14
14
THE IMPORTANCE OF THE RIGHT
APPROACH
Treasure hunting can be a profitable and rewarding hobby, if approached in a patient and
diligent manner. Time spent researching to locate a worthwhile site for a search can be time
wasted if your search is hasty and erratic. To achieve maximum results it is important then, to
decide on your approach to any particular site in advance of the actual search.
Tactics will be decided by the type of site - it is more profitable to scan a small area
thoroughly than to conduct a haphazard search of the total site. However, when the site is too
far away for you to make several return visits, a plan should be adopted which gives
maximum coverage, at the same time as indicating the most likely area for detailed search.
Your detector alone is not a guarantee of successful treasure hunting. Any detector needs an
operator and for the best results the operator needs the right approach, attitude and technique.
Too many beginners neglect the importance of pre-planning and research before using their
detector in the field, and patience and technique during the actual search.
A successful search should begin with research some time before the day of the actual search.
The extent and thoroughness of your research will be one of the major factors in the success
of your detecting. You should aim to get as complete an understanding as possible of the
local history and geography.
The key to the choice of site is to think of people, where they congregated over the past few
hundred years. What were their customs and pursuits? Where did they spend money? Where
did they carry money? The answers are not Roman sites, nor are they associated with mystic
treasure stories of crocks of gold. Rather, they are unassuming, undramatic places, like public
footpaths and ancient rights of way, old houses and so on.
When you have chosen your site, allocate a whole day from early morning to early evening
for the search. Make sure you have all the equipment you are likely to need. Your detector
should be checked before starting out, and you should always carry a spare set of batteries.
You will also need a strong, sharp trowel. It is also a good idea to have a set of lines and pins
so that you can lay out your search area scientifically.
Most beginners make the mistake of rushing about hoping to chance upon a rare find. If for
example there happened to be a valuable ring that was buried 4" deep on the site you were
searching, if you rushed about haphazardly and quickly on the site, the odds would be very
much against you finding it. On the other hand, if you pegged out the area scientifically and
searched slowly and thoroughly, the odds of finding the ring would be very much more in
your favour.
Remember, BE PATIENT and
WORK SLOWLY
. Do not try to cover too large an area,
restrict yourself to a small area and work through it thoroughly. Make a note of the position
and the extent of the area, and then when you return you can start again further on without
missing any ground or covering the same area twice.
