the fact that it is used for a couple of festivals and is therefore extremely trashy and full of newer coins. He agreed saying there should be a couple of Mercs among the trash and clad, and I assured him that he would find something old. Well, we were both surprised when within the first ten minutes, he found a beautiful 1905 Barber Dime. We detected for another hour and called it a day. And a good one it was.

Relic Hunter April - May, 2010

11

Spectra V 3 is the Ultimate Treasure Finder!

HD Full-Color Display 10 Hunting Programs 3 x 3 Target I.D. System 3 Optimized Hunting Frequencies Live Controls for Real-Time Adjustments 10" DD Search Coil Selectable Ground Filters Color-Keyed Disc Pattern Recovery Delay Dozens of Expert Menu Options NiMH Rechargeable Battery System Adjustable Backlight Owner Registration ... and much more!

The 3x3 TARGET I.D. SYSTEM

SEARCH

ANALYZE

PINPOINT

Interpret target information using ALL of the data collected from each frequency. The Search screens SpectraGraph displays a bargraph at each of the 3 frequencies - 2.5 kHz, 7.5 kHz, and 22.5 kHz. Once youve detected a target, Analyze shows a shape based on the strength of each frequency. Finally, the Pinpoint screen shows signal strength at each frequency.

The freedom of wireless! Optimizes your V3 capabilities and completely transforms your hunting experience!
NEW WEBPAGES! Read all the V3 stories on the redesigned story pages at whiteselectronics.com 12 Relic Hunter April - May, 2010

MADE IN AMERICA 1011 Pleasant Valley Road Sweet Home, OR 97386

Here it is! The XTREME TREASURE HUNTING KIT pairs perfectly with your Whites V3, DFX, MXT, M6, Prizm 6T, or Prizm 5! A complete package including our most popular accessory, the Bullseye II! Hurry, its just for Spring ... and only with purchase of selected Whites models.
* Promotion valid with V3, DFX, MXT, M6, Prizm 6T, and Prizm 5 purchases between March 20, 2010 and and June 30, 2010 at participating dealers. Accessories will be sent customer-direct from Whites. In the event of shortages, substitutions may be made. Not valid with any other offer, on prior purchases, used or refurbished detectors.

1499.95 MSRP 1699.95 MSRP WITH

SPECTRASOUND HEADPHONES

www.WhitesElectronics.com V3 Regional Specials may be available in your area!

Relic Hunter April - May, 2010 13

1-800-547-6911

Metal Detectors at Palo Alto Battlefield?

These Hunters were on a Mission
Posted April 9th, 2010 by Jim Burnett
special events during the 2009-2010 visitor seasons. The park staff notes that area is entering a period of rapid development and change. Park activities and opportunities will increase dramatically during the coming months and years. This is an opportunity to watch a National Park Service unit take shape. The park encourages visitors to stop by the visitor center, ask questions, and participate in the development of this nationally important site. Part of that development of the park is the gathering of accurate information about the site and the storyand that brings us to the use of those metal detectors. Between February 20th and March 3rd, National Park Service archeologists from the Southeast Archeological Center (SEAC), NPS VIP archeologists, and 30 volunteers wielding metal detectors joined company to conduct this years archeological survey of portions of the core battlefield area at Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park. Volunteer metal detector experts from as far away as Georgia and Florida joined local volunteers with experience in Mexican war sites to systematically cover approximately 100 acres of the battlefield in an effort to define battle lines, troop movements and reconcile the physical evidence with historic accounts. This was a big project, and the work by all those volunteers made the effort a very cost-effective one. Over 1,100 volunteer hours were contributed to the project and close to 700 battle-related artifacts were recovered. All items were mapped by GPS and carefully bagged for later stabilization and preservation. Rolando Garza, archeologist and chief of resources management at Palo Alto, joined with John Cornelison, archeologist from SEAC, to manage the project. Services were enlisted from the archeologist in Intermountain Regions Santa Fe Office, GIS specialists from the cultural resource GIS program in Washington, and a crew of archeologists from SEAC. The FY10 field investigation on the battlefield is the first of three field seasons aimed at a comprehensive survey of the core area of the battlefield.

VIP Kevin Walls unearths a Mexican four-pound cannonball. NPS photo by Mike Seibert

ver two dozen people were seen scouring parts of the Palo Alto Battlefield National Historic Park with metal detectors in recent weeks, and then collecting historic artifacts they discovered during their search. What was going onand where is Palo Alto Battlefield? Metal detecting can be a fun and sometimes profitable hobby in the right locations, but use of the devices is normally prohibited in parks and other protected sites to help reduce relic poaching. A recent multi-day detecting expedition to Palo Alto Battlefield National Historic Park was strictly on the up and up, and it yielded important information for historians and the park story. Not all park fans are yet aware of Palo Alto Battlefield, which is located near the southern tip of Texas, about five miles from downtown Brownsville. Heres a quick course in the sites story, courtesy of the park web site: On May 8, 1846, troops of the United States and Mexico clashed on the prairie of Palo Alto. The battle was the first in a two-year long conflict that changed the map of North America. Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park preserves the site of this notable battle and provides an understanding of the causes, events, and consequences of the first war between independent Republics. This is a relatively new addition to the National Park System; it was authorized in 1978 and redesignated a national historical park on March 30, 2009. The site has a small staff and limited visitor activities opportunities at this time, but you can view exhibits and an orientation video and walk a half-mile trail to an overlook of the battlefield. The park web site includes a link to a list of
14 Relic Hunter April - May, 2010

