Metal detecting - why use it?

The method of metal detecting can help to identify key areas of interest by defining the spatial extent of objects detected and recovered from the topsoil:

• A cluster of ferrous nails may indicate the existence of a timber framed building on the site
• Concentrations of coins may indicate a settlement
• Slag may suggest an area of metal-working

Therefore, using a metal detector to scan a site can provide an indication of earlier land uses and activities on the site such as industrial activities or settlement extent.

Advantages

• Rapid assessment of large areas
• Allows efficient use of more detailed magnetometry or resistivity by targeting areas of high archaeological potential
• Gives information on the nature of possible archaeological features on a site, eg settlement, industrial, agricultural etc.

Examples of data

To the right is one example af a distribution of finds across a site surveyed with a metal detector. This can be used to target more detailed geophysical techniques.

The search was carried out along transects 10m apart, collecting finds in stints 10m long. The number and nature of finds in each stint are indicated by the size and colour of the dot.