Instruction manual
8
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 site 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 sometime 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 detecti:1g.
You
should aim
to
get
as
complete
an
understanding
as
possible of the local history and geography.
The
key
to
the choice of the 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 that
you
have all 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
layout
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, and 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 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 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.
DIAGRAM 2
A B 1
D~
--L~"'"
_~~:.-
I I I
-....,-
I \ •
I I I I I I \ \
......
I I I L I \ ...
,
0-
...
1
L
~
_I
-
0-
\..
.......
0
It
is
essential that the search head
is
kept close and parallel
as
in
B.
Do not hold the search head too high above the ground, or at an
odd angle
as
in
A,
C"
0
as
you will be apt
to
miss finds.