Such projects can have definite benefits for the park staff, historians, and visitors. The information gained from these investigations will greatly enhance the parks knowledge of precisely how the battle unfolded, providing the park with the ability to more accurately interpret the battle and preserve the site for the education and enjoyment of future generations. Youll find additional details to help you plan a visit to Palo Alto Battlefield at this link. Jim Burnett has had the unusual opportunity to enjoy not one, but two dream careers. Three decades as a ranger with the National Park Service took him to eight parks: Grand Canyon, Lake Mead, Glacier, Buffalo River, Big Thicket, Lincoln Boyhood,

National Capital Parks and Colonial. Most of his career was spent in protection duties (fire, search & rescue, emergency medical services, and law enforcement), but he also had the chance to work in natural resource management and interpretation. Following his retirement from the NPS, Jim embarked on a new adventure as a writer. In addition to on-line pieces and several short articles in national periodicals, hes the author of two books: Hey Ranger! True Tales of Humor and Misadventure from Americas National Parks and the sequel, Hey Ranger 2: More True Tales . Jim writes primarily about the lighter side of life in the parks and sometimes describes his books as examples of what can happen when you head west but your trip goes south. He and his wife now live in East Texas.

Relic Hunter April - May, 2010

15

The Search for El Dorado.

by Rob Walker, OZ Earlier this year, I and my wife set off on a trip to the gold triangle of Victoria, Bendigo, Ballarat and Castlemaine. We stopped in Beechworth for two nights staying at a caravan park next to Lake Sambell. If peace and quiet is what you seek, this caravan park has it. We decided to drive into Wangaratta and driving along the Beechworth Wangaratta Road, I noticed a small tourist sign, the type in brown background, that read El Dorado Dredge at the junction of the El Dorado Tarawingee Road. I immediately waxed lyrical about having read about this dredge in an earlier copy of and so, I committed to stopping there on the return drive. A few hours later, we turned down the turn off, and headed for the township of El Dorado. Following the signs led us to the El Dorado Dredge about a few kilometres out of the township on the El Dorado Byawatha Road. I estimate my knowledge of things historical to be reasonable but had always thought a dredge was a small piece of equipment dragged along a creek bed by a crazy and yet persistent prospector. I was flabbergasted by the sheer size of the machinery I was looking at. Measuring about 60 metres long and standing about 2 to 3 stories high, I can honestly say I was excited as I jumped out of the car. My surprise kept jumping higher, especially so, as I observed that the dredge was floating; it was a vessel the size of a small ship. It is located at latitude 36o 18 48.5 S & longitude 146o 30 12.1 E. My early apprenticeship years as a plumber were spent at the Whyalla Shipyards in South Australia and in that time, I gained an appreciation of the size of ships. I worked on the building of 6 ships including the Zincmaster (15000 tons), Seaway Princess (4178 tons), Seaway Prince, (4174 tons) and the Iron Curtis. To explain tonnage of ships, I should probably defer to an encyclopedia, but my original understanding was that the declared weight in tons is the amount of water displaced by the ship when it is empty, not the actual weight of the ship, i.e, 1 ton displacement is 100 litres of

16

Relic Hunter April - May, 2010

water or 1 cubic metre. More accurate descriptions of tonnage are available on the internet. Research shows that the El Dorado dredge weighs in at 2142 tons, is 64 to 95 metres long, on average about 18 metres wide. Width at the stern was 21 metres and at the bow 16 metres. The pontoon was 70 metres in length with the bucket ladder measuring 53 metres. I think the weight is a real weight. The dredge commenced operations in 1936 and closed down in 1954. In those 18 years, it produced 70,664 ounces of gold and 1,383 tons of tin concentrate. The dredge operated 24 hours ady for all of that time. Im not sure how many men worked on it. The dredge has remained tied up at El Dorado since it closed in 1954.

