As I carefully folded back the neatly cut turf, it was as if I had opened up a portal to the Bronze Age...
I do not know exactly what happened that night. One person on their own might have imagined it, but when two people simultaneously witness the same event there has to be something to it...
It was the last thing that I expected to see in the Shropshire countryside. It was futile to try and run, as I was no match for the power and agility of the animal that stood before me...
Buckingham's eyes fixed upon the old man like a hawk after its prey: "May a curse be upon thee for thy treachery," he snarled....
Poor old Mrs Brown's house took a direct hit. I laughed as her wooden leg came flying over the rooftops, clattering as it bounced off the rusty corrugated roof of our toilet at the bottom of the garden...
A rather large. well-endowed lady appeared in the doorway. Why I suddenly thought about Zeppelins I can't imagine...
John had not believed me when I told him that a Mr Crapper had invented the flush toilet, so it came as no surprise that he would not believe the origin of Zippo lighters...
Portable Antiquities Scheme
The National Council for Metal Detecting, from the outset, wholeheartedly supported the pilot schemes, which have certainly more than confirmed the early expectations. New and very productive relationships have been formed between the amateur but responsible, recreational pursuit of metal detecting and the more enlightened branches of professional archaeology. These have been most welcome and largely replaced the earlier and often antagonistic relationships which were common in most parts of the country.
The accumulating benefit to the national archive of information is now readily acknowledged by many archaeologists. It is also very important to remember that much of the information produced and now placed on permanent record would not have been realised by any other means and that modern farming techniques, construction works and mineral extraction are continuing to destroy the tangible evidence of our forbears at a significant rate.
The Portable Antiquities Scheme was created in 1997 by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport to promote the recording of those archaeological objects found by the public which did not fall within the definition of treasure in the 1996 Treasure Act. An initial Pilot Scheme of Finds Liaison Officers (FLO's) were appointed in 1997 at selected locations around the country.
The pilot schemes have been very successful: over 30,000 objects have been recorded on the Portable Antiquities website, www.finds.org.uk. Many new archaeological sites have also come to light as a result. The liaison officers have played a major role in encouraging co-operation between metal detector users and archaeologists.
The Scheme has now been extended across the whole of England and Wales, with 37 Finds Liaison Officers in total.
See what visitors had to say, and add your own comments or anecdotes about our hobby or the great outdoors in general.
Go to my new webBlog