The township of El Dorado is a quiet peaceful place, but I offer that during the heyday of gold mining and dredging, the noise emanating through the valley would have rivalled a modern inner city industrial area. Its funny how good comes out of bad things. Im sure that the closure of the dredge and accompanied mining activity would have been bad news at the time for the townsfolk. Some 50 years later, it is now a blessing. The impact of mining and dredging can be seen but is not clearly apparent to all. The tailings spewed by the dredge would have settled and to some extent levelled off across the banks of the river, smothering the plant life at the time. There is an abundant growth along those flats now, but I suspect, it is not the same type of growth that was indigenous to the area. A case of the weeds succeeding at the expense of the original plants. Another aspect to consider is the contamination that has occurred along the river. At the time of dredge closure, Australian law did not require rehabilitation of ecology. An interesting outlook regarding this issue is that we would never know the extent of ecological damage if our laws had been different. If El Dorado had been rehabilitated when it closed, the ecology would have been re-instated, would have had 50 years to consolidate and we might think mining presents no threat to the ecology. Food for thought.
The dredge commenced operations on 1st May 1936 and in general worked 24 hours a day, but on Thursdays and Sundays regular maintenance was carried out. Each bucket on the dredge was capable of holding 12 cubic feet and about 12,000 tons of dirt could be processed in a 24-hour period. During its life it is estimated to have lifted some 35.4 million cubic yards for processing. Total gold production from the operations was 70,664 oz of gold and 1,383 tons of tin. Unfortunately over time, recovery costs rose some 300%, but there was no corresponding increase in the gold and tin price. Consequently on 13th August 1954 the dredge ceased operations and was taken to where it now lies west of the township of El Dorado.

Relic Hunter April - May, 2010

17

An American Digger goes to England...

by Jim Leonard

here are many relic hunts going on in England. Some are offered as tours here in the US, while others are just weekend outings for those that live in this wonderful country. Since 2004, theres been a special annual hunt in England where relic hunters come and gather at Corfe to share in the fun of digging relics and swapping stories. Its held every fall near Corfe Castle in Dorset. Last year, because of such a large expected turnout, attendance was limited only to premium members of MLO (Minelab Owners). MLO is a web based forum that is worldwide in its membership and also shares knowledge of detecting while showing finds from all over the world. Although primarily dedicated to people who own Minelab detectors, there arent any restrictions as to your choice of metal detecting machine you can own. As the American Site Administrator for this forum, which has the largest group of members, I couldnt resist attending this years fantastic event. Last year, after reading and watching the BBC coverage of the 2008 hunt, where a hoard of coins was discovered near Corfe Castle, I could only imagine what a great experience it must be to possibly discover something that old. Imagine digging up an artifact that could possibly be a thousand years old and being the first one to hold it in your
18 Relic Hunter April - May, 2010

Looking down from the high ridge upon the ruins of Corfe Castle

hand since it was lost. As you know, England has been populated for thousands of years. Celtic tribes, Roman occupiers, Anglo Saxon rulers, the amount of possible finds located just under your feet only feeds your imagination of what you might discover. So, with that thought in mind, I made my reservations, watched the local weather forecasts, disassembled my detector, packed my luggage, and headed off to London, England. This years rally was again held near Corfe Castle, an area in the southwest section of England, known for providing excellent Roman artifacts, gold coins, hidden hoards, and simply just a fantastic area to hunt. The primary organizer, Tony Hunt, had established with local farmers permission for us to hunt the fields, around 500 acres of land, after the fields had been harvested. Some of the fields had been plowed which made detecting easier than hunting on a stubble field, where you have to keep your detector up, around 3 to 4 inches, thus avoiding the stiff stubble. The fee for the daily hunt was surprisingly inexpensive, only 10 British Pounds, which in US dollar amounts was around $14.00 per day. Half of the proceeds went to the

owner of the land and the other half going to support the MLO forum run by Gary Brun of Norway. http://www. minelabowners.com Its around an eight hour flight out of Atlanta to London and after landing and getting my rental car, (make sure you get an automatic transmission, shifting with the left hand can be tricky), setting up my Tom Tom GPS navigator, I still had to contend with driving for the next 2 to 3 hours on the left side, dealing with the roundabouts and narrow roads, I finally arrived at my destination in Dorset, Wareham, Norden Farms, where I had made reservations at the Bed & Breakfast, the old Norden house built in the 1700s. The majority of the hunters were soon to arrive. Since I was a day early, I wanted to take in the local landscapes and frankly just rest from flying all-night and driving from London. Norden Farm, is known for its B&B, garden shop, and it also provides a large camping area in the rear of the house, complete with hook-ups with nice rest rooms/shower facilities. This is where the majority of hunters would come with their trailers, RVs and tents. Soon the reserved campsite would be occupied with relic hunters from all over England, Scotland, Wales, Europe, Ireland, Holland, and Poland. Not to be excluded, Gary S was arriving from Australia, and me, the only hunter from America. I was comfortable knowing we all spoke the same language,

even though the accents might be different, we all understood the language of detecting... Meeting face-to-face the group of enthusiasts of whom Ive only chatted with on the web was also lots of fun. I made many lasting friendships while hunting during the day and sitting around the bonfire we had in the campsite during the evening. As with most group gatherings, lots of stories were told, relic collections were shown in cases and laughter was always heard.

Can you keep what you find?

One question that many had asked me, What can you keep, when you find stuff? England has established regulations determining on what the detectorist can keep and what is considered Treasure. The Treasure Act of 1996 basically describes a treasure as an artifact or artifacts that have significant importance pertaining to English history. These artifacts are usually fantastic finds of gold items, pots of Roman or Celtic coins known as hoards, prehistoric metal items or items that have significant historical importance. If an artifact is discovered that falls within the treasure classification, it is surrendered to the county historian who will establish a court of inquiry to determine its value. Once a value has been established, usually by a museum that wants to purchase the find, the proceeds from the sale are split between the finder and the landowner and the museum receives the artifact. Finding a single silver hammered coin, known as a Hammy, a Roman coin or other single coins doesnt qualify the find as a Treasure and the detectorist gets to keep the item. However, hammered silver coins are usually registered with a local county historian along with the finders name, the location and the general condition of the find. This is a convenience and aids the historians who are working on migration maps of ancient English population areas. Altogether, the rules are fair and its a win-win situation. You still get to keep the your finds. On the first day I walked to a close-by field and hunted for about 3 hours. Didnt find much in the way of treasure, some broken farm tools, bits of metal and a few pull tabs so I returned back to the camping field to see if others had located any relics. Later that afternoon

The Norden House, Wareham, Dorset, England, built in the 1700s

Relic Hunter April - May, 2010

19

Corfe Castle and the high ridge in the background.

Photo by Steve Crown

I climbed up to the steep ridge that over looks the Corfe Castle ruins and made my first find along the flat plateau, a pulled musket ball. Then hunting along the ridge I found another musket ball, dropped and in perfect shape. This area was used by troops occupying the area during the English Civil War (1641 - 1651) that were attacking Corfe Castle.

Just a little bit of history...

Roman troops had occupied the area where we were, long before the Corfe Castle was built. Corfe Castle was begun by William the Conqueror soon after his arrival in Britain in 1066. It was served by the surrounding community in return for the use of homes and land, as well as shelter in the Castle in times of trouble. From the 14th to the 16th centuries, Corfe Castle was less important as a royal stronghold and often fell into disrepair. In 1572 Queen Elizabeth I sold it. During the Civil War in 1643, it was successfully defended. During a second siege in 1646 an act of betrayal by a member of its garrison led to its capture. The attackers deliberately demolished the castle resulting in the dramatic ruins you see today.

old? This was one of the reasons I came to England and why Id go back again and again when the opportunity is available. Hunting in England, less discrimination is used and many of the hunters didnt use any at all, unlike here in the States where youd use some just to cancel out the nails that seem to be everywhere, unless youre hunting iron, all metal would be the mode. I had the privilege of meeting many of the fine hunters mentioned in Andy Sabishs book and got to pick their brains on setting my detector. By choice, I used a Minelab on this hunt but there were others hunting with Lasers, Whites, Garrett and doing just as well. The following days provided much better results. I went to another field that had just been plowed and raked. Up on a hill from where I was hunting, a gold coin had

Old Relics - very old relics...

Relic hunting in England is very similar to relic hunting here in the states, with one exception, the relics you find in England are old, very, very old. Where can you go in the states and dig up a coin that is over a thousand years
20 Relic Hunter April - May, 2010

been found. Apparently, the tractor had uncovered it and the coin was lying on top of the soil. With a large group already up on top of the hill hunting for more, I hunted around the side and found a William III, 1697 half farthing. Its a bronze coin from the same period as the gold one. I was hooked. Later on that day I found several pewter buttons, more musket balls, a brass buckle and the usual trash.

William III, 1697 (top & left) Roman coin, Claudius II, 270 AD (top)

Last day, still finding stuff and loving every minute...

On my forth and final day of hunting, we were all happy and surprised to find out that the farmer had plowed down all the stubble in one of the more productive fields (see article main photo). This was a great field. Already, there had been several hammered silver coins, many Roman coins and other artifacts located just a few inches below the soil. During that last day of the hunt while out in the plowed field, Neil Jones pulled me aside and did an adjustment to my settings on my detector. Then he said Now walk down the road a bit and youre going to dig up a hammy. Yeah, I thought..., so I proceeded down the road with my machine with it making every possible tone it had as I swung the loop very low and slow, left and right, thinking to myself, hes
Neil Jones dressed as a Roman during the Saturday night cook out.

really screwed up my settings. He had unplugged the headphones so I could hear the differences in the tones, There, there, there, Neil said, You hear that low tone? I couldnt hear crap. My detector sounded like a sick HAM radio with someone trying to tune into a distant station. There, Neil pointed to the ground, dig right here. I took out a large clod from the road bed and checked the hole. The machine still was singing all sorts of tones. Then I crossed over the clod. Amazingly, I heard a low tone. I crossed over the opposite direction and pinpointed it. There was definitely something there. Using my probe on the clod, I found an Elizabeth I silver hammered coin. I was amazed. Thoroughly amazed, that through all those tones that were coming from my speaker, Neil was able to distinguish that faint tone of a silver coin. Lets do it again, he said. So down the road I went once more and again the same thing happened. Not until I had dug up the clod could I recognize an object and this time it was a small bronze medieval buckle. Now, Ive been a hunter for years having found hundreds of American Civil War relics and coins and Ive never, ever seen anyone that could pinpoint a tone and know indistinctly that its a tone worth digging. Neils got a great talent when it comes to listening to sounds. I saved his settings to my machine and it still sounds like a sick HAM radio... When I returned back home, my wife asked me if Id go there again? I answered her, Id do it in a heart beat.

Relic Hunter April - May, 2010

21

Lucky Larry

The Luckiest Hunter Around

Friends are always fun to hunt with. Some will do research on an area while some just pack up their detectors, shovels and meet you at the spot. Next, theyve made a great find, while youve only been able to dig up a shotgun shell, a nail, a bottle cap or some other piece of junk. How depressing and back in your mind youre thinking, I should have located that. I have a hunting friend that Ive known for over 30 years, Larry Shirah, whos the luckiest hunter I know. The term, Finding a needle in a haystack was truly written about him. Or does he have some unknown sense of ground penetrating radar in his brain. No matter, if it there, hes going to walk right to it and dig it up. As shown in the photos, just shortly before I had arrived at a newer site, he walks up and shows me a fantastic Confederate spur. Highly desired and sought as a collectable item from the American Civil War. But, if you look closely at the photo, youll also see a Pin fired Shotgun Shell. Again, another rare

find and if youre digging up shells, thats one to find. The other photo shows over 100 percussion caps and part of the leather holder that once held the caps. Digging them up must have taken some time, lots of patience and a great pin pointer probe. Is Larry Lucky? Its more than luck, he knows how to work his detector. Now matter which one he brings to the hunt. He always has about 3 with him in the trunk of his car or truck.

Hey fellows, is this a good place to hunt?

22

(You never have enough detectors) 2010 Dent Myers - Wildman

Relic Hunter April - May, 2010

Relic Hunter April - May, 2010

23

The Staffordshire Hoard

The hoard was valued at 3.285million, and has now been purchased by the Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery and the Potteries Museum & Art Gallery.

The Discovery

Compiled from numerous sources. Brought to you as information on the single and possibly, the most valuable and historical treasure ever discovered by a land detectorist.

On 5 July 2009, metal detectorist Terry Herbert, shown below, uncovered a few scraps of gold on a farm owned by Fred Johnson, within the parish of Hammerwich, just off the line of the Roman road, the Watling Street, about 4miles (6.4km) south-west of Lichfield, Staffordshire, England. According to Johnson, eight other metal detectorists had investigated the field in previous years, but none of them had made any significant finds.

Over the next five days Herbert found more and more pieces of gold and silver, and when the significance of the finds became evident, the discovery was reported to Duncan Slarke, the local officer of the Portable Antiquities Scheme. On 24September 2009 the hoard was declared treasure by the South Staffordshire coroner Andrew
24 Relic Hunter April - May, 2010

Haigh, meaning it belongs to the Crown. Because of the importance of the find, the exact site of the hoard was initially kept secret. The discovery was announced publicly on 24 September 2009, after completion of the coroners inquest, with the site being reported only as near Burntwood. The site is said to be on cultivated land which had recently been ploughed, with individual items scattered over an area of about 20square metres (24sqyd), and with some items originally visible on the surface without digging. The objects were on display in the Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery from the date when their discovery was publicly announced until 13October 2009. They were then taken to the British Museum, London, for cleaning and conservation. As of 24 September 2009, 1,381objects had been recovered, of which 864 have a mass of less than 3 grams (0.096ozt), 507 less than 1 gram (0.032ozt), leaving just 10 larger items. X-rays of unexamined lumps of earth suggest that there are more to be revealed. Early analysis established that the hoard was not associated with a burial.

Archaeological excavations
Following the discovery in July 2009, a trial 2-squaremetre (2.4sqyd) archaeological excavation was carried

out by Staffordshire County Council, and then a full archaeological excavation of a 9-by-13-metre (30 by 43 ft) area was undertaken by Birmingham Archaeology (an archaeological contractual unit which is part of the Institute of Archaeology and Antiquity at the University of Birmingham), funded by English Heritage. All the finds were in the ploughsoil, and had been scattered by recent ploughing. No archaeological features, such as graves, buildings, or other structures, were found during the excavation. On completion of the excavation, the site was re-examined using specialist equipment provided by the Home Office, but no more early items were found. The artefacts have tentatively been dated to the 7th or 8th centuries.

The Crosses
The Staffordshire Hoard official press statement notes that the only items in the hoard that are obviously nonmartial are two (or possibly three) crosses. The largest of the three crosses is missing some decorative settings (yet some are present but detached) but otherwise remains intact, and it may have been an altar or processional cross. Yet the cross is folded; either prior to burial to make it fit into a small space or as a sign that the burial deposit was made by pagans. On the other hand, the statement notes, Christians were also quite capable of despoiling each others shrines.

The 2010 excavation

In late March 2010, a team of archaeologists carried out a follow-up excavation on the site, digging 100metres (110yd) of trenches and pits in the field. According to Staffordshire county archaeologist, Stephen Dean, there is no more gold or treasure to recover from the site, and the aim of the new excavation is to look for dating and environmental evidence. Archaeologists hope to be able to use this evidence to determine what the landscape looked like at the time that the hoard was deposited. Most of the items in the hoard appear to be militaryrelated, and there are no domestic objects, such as vessels or eating utensils, or feminine jewelry, which are the more common Anglo-Saxon gold finds. Reportedly, the contents show every sign of being carefully selected.

The hoard consists of more than 1,500items, comprising up to 5kg (11lb) of gold and 1.3kg (2.9lb) of silver, and is the largest treasure of Anglo-Saxon gold and silver objects discovered to date.

The Gold strip

One of the most intriguing items in the hoard is a small strip of gold inscribed on both sides with a quotation from the Old Testament

The Weaponry
The contents include many finely worked silver and gold sword decorations removed from weaponry, including 66gold sword hilt collars and many gold hilt plates, some with inlays of cloisonn garnet in zoomorphic designs.

in Latin: SURGE DNE DISEPENTUR INIMICI TUI ET FUGENT QUI ODERUNT TE A FACIE TUA (Surge Domine et dissipentur inimici tui et fugiant qui oderunt te a facie tua), which translates as: Rise up, Lord; may Your enemies be scattered and those who hate You be driven from Your face. Michelle Brown, Professor of Medieval Manuscripts Studies in London, believes that, based on the use of uncial letter forms, the style of lettering used implies a date of 7th or early 8thcentury, whereas Professor Elisabeth Okasha of University College Cork, an expert on early medieval inscriptions, has identified traits in the insular majuscule script that are similar to later inscriptions datable to the 8th or early 9thcentury. The gold strip may have been originally fastened to a shield or a sword belt, but Nicholas Brooks, Emeritus Professor of Medieval History at Birmingham University, interprets the gold strip as an arm of a cross: a round
Relic Hunter April - May, 2010 25

cabochon jewel would have been fitted to the terminal end, and the other end would have fitted into the central fitting of the cross. He suggests that the majuscule script used on the gold strip would have been in widespread use from 635 onwards, and so the gold strip could date to the mid 7th century, contemporaneous with the Style 2 gold and garnet pommels and other sword jewels in the hoard.

behind the removal of the gold fittings may have been to depersonalise the objects; removing the identity of the previous owners. The blades may have then been reused. Leahy observes that the hoard appears to be a collection of trophies, yet that it is impossible to say whether the hoard consists of the spoils of a single battle or is the result of a long series of successful military engagements. Leahy says that the reason for the burial

Why was it buried?

Michael Lewis, the deputy head of the Portable Antiquities Scheme at the British Museum, notes that there are two possible reasons behind the burial of the hoard: either it was a votive deposit (an offering to the gods) or a treasure chest that got lost, or they couldnt come back for it. Lewis comments that from my 21stcentury perspective, I find it bewildering that someone could shove so much metalwork into the ground as an offering. That seems like overkill. Kevin Leahy, National Finds Adviser of the Portable Antiquities Scheme, says that the quantity of gold is extremely impressive and that, more importantly, the craftsmanship is consummate, this was the very best that the Anglo-Saxon metalworkers could do, and they were very good. Leahy says that the finds must originate from the highest possible levels of the Saxon elite. Leahy comments that the find does not consist simply of loot, pointing out that swords were specifically singled out, that most of the gold and silver items appear to have been intentionally removed from the objects they were previously attached to, and that, if the depositer was just after the gold, fittings from sword belts would have been discovered. Leahy theorizes that the intention

is unknown, and theorizes that the deposit may have been tribute to Heathen gods or concealed in the face of a perceived, but all too real, threat, which led to it not being recovered. Leahy notes that further work will result in a better understanding of how the hoard came to be buried. Leahy points out that the find includes dozens of pommel capsdecorative attachments to sword handlesand that Beowulf contains a reference to warriors stripping the pommels of their enemies swords. Nicholas Brooks has suggested that the hoard may have belonged to the Mercian court armourer. He theorizes that under the system of heriot, the Mercian king would have received weapons and gold bullion from Anglo-Saxon nobles at their death, and that the Mercian court would have distributed these weapons to men who came into its service. Brooks takes the absence of strap-ends, strap attachments and buckles in the hoard to indicate that the weapons were broken down into their constituent parts, and that the different parts of the weapons were the responsibility of different offices: the court leather-worker would have been responsible for providing those entering Mercian service with adorned belts and

26

Relic Hunter April - May, 2010

harnesses, whereas the court armourer would only have been responsible for metal objects such as the hilt collars, hilt plates and pommel caps that make up the majority of pieces in the hoard.

Whats it worth?
On 25November 2009 the hoard was valued, by the Treasure Valuation Committee, at 3.285million, which will be the sum paid as a reward to Johnson and Herbert, to be shared equally between the two of them. After the hoard was valued, it was announced that the Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery and the Potteries Museum & Art Gallery intended to jointly acquire the entire hoard, and a public appeal was launched to raise the 3.285million needed to purchase the hoard. The Art Fund co-ordinated the appeal. If the sum had not been raised by 17April 2010, the Hoard might have been sold on the open market and the unique collection permanently broken up. However, on 23March 2010 it was announced that the sum had been raised three weeks before the deadline, after a grant of 1.285million from the National Heritage Memorial Fund (NHMF) was added to the money already collected from individuals, councils, and other groups and associations. Although the purchase price has been achieved, the Art Fund appeal is still continuing, in order to raise a further 1.7million to help fund the conservation, study and display of the hoard.

Historical background
The area of Staffordshire where the hoard was found was part of the kingdom of Mercia in the 7th and 8th centuries, an era for which contemporary written texts are scant, aside from Bede, whose Historia ecclesiastica gentis Anglorum, finished in 731, was written from the Christian perspective of a monk in Northumbria; Bede, moreover, appears to have had no contacts in Mercia. Archaeology and written sources are used to gather information regarding the missing cultural history. The site of the discovery, at Johnsons Farm near Brownhills, is immediately south of Watling Street, and only 2.5miles (4.0km) west of the important Roman staging post of Letocetum. Watling Street was a major Roman road that would have seen continued use in the Anglo-Saxon period, and it acted as the demarcation line between the Anglo-Saxon and Danish-ruled parts of England during the 9th century. Michael Lewiss view is that attempting to link the hoard to a particular individual is not realistic. He notes that, during the period from which the hoard dates, some rulers from Mercia are well known, including Penda and Offa. Penda ruled slightly before the period of the hoard, and Offa is right at the end, so it has to be someone in the middle. Moreover, the historical record for the period shows a dependency on Bede, who wrote from a Christian perspective, yet the Mercians at the time were likely pagans, and therefore could have been overlooked by Bede even though they might have been important, because he wasnt interested in them-for whatever reason. Lewis comments that the hoard will assist in looking back at literary sources and historical figures with more scrutiny.

Now on Display
The hoard was first displayed at the Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery (from 24September 2009 until 13October 2009), and subsequently part of the Hoard was put on display at the British Museum (from 3November 2009 until 17April 2010). Eighty items from the hoard, including a gold horses head that has not previously been exhibited, went on display at the Potteries Museum & Art Gallery in Stoke-onTrent from 13 February 2010 until 7 March 2010. The hoard will be put on permanent display at the Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery and at the Potteries Museum & Art Gallery, but there are plans to make some items from the hoard available on loan to historic Mercian sites, such as Tamworth Castle and Lichfield Cathedral, as part of the Mercian Trail.

Its Significance
The hoard has been described by Leslie Webster as absolutely the metalwork equivalent of finding a new Lindisfarne Gospels or Book of Kells and stated further that this is going to alter our perceptions of Anglo-Saxon England as radically, if not more so, as the Sutton Hoo discoveries. Dr Roger Bland, Head of the Portable Antiquities Scheme, said: It is a fantastically important discovery. It is assumed that the items were buried by their owners at a time of danger with the intention of later coming back and recovering them.

Relic Hunter April - May, 2010

27

Beneath Shore Sand, a long-lost ring.

By Jacqueline L. Urgo SEA ISLE CITY, N.J. - Nearly three decades ago, Bill Keller lost one of his most prized possessions: his blue-zirconand-14-karat-gold Naval Academy ring. Keller, who grew up in Chester, Delaware County, thought the Class of 1970 ring had been lost to the ages, buried beneath the sand in this Cape May County resort. It had fallen from the pocket of his wifes swimsuit coverup in the summer of 1981 as the Kellers and some friends walked on the beach near 58th Street. But on Feb. 28, while treasure-hunting with a metal detector, Mabel Cowan of Tuckahoe came across the ring under about six inches of dry sand along the 77th Street beach. When it was placed in his hands yesterday, Keller noticed that the ring - with its Naval Academy crest and deep-azure gemstone, the color of the sea - was still gleaming. It looked as shiny as it did 40 years ago when Keller, a midshipman who would go on to serve in the Vietnam

Photos by Ron Tarver

War, placed it on his finger during the traditional ring ceremony at Annapolis. And it still fit. It was found in such good shape, so close to the surface, that Cowan, 56, thought someone must have lost it recently. With the help of her nephews and the Internet, she tracked down Keller through a Naval Academy alumni association. His name is engraved inside the ring, still clearly visible.

The Best in Weapons, Swords, Dug Relics, Uniforms, Books and More ! Free Appraisals at all Shows

Upcoming Civil War Shows

Promoters of Quality Shows For Collectors & Civil War Enthusiasts

Columbia Civil War Show SC State Fairgrounds Columbia, SC June 12 & 13, 2010

Capital of the Confederacy Civil War Show Richmond Raceway Complex Richmond, VA Nov. 20 & 21, 2010
In association with the Central Virginia Civil War Collectors Association

Nashville Civil War Show Willliamson Cty. Ag Expo Park Franklin, TN December 4 & 5, 2010

Mike Kent & Associates, LLC PO Box 685 Monroe, Georgia 30655 Cell: 770-630-7296 email: mlkshows@yahoo.com

www.mkshows.com
28 Relic Hunter April - May, 2010

Stewart Farrell, a professor of marine geology and director of the Coastal Research Center at Richard Stockton College of New Jersey, said he was intrigued but not surprised by the find, despite years of erosion and beachreplenishment projects along that stretch of Sea Isle City. Since sand usually acts as an abrasive and it wasnt badly abraded, that is interesting and could mean that it hadnt moved around much in all those years, said Farrell, who has collected various objects from New Jerseys beaches over the years, including bricks from 19th-century Atlantic City hotel foundations. Their corners have been so rounded by years of rolling back and forth in the slosh at the waters edge that the bricks now look like hot dogs. But then there are the stories about other treasures that wash up looking as they did the day they were minted, such as the authenticated George III English sovereign - a quarter-ounce gold coin - that turned up on a Strathmere beach a few weeks ago. There were so many shipwrecks off the Jersey Shore that certainly there is a remarkable amount of stuff out there, not to mention the bling that people lose on the beach every summer, Farrell said. Im really not surprised to hear about anything that washes up and is found. But at the Tuckahoe Inn in Upper Township, where Keller had come with his wife, Bette, to retrieve his ring, surprise and awe were the order of the day.

Oh, my God. Oh, my God, Keller said after Cowan pulled the ring from a pocket of her canvas purse and handed it to him. You have no idea how much this means to me. Keller, an engineering scientist who lives in Basking Ridge, said Cowans finding the ring capped a personal odyssey that began 10 years ago when a catastrophic fall in his home ultimately caused severe memory loss. Little by little, the memories of all the important little things have come back for Keller, in odd little piece-by-piece ways. The return of the ring - just before Keller and his wifes planned move to Maryland within the next few weeks - is what he sees as the cap on that tumultuous chapter. I left Maryland 40 years ago with nothing but this ring, and now Im going back with it on my hand, said Keller, 61, holding a picture of himself and his wife in formal dress at the Naval Academy Ring Dance in 1969. This past decade for me has been years of piecing memories back together. This picture is back when we were young, and this ring is a symbol of things in the past that really mattered that have somehow come back to me, said Keller, the father of two grown children. Cowan, who said using a metal detector to hunt treasure on the areas beaches had become one of her favorite pastimes during the last three years, has found numerous items, which she said she always tried to return to their owners. Most of the time, just bottle caps and coins make her metal detector beep. But Cowan seems to have developed a talent for finding lost rings in the last year - five in Sea Isle, including Kellers. Its such a great feeling to be able to return this to him, something that means so much, Cowan said. Whenever I find something of value, I think about the poor person that lost it who must be sick to their stomach, heartbroken over it.
Relic Hunter April - May, 2010 29

(Reliable internet connection required.)

The Metal Detectives University offers many advantages over books, DVDs, online courses and even classroom training:

Instant delivery.
Unlike DVDs or books, courses you order through The Metal Detectives University are delivered instantly. No waiting for UPS, FedEx or U.S. mail deliveries. No shipping and handling charges. With a DSL line or cable modem, you can start learning within a few minutes of ordering!

Perfect HD playback quality.

Unlike small, fuzzy, online movies that jerk and skip, the movies in The Metal Detectives University are large, sharp and clear and play back perfectly.

Available 24/7, connected or not.

Unlike online learning sites, the courses you purchase from The Metal Detectives University download to your hard drive so you can access them anywhere, anytime, whether you are connected to the internet or not. And unlike DVDs, you do not have to have a DVD in your drive to learn.

You will never have to wait and watch a buffering message again.
Courses update themselves. How often have the words in a book, or movies on a DVD that you own, changed to reflect updated information? Of course, never. Courses in The Metal Detectives University can be updated any time the instructor feels like it. The next time you watch the course, youll be seeing the updated course.

Learn at your own pace.

Unlike a classroom, where you share a teacher with other students, in The Metal Detectives University, you have your instructor all to yourself! You have total control over the learning experience. Quickly move through sections you understand, have your virtual instructor repeat steps or sections, take lab time and experiment whenever you wish- because you are the only student in this class.

Completely secure.
The MOD Machine offers security in purchasing no browser or phone call can match. Your credit card information is transmitted only once, highly encrypted, to Authorize.net, one of the most respected and secure payment processors, and is not transmitted or stored on our servers or anywhere else.

The Metal Detectives University is pretty self-explanatory, but here you can find brief step-by-step instructions If you have any questions, post them in this forum or call us at 1-800-965-3976 quoting mduni.com

30

Relic Hunter April - May, 2010

( Sample Computer Screen )

Relic Hunter April - May, 2010

31

North Georgia Relic Hunters Association

Marietta Parks and Recreation Department
Invites you to Attend

and the

THE 32 ANNUAL SOUTHEASTERN

At The Cobb County Civic Center

548 South Marietta Parkway, Marietta, GA

August 14th and 15th, 2010 Saturday: 9-5, Sunday: 9-3

Over 220 8 Foot Tables of: Dug Relics Inquires: Guns & Swords NGRHA Books Attention: Show Chairman Frameable Prints P.O. Box 503 Paper Items Marietta, Georgia 30061 Artillery Items Currency www.NGRHA.com

32

Relic Hunter April - May, 2010

Business Card Trading

Relic Hunter April - May, 2010

33

In the next issue: More great stories from all over the world Demonstration Videos, yes, I said videos Updates on shows Club information on hunts And more...

34

Relic Hunter April - May, 